Lightly raced four year old Yankee Paco/Maybe Hall gelding Maybetothemax was a most impressive victor of the Bendigo Party Hire Trotters Mobile (1st Heat) for T1 & T2 class over 2150 metres at Lord’s Raceway Bendigo on Tuesday July 14.
Trained at Kyabram by Graham Lyon who loves the squaregaiters, Maybetothemax coming off an excellent second to Im Stately in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Sires Series Final at Tabcorp Park Melton eleven days earlier and making his 21st race appearance, possied one/one from gate five with the well supported Pipe Me Home shadowing the poleline pacemaker Law Legend. The short priced favourite Gus An Maori (gate four) missed away hopelessly.
Vacating the prime spot shortly after the start to race in the open, Nathan Jack was able to dictate the terms of the race to suit and Maybetothemax raced past the leader prior to the home turn under a tight hold.
Although Lightning Calder (three wide last lap from last) tried hard on turning, Maybetothemax bounded clear halfway up the running to record a 7.6 metre victory over Lightning Calder, with rank outsider Illawong Sunny 1.8 metres away in third place. The mile rate 2-02.5 on the rain effected track.
Graham Lyon enjoyed plenty of success in the eighties with a horse by the name of Northsea Rover and at one stage had champion mare Claudys Princess under his care, winning the Two Year Old Vicbred Super Series Final.
Heat two will be held at Ballarat this Saturday, with the $8505 Final at Tabcorp Park Melton on July 26.
Echuca trainer/driver Steven Lindberg provided a shock result to the Dunlop & Pitson Earthmoving Pace for C2 class over 2150 metres, when speedy seven year old Christian Cullen/Time’s On My Side gelding Bon Jovi saluted the judge at $18.50.
Crossing the long odds-on poleline favourite Padrisimo at the start from gate five, Bon Jovi led all of the way and although headed by Mrs Devine in the shadows of the post after racing outside him, came again to gain the day by a head in 2-01.9.
Padrisimo was quite disappointing in finishing third after having the entire length of the sprint lane, going down by 1.6 metres.
It was Bon Jovi’s first victory since November 2013.
Hopetoun Park father and son – Ross and Greg Sugars snared the Santons Of Bendigo Claiming Pace over 1650 metres with P B Bullville/Pleasant Speed seven year old gelding Rumsron in a rate of 1-57.6 in driving rain, much to the delight of Bacchus Marsh part-owner Denis Grieve.
Spearing away from gate five, Rumsron led throughout to account for Our Mels Dream (three wide last lap) and Our Horizon which faced the breeze from outside the front line.
Long Forest duo Andy & Kate Gath appeared set on paper to have a great night, but only snared only one winner – smart Majestic Son/Starcus Me filly Naked Majesty in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2150 metres.
Beginning smoothly from the extreme draw to lob three back in the moving lane, Kate wasted no time in sending the filly forward to park outside Miss Cosmos.
Travelling sweetly, Naked Majesty put pay to her rivals on turning to record a 3.1 metre margin on the wire over Mont Morley (three wide home turn after trailing the leader), with Miss Cosmos holding down third.
Seymour’s Billy Morgan combined with Gavin Lang to land the Yorkshire Park Standardbreds Pace for C0 class over 2150 metres with four year old Pay Me Christian/Arma Class gelding Arma Augustus.
Given a sweet passage one/one from gate three, Arma Augustus after being eased three wide on the final bend, prevailed in the last bound to nose out the leader Nikita Maguire in 2-00.5, with Three Mugs In (one/two) running his usual honest race to finish third after making the home turn four wide.
Kiwi bred Bettor’s Delight/Millwood Touche filly Millwood Brandy at start number eleven, snared the Bush’s Produce 3-Y-0 Pace over 2150 metres for Melton duo Maree and John Caldow, leading all of the way from the pole to just last by a nose from Shakahari along the sprint lane from three back the markers which would have given Bill Morgan a double. Abetta Tiny Dancer was 2.5 metres away in third place after racing uncovered from the bell. The mile rate 2-00.4.
Woorinen (Swan Hill) trainer Joe Costa has enjoyed a most fruitful season with his small but select team, taking out the Amadee Park Vineyard Pace for C3 & C4 class over 1650 metres with ultra-consistent 3-Y-0 Million Dollar Cam/What About Now gelding Riley James in a slick 1-57.2.
Driven by Ararat freelance Michael Bellman who hardly ever misses a meeting throughout the state, Riley James led throughout from the pole to score by 1.7 metres in advance of Givemeaspell which trailed and a death-seating Time Capsule.
On a night when leading was the place to be, Heathcote trainer Jason Tyack made a welcome return to the winners list when Courage Under Fire/Realy Dry 5-Y-0 gelding Realy Under Fire with Scott Rains in the sulky, led throughout from gate four to blitz his rivals in the Samios Plumbing Supplies Pace for C1 class over 1650 metres, scoring by 6.6 metres in 1-58.9 metres from the favourite Our Danger Mouse which raced outside him for the final circuit. Olivia Rockstar (four wide home turn from last) was 6.2 metres away in third place.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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