Yole on top at Kilmore trots

Photo: Colin MacGillivray

By Len Baker

Ben Yole’s Kilmore satellite stable took the honors with a double during the 11-event card, both with gigantic odds, at Thursday’s Kilmore harness meeting.

Nine-year-old gelding Nifty Jolt finished first in the Tellurian Wines pace over 2180 yards and paid odds of $41.

Driven by Ross Payne, Nifty Jolt ran the straight from midfield to Blouse stablemate Mach Charm home by a head and clocked a mile rate of 2-00.3. Pinnacle Hope was third at 5.6 meters.

Seven-year-old mare Nicolescruiser, paying a price of $23, caught the 2180-yard Beraldo Coffee Pace with caretaker trainer Robbie Walters in the sulky.

Nicolescruiser enjoyed a leisurely passage from gate three behind leader Keayang Bieber and used the sprint lane to go three meters ahead of the pacemaker with a speed of 2:01.6.

Another stablemate, Safe Jewels, was third, half a head away after trailing behind the pair.

Bolinda’s Brent Lilley was successful with Captain Tom, a gelding son of Captaintreacherous and Heavens Trend, in the Grays Bendigo 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 1690 meters.

Driven by Chris Alford, after passing leader Houston Street off the pole, Captain Tom used the sprint lane to win by 2.8 yards from a deadly Rainbow Storm while Houston Street withered and a yard back in third would. The mile rate 1-58.9.

Romsey’s Chris Svanosio trained and bridled four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Deal To The Left mare Norms Lady to land the Buds and Branches Florist Pace over 1690 meters.

Slowly out of the bar to set three pins, Norms Lady was pulled away from the markers approaching the bell to clear for the final lap.

She proved to be the better stayer of the evening as she defeated the pacesetter Arockatthepark by a header in a thrilling finish. Our Cheeky Devil finished third with a half neck back after using the sprint track. The mile rate 1-56.4.

Bolinda owner/trainer Alison Alford would have been thrilled when her gelding Grumpee was in the front line to conquer the Worlds Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 Trotter Mobile 2180m.

Grumpee, a winner of the last start at Ballarat driven by Josh Duggan, was heavily attacked from outside the front line after a brilliant start by hot favorite Our Marvella, who was trailing from gate four before breaking from the inside on the last lap just too far gallop and lose every chance on the straight.

Claudy’s Secret was second, 22.7 meters away, and Cee Are Seven third, 30.3 meters back after being badly checked by the cantering Our Marvella. The mileage tariff 2-07.5.

The highlight of the evening was the 1690 yard $10,000 Jet Roofing Pace Final where Tatura trainer Craig Turnbull and Reinswoman daughter Abbey with the beautifully bred Always B Miki-Sabrina Bromac, four year old mare My Sweet Sabrina, placed at odds of 1 won -54.

It was great to see Avenel’s David Aiken in the winner’s box after lightly ridden six-year-old gelding Twixten scored in the 1690 meter Momentum Gaming Trotters Mobile.

Trained and reined in by Aiken, Twixten set three pins from gate two before going uncovered outside leader Jessies Son on the final lap.

Twixton did just what he had to do, scoring from five pegs virtually untouched by Koogan along Spint Lane, with Jessie’s Son taking third place. The margins are 2.2 by 4.1 meters at a mileage rate of 2-02.9.

Other winners that night included Toolern Vale trainer Shane Hoban and longtime pal Graeme Wilson, who landed the 2150-yard O’Brien Electrical Trotters handicap with easy picks; Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas’ Roll With Ron with Jack Laugher in the sulky won the MC Security Pace in the 2180 meters; Kiwi-bred four-year-old Art On Fire was successful in the Carlton and United Breweries pace over 1690 meters for popular Nanneella part owner/trainer Col Godden and stable mate Josh Duggan; and Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin joined Ryan Duffy aboard the four-year-old Sassiness to land the C&M Build Group Pace over 1690 meters.

The next Kilmore trotting races take place on Sunday.