Gary’s big day out
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Stanhope trainer Gary Pekin had a day out at the Cobram trots meeting last Thursday with a training double.
Pekin produced So She Said to win a maiden pace and then struck again partnering the consistent Ken Covington-trained eight-year-old trotter Bicardi Wood to his 10th career win.
So She Said was having only her 10th start but had top four finishes, including a last start second at Shepparton on March 18, in her previous nine outings. So she was well found by punters and started a $2.50 second favourite.
Pekin who also had a drive — My Lucky Rock — in the same race entrusted top reinsman James Herbertson to drive So She Said and the four-year-old Western Terror mare led all the way in smart 1.57.3 mile rate time for the 1670m trip.
Pekin was aboard the ultra consistent Ken Covington-trained Bicardi Wood for his 10th career win.
Pekin settled Bicardi Wood four back in the running line when he made his move on the son of Bicardi Lindy with 500m to run, rounding up his rivals and beating the Mark Lee-trained Miss Tipsy and the favourite Ima Ziabee.
The win took Bicardi Wood’s prizemoney over $56,000 and his winning mile rate of 2.02.6 was only 0.6 outside his quickest winning time.
What A Pleasure to salute
Chiltern-trained pacer What A Pleasure probably wrote a bit of Cobram Harness Club history with his win at last week’s meeting.
Trained by Peter Romeo and driven by Harry O’Neill the six-year-old All Speed Hanover mare upstaged a field of 52-55 class rivals at the cricket score tote odds of 150/1.
What A Pleasure was having his sixth start for Romeo and had won five races from 39 starts when prepared by Seymour trainer John Green.
Harry O’Neill, who also owns the pacer, drove the copybook race, settling the mare in the one-one sit and urging her to the front in the home straight.
The win didn’t go down well with quaddie punters as it was the first leg of the main quaddie and put most of them out of their misery early.
Long overdue win
The John Newberry-trained Amber Alert broke a long run out of the winner’s circle when he scored at the Cobram meeting.
The son of Mr Feelgood put up a strong run, posted three wide early before death seating and then hitting the front and determinedly fending off all challengers at the business end.
Amber Alert’s only other win was 30 starts previously at his 12th start at Kilmore in January last year. But since then he had finished runner-up six times and third on five occasions so he was overdue for the win.
Mighty Flying performance
Former NSW-trained pacer Mighty Flying Art opened his Victorian winning account at his third try when he scored at the Cobram meeting.
Concession driver Shannon O’Sullivan was in the sulky for the now David Aiken-trained pacer and after racing three wide for most of the final circuit put paid to his rivals in ruthless fashion, winning by over 22m.
The Art Major six-year-old is a veteran of 58 starts which have produced 11 wins and 17 minor placings and over $125,000 in prizemoney earnings.
Reining in the wins
Goulburn Valley reinsmen had a good day at the Cobram meeting.
Apart from Gary Pekin and John Newberry, Damian Wilson and Cody Crossland drove winners.
Crossland partnered the Brooke McPherson-prepared Ultimate Hughey to a popular win as a $2.39 favourite, while Wilson scored at nice odds on the Ronny Calleja-prepared Lydia Loveday.
Electric return
Talented Russell Jack-trained pacer Boots Electric burst back into the winner’s circle with a commanding win at Melton last Saturday night.
The five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere was urged to the front early by reinsman Nathan Jack which proved the winning factor.
Jack set a slick pace on Boots Electric, who ran his rivals off their legs with a blistering 1.51.5 mile rate.
Boots Electric was having his 13th start for the Jack barn and while it was only his second win for the stable he has been thereabouts in most of his assignments.
His career record now stands at 12 wins and seven minor placings from 33 starts which have netted over $216,000 in prizemoney earnings.
Firing on all cylinders
District trotters were to the fore early at last week’s Kilmore meeting.
Congupna trainer Mark Lee and Stacey Towers got the money early when Firengrace saluted in race one and then Lancaster horsewoman Carmel Belot took the second race with Yoee.
Having only his fourth race start, Firengrace was taken to the front early by Towers and then defied all efforts to be run down.
A four-year-old Majestic Son mare, Firengrace was having just her fourth race start but had not finished further back than fourth in her previous three starts which was why punters supported her into a $2.30 favourite.
Although an eight-year-old gelding by Bicardi Lindy, Yoee was having only their fourth race start, all this year, when they saluted in the race following Firengrace’s win.
But Yoee raced like a two-year-old, sitting outside the pacemaker, the David Abrahams-trained and Nathan Jack-driven Seeyouinmydreams, running that trotter down in the concluding stages in a tough win.
Avenel mentor David Aiken completed a hat-trick of wins for Goulburn Valley trainers at the meeting, scoring with the red-hot favourite Lady Of Arts in the final event on the nine-race card.
Having just his sixth race start and coming off a win at Bendigo at his previous start on March 24, Lady Of The Arts was able to hold the lead from her poleline draw and went on to record an effortless win in 1.58.2 mile rate time for the 1690 sprint trip.
Dorrie remembered
Harness racing lost a long-time stalwart last week with the passing of Dorrie Schmedje.
Dorrie was a life member of the Echuca Harness Racing Club and came from a devoted trotting family.
When she married the late Len Schmedje her keen interest in harness racing also brought him into the sport.
Dorrie helped her father train over the years and with husband owned, bred and trained a number of horses. They included Tycoon Love, Quentin Abbey and Banash.
Yvonne (Child) and Pam, Dorrie’s two daughters, are carrying on the family tradition and have a strong connection with the Echuca Harness Racing Club.
Meetings coming up
They race again at Shepparton next Wednesday night.
Today: Bendigo (n)
Saturday: Melton (n)
Sunday: Cranbourne (n)
Monday: Horsham (d)
Tuesday: Shepparton (n)
Wednesday: Mildura (n)
Thursday: Geelong (n)
Friday: Maryborough (d)
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