Community Pink Ribbon Ladies Day at Cobram trots last Thursday saw $8,563 raised for the McGrath Foundation.
A dedicated group of female drivers, spearheaded by Donna Castles, received great support from a number of generous sponsors, who offered up prizes for a raffle.
Tickets were then sold by the female drivers at trots meetings throughout Victoria. The raffle alone saw over $6000 put towards the great cause.
The highlight of the Cobram meet was the drive of Shepparton reinswoman Rebecca Bartley , who piloted Sizzling Maxwell to victory in the Antica Murrina Paul Roberts Jewellers Pace for Whitton, NSW, trainer Garry Maxwell.
The seven-year-old mare notched her fifth career victory and took her stake earnings in excess of $26,600 courtesy of the win, paying $49.60 on the Victorian tote.
Bartley, in hot pink silks and driving pants, positioned Sizzling Maxwell behind the leader in the female-drivers-only invitation race, extricating the mare off the pegs at the home turn and sprinting clear for a 2.2m win over Grand Assassin (Laura Crossland), with Grinvil (Tiana McMahon) third.
Trainer Maxwell walked away with a combo rug, Ranvet Electro pastes and recovery pastes courtesy of Ranvet as well as a set of pink hobbles donated by Trot Pace.
The excited owner, Fiona Ball, who also bred Sizzling Maxwell, was presented with a crystal bowl donated by Cobram Spinners and Weavers.
All races on the day carried a trophy valued at $100, sponsored by women’s groups and service clubs in the Cobram community, while the Moira Shire Pace fittingly was won by Ramblenroller, driver Tania Ward in the sulky wearing the McGrath Foundation colours.
Owner Max Govers picked up a trophy valued at $350 for the win.
The Xerri Lady Drivers Aggregate Award was won by Ward, while Allison Short, who had travelled from Sydney especially for the day, was presented with the Janelle Bunfield Encouragement Award.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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