02 August 2021 | Ashleigh Paikos
It was a night for doubles at Northam on Saturday night with prominent young trainer and driver Aiden De Campo scoring himself a driving double on the card, including a training win with his own horse Major Jade. Peter Anderson claimed training honours with a training double, with Smooth Rye returning to her winning ways, recording her seventh win in just her last ten starts.
Hillview Bondi validated his $1.08 starting price when he led from start to finish in the opener at Northam. In a mile rate of 2:00:0 over the 2190m trip, Aiden De Campo was able to dictate term and went on to win effortlessly by 30.5m over his rivals. The three-year-old gelding recorded his fourth career win for his connections and trainer Ryan Bell
The second on the card went the way of the Peter Anderson trained Changingoftheguard. A strategic move early in the race saw Cody Wallrodt pop off the pegs and settle the gelding in the one-one position with a little over two laps to go. With 350m to the finish, Wallrodt pulled the five-year-old three wide to make his run, going on to win by 4.2m in 2:01:6.
After leading all the way, Star Of Madonna went one better on last week, taking out race three on the card for trainer Rob Abercromby and driver Chris Voak. Winning by 1.1m, Voak was able to dictate terms on the $3.20 favourite and was too good for the rest of the field, recording his third career victory for his connections.
Aiden De Campo added some value for punters with his runner Major Jade getting the cash narrowly in the fourth. Starting from the back line, the Mike Howie owned mare eventually settled three back on the pegs with De Campo managing to weave her through the field to record her first win since earlier in the year in a mile rate of 2:00:1 over the 2190m.
After breaking gear last start and having to be retired from the event, Smooth Rye returned to her winning ways, giving trainer Peter Anderson a training double on the card. Driven by Aldo Cortopassi, she started from the widest on the front line and was restrained towards the rear in the early stages with Cortopassi timing his run perfectly, taking off three wide with 400m to go, going on to win by 7.3m in 2:01:0.
After stepping perfectly off the 10m handicap in the standing start, Thewizard was able to lead and that’s where he stayed, to claim the win in race six. Trained by John Ellis and piloted by the talented Emily Suvaljko, the six-year-old manage to stave off his rival, kicking to win by 2.0m in 2:03:2 over the 2160m stand.
After having to work to keep the lead, Silent Reaction claimed his second win for his connections in race seven. Leading all the way, the three-year-old went on the win by 1.3m in a mile rate of 2:02:8 in the seven-horse field.
They were single file in the last on the card with the two-year-old fillies fighting it out in the maiden. After settling four back on the pegs, the double westbred Harrier Jet popped off the rails with around 1100m and was able to run down the leader to win by 1.4m in a mile rate of 2:04:5 for father and son duo Brian and Michael Ferguson.
Pacing will return to the Avon on Saturday the 21st of August.
Ashleigh Paikos
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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