17 June 2024 | HRSA Media
A brilliant drive by Samantha Pascoe enabled Mohs Em Down to grab victory at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Using the sprint lane, Mohs Em Down ($8.50) drove through to grab a half head win in the Ladbroke It! Pace (2230m) beating Harry Ovens ($8.50) in an action-packed race.
Pascoe, who sat three-back in the running line early, made a crucial decision coming off the back straight in the final lap angling in behind the leader Classy Dancer ($2.30 fav) which enabled the Tayla Warren-trained Mohs Em Down to come through and win.
The action was on from the start of the race with Ideal Dan ($101) beginning brilliantly from gate five for driver Tiana McMahon crossing to find the lead forcing the favourite Classy Dancer to sit parked.
Gaita Pullicino on Mikicool ($8) made a move three wide from the tail of the field with two laps to travel but Wayne Hill, on the favourite, saw her coming and pushed through and McMahon decided not to get into a battle and let Classy Dancer to go to the front with Mikicool sitting parked.
Pullicino ensured there were no soft sectionals keeping the pressure on which suited Harry Ovens ($8.50) which had been well driven by Tony Pullicino to settle one-out, one-back from a second-row draw.
Pascoe’s race-winning move proved the difference and Mohs Em Down came through to win with Harry Ovens running home well but unable to catch the winner.
Classy Dancer and Mikicool finished third and fourth and ran extremely well.
The tempo of the race can be indicated by the excellent mile rate of 1:57.5.
The victory would be a good tonic for Queensland owner Tony Veivers who is fighting health issues.
Angle Vale trainer Tayla Warren praised Pascoe for her drive.
“I love it when I can put Sam on my horses,” Warren said.
“She has a great record for us and actually was on Mohs Em Down for his last win in November last year.
“I thought he had a good chance tonight with a bit of luck.
“He ran really well last week and was only beaten a head by Hanging Fire, so from gate two tonight, he had to be a good hope.”
Jimmy, a 15-year-old pony, was Mohs Em Down’s travelling companion.
“I am reluctant to travel horses by themselves,” Warren said.
“This bloke can play up if he is by himself, so Jimmy came along for the ride to keep him calm.”
Husband and wife David and Ingrid Smith came away with a double scoring with the square gaiter Buckles and pacer Summerdays.
Ingrid trains both, while David did the driving.
Buckles ($11) sprinted home strongly to take out the Sundons Courage @ Truscott Lodge Trotters Mobile (2330m) while Summerdays ($1.90 fav) led and fought on strongly to win the Northside Trophies Pace (1800m).
Smith said Buckles had been a good purchase for owners Jamie Braidwood and Chris Dix.
“Chris was up in Queensland and could not make it to the track tonight and Jamie stayed home so maybe that was the reason for the win,” Smith joked.
“I had a good run throughout, but he actually didn’t feel to be travelling that well.
“But when I pulled him he picked up the bit and came home powerfully.”
Summerdays, which had been backed in from $3, looked likely to be beaten when Giant Jackson ($5.50) went into the sprint lane and made ground quickly, but the winner refused to yield and fought back to win by a half head.
Two Wells trainer Shane Loone got out of his sick bed and bring former Western Australian pacer Per Ardua Ad Astra to the track for The Globe Bar & Gaming Pace (2230m).
Per Ardua Ad Astra ($4.80) began quickly from gate seven and with a brilliant piece of driving by Kevin Weidenbach, settled behind the leader Perfect Cut ($6) which had led from gate one.
Weidenbach did come down in front of Aces Daughter ($4.20) and that horse galloped before eventually finishing fourth which saw reinsperson Bernadette Page lodge a protest against the winner which was dismissed.
Loone, who was fighting an infection, said Per Ardua Ad Astra had no luck in either of his two runs since coming from Perth.
“He possibly should have won first up when second, then lost all chance at the start last week,” Loone said.
“Kevin did a great job tonight, but I was a bit worried when we had to go in the steward’s room to keep the race.”
The Emerging Stars Pacers Series (heat 4) over 1800 metres provided another excellent winner with Santa Casa Lane ($2.70 fav) finding the lead from gate three for driver Michael Smith and winning in a good mile rate of 1:58.7 for trainer Jeremy Seal.
Santa Casa Lane held off the late challenge of Tonkawaikon ($7), driven by Smith’s father David and trained by his mother Ingrid to win by a neck.
The $14,999 Emerging Stars final will be held at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, June 29.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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