Champion reinsman Daryl Douglas sidelined since an horrific fall at Ballarat on Boxing night, returned to the sulky at Cranbourne on Tuesday with a winner, steering the Gary Quinlan (Drouin) trained Art Major/Magic Music four-year-old gelding Scruffy Major to victory in the third heat of the Eastern Challenge for C3 and C4 class over 2080 metres. Snookered three back along the markers after starting from inside the second line, with the well-supported Regal Knight leading from gate two being trailed by Future Operator, Scruffy Major’s hopes looked forlorn approaching the final bend as La Machane joined the front runners three-wide to momentarily take a slender lead. Extricated into the clear on straightening, Scruffy Major unleashed a brilliant burst of speed to race away in the shadows of the post to score by 1.2 metres in a rate of 1-57.5 (last quarter 28) over Regal Knight which came again in the straight, with La Machane 1.6 metres away in third place.
Rockbank part-owner/trainer Charlie Micallef put an end to plenty of quaddie takers at Cranbourne after nine-year-old Million To One/Honeysuckle Lombo gelding On The Leash ($39.20) greeted the judge in the third leg – the Cranbourne Trainers Bonanza for C1 class over 2080 metres.
Taking a concession for Richard Caruana, On The Leash from the pole led his rivals a merry dance and they were unable to make any impression in the run home, defeating Mediation (one/two) and the heavily-backed Captain Scott from last in a mile rate of 1-58.8.
It was On The Leash’s first success since July 2011 when a winner at Geelong.
Parwan trainer/driver Jodi Quinlan’s smart Mach Three/Paige Nicol Q filly Getya Wings Out also resumed on the night, taking out the Trios Sports Club three-year-old Pace over 2080 metres when having her first outing since August last year. Starting from gate three Getya Wings Out spent the first lap one/one, before being shuffled back a spot when the heavily supported Lotsa Life trailing her, made a sharp dash at the bell to join the pacemaker Bettor Charm. Easing three-wide approaching the home turn, Getya Wings Out finished stylishly on straightening to score from Snow Cone along the sprint lane after following the leader which finished third. The mile rate 1-58.8.
Former New Zealander Hugh, a four-year-old gelded son of Mach Three and Penthouse, broke his Australian maiden status when successful in the Comfort Inn Mahogany Park Pace for C0 class over 1609 metres at Cranbourne. Trained at Daylesford by Mick Barby and driven by Rod Petroff, Hugh led throughout from the pole, accounting for another ex-Kiwi V C Devil which raced outside him by a neck in 1-59, with Lineofcredit (one/one) third.
Hopetoun Park duo Ross and Greg Sugars combined to land the Angelique Club Pace for C1 and C2 class mares over 2080 metres at the Cranbourne fixture with Illawong Geraldine, a four-year-old daughter of Life Sign and Next Trip bred and raced by Dr Martin Hartnett. Despite racing uncovered from gate five for the entire journey outside the second elect Cute Art, Illawong Geraldine effortlessly surged clear on turning to score easily from Sheila Blige along the sprint lane from three back the markers, with Cute Art a disappointing third. The mile rate 1-59.3.
The Ross and Greg Sugars show continues to roll, with Live Or Die/Illawong Julie filly Illawong Joyful taking the Australasian Premier Trotting Sales three-year-old Pace over 2190 metres at Maryborough on Wednesday. Showing plenty of speed from gate five, Illawong Joyful, another of the Hartnett team, ran her rivals ragged, scoring by 6.9 metres in a rate of 1-58.9 over Glenferrie College who covered plenty of extra ground, with Brite Spark Lombo third after following the runner up home in the last lap three wide.
Looking for a short break? Why not join me on a four day tour to the Two Day “Harness Jewels” meeting at Ashburton (Christchurch) in June – departing Friday May 31 and returning Monday June 4. For all particulars give me a call 0401 679 745.
Meetings for the week: Wednesday – Maryborough/Mildura, Thursday – Horsham/Kilmore, Friday – Echuca (Cup), Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Bendigo, Monday – Yarra Valley, Tuesday – Mildura.
Horses to follow – Happy Hombre, Weallwantano, Intergalactic, Barbra Jean, Charlienme, The System Village, Salem, Terror Toupee.
