A request from the late and great Gavin Lang was behind the salute Shepparton horseman David Moran gave as he crossed the finishing line on Lochinvar Art well clear of his rivals in Saturday night’s $300,000 Victoria Cup.
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Moran said he grew up idolising Lang, who lost a battle against cancer earlier this year, and had always tried to emulate his renowned nerveless and quiet driving style.
Moran displayed these qualities in an early rush for the lead in Saturday night’s race, electing to ease into the running line midfield when it was obvious he wasn’t going to head off some of the Craig Cross-trained speedsters in the charge for the early lead.
“I went to visit Gavin in hospital about two weeks before he passed away and he encouraged me to keep driving Lochinvar Art,’’ Moran said this week.
Lochinvar Art is just one of two foals produced by the Ponder mare, Ponder In Paris, who had 11 starts for four wins and two minor placings and a PB mile rate of 1:56.5.
Owned by Sydney businessman Kevin Gordon, Lochinvar Art’s only sibling is Roseuponher, a four times winner and a full brother.
Moran said Lochinvar Art had pulled up well from his track record-breaking Victoria Cup win and was having an easy week this week.
He said the four-year-old’s next major target would be a race in the Breeders Crown series in mid November.
‘‘There is not really much around at the moment for him, but I’ll be looking to give him one or two runs leading up to that (Breeders Crown) race,’’ Moran said.xxxxxxxxxMissmetro produced an upset in pulling off her maiden win courtesy of a perfect Michael Bellman drive at Shepparton on Sunday.
Trained by experienced Kyabram horseman Rod Woods Sr and raced by family members, Missmetro prevailed narrowly over the favourite, the Glenn Freeman-trained Forest Force after tracking that pacer into the race with 600 m to run after settling four back on the markers.Missmetro is five-year-old daughter of Metropolitan who was having only her 10th start.
Except for a fourth on debut at Wangaratta in January she had not finished closer than sixth at her previous eight starts which was the reason why she was a 14/1 chance.
Missmetro is out of Immortal Miss who is by the former gun trotter Noopy Kiosk, who has thrown trotters and pacers.
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Veteran Avenel horseman Colin Duncan landed a training double at the Shepparton meeting.
Duncan produced Zuberi and Dearest to win successive races and break a run of outs from the winner's circle.Zuberi, a seven-year-old Art Major gelding had not raced for a year and had not won since saluting at Bendigo in December 2018 — 14 starts previous — so it was a top training effort by Duncan to produce him for a first-up triumph.
Dearest had not won for 12 starts, but had shown at her previous start at Shepparton when third to Viva Las Vegas she working back into form.
A six-year-old Mach Three mare Dearest took 28 starts to win her first race, but has now chalked up six wins and 28 minor placings from 78 starts.
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Shadow Play mare Melinka notched her first win for trainer Clive Dalton in a well deserved drought-breaking win at Shepparton.
Melinka had not won for 23 starts when she joined the Dalton barn, but had placed three times in six starts for him which persuaded punters to label her one of the best bets on the program.And those who risked their hard earned weren’t disappointed.
Top reinsman Chris Alford settled Meklinka three back in the running line before securing a three wide tow into the race where she progressed to account for the Rosie Weidenbach trained pair Well Well and Goodlookin Rooster in dashing style.Formerly prepared by Eddie Tappe, Melinka is a veteran of 95 starts which have produced five wins and 16 minor placings.
Melinka was also one of three winners for Alford at the meeting.
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Trotter Majestic Time was another horse to return to the winners’ list at Shepparton after a lengthy break.
The Majestic Son five-year-old gelding was having his third start for the Steve Duffy stable and with Ryan Duffy in the sulky produced a bold front-running performance to lead throughout and account for the fast finishing favourite Miss Tipsy and Starlight Red.
Owned by Bryan Johnstone and Lorraine Duffy, Majestic Time had not saluted for 19 starts, but had been consistent in her 65 outings which have produced the six wins and 20 minor placings.
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The old warrior Lights And Music has done it again.Won that is.The 12-year-old Col Godden-trained son of Jet Laag gave his rivals another lesson in chalking up his 29th win when he saluted at the Shepparton meeting.Lights And Music was driven a treat by concession reinswoman Abbey Turnbull and just held off the Mark Watson-trained and Damian Wilson-driven Some Change in the drive to the finishing line.It was only Lights And Music’s fourth run back since his previous campaign ended at the Echuca New Year’s night meeting.
His 260 starts have now produced more than $171,000 in prizemoney.
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Kiwi import Pats Dragon couldn’t have been more impressive in his two Australian starts to date. The Amanda Turnbull-trained and driven six-year-old son of Ohoka Arizon blitzed his rivals by more than 22 m in his Aussie debut at Echuca on October 6 and repeated the dose at Shepparton on Sunday.Settling second last in the run Turnbull put the handlebars down on Pats Dragon at the bell and he quickly rounded up the field, careering away to beat the runner-up Prosecco Boy by nearly 19 m with Imafirecracker filling the minor placing.
Pats Dragon had three wins in New Zealand from 36 starts and his latest win in 1:55.5 mile rate time shattered his previous best PB by 2.8 seconds.
He was attempting the Aussie hat-trick at last night’s Shepparton meeting.
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Betternthanspraying landed his first Victorian win at his fifth try when he saluted at Shepparton.
Originally from New Zealand and a four times winner in Queensland before joining the David Aiken stable, the five-year-old son of Betterthancheddar was given the run of the race on the pace by reinsman Ryan Sanderson before sprint laning to victory over Pembrook Charlie and Wenthestarzzzaline.Betterthanspraying has had 45 starts which have now produced seven wins and eight minor placings.
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Shepparton-trained Lasting Bond stormed to victory on his home track on Sunday to deliver his second win.
A winner on the track in April at his second start, the Darryn Rowney-trained and Laura Crossland-driven six-year-old son of Shadyshark Hanover unleashed a big finish against tiring rivals in his second start since May.
Lasting Bond is out of the Village Jasper mare Picketwithapin who was a four times winner in Tasmania and who has left two other multiple winners in Nuggets Court and Nuggets Brother.
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The Donna Castles-Doc Wilson team struck with five-year-old Maffioso gelding Sasscillian at Tuesday night’s Bendigo meeting.
Winless since March and given the run of the race by Wilson on the back of the pacemaker and 38/1 chance Wonderforce the Castles-trained Sasscilian, a $15 shot on the tote, finished strongly to beat that pacer with 63/1 shot Be Who You filling the minor placing in an all roughies finish.
Sasscilian had not won in his previous 15 starts, but recent runner-up finishes indicated he was ready to hoist his second win.His winning mile rate of 1:57.9 was also a PB.
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Punters who stayed faithful to trotter Verry Cheerful had to endure a nervous start — and finish — before collecting at Bendigo on Tuesday night.The Russell Jack-trained daughter of Muscles Yankee won impressively at Shepparton on her Australian debut on September 1, but had missed away in three subsequent outings when well fancied.On Tuesday night Verry Cheerful gave a skip or two when the tapes flew back which had her supporters momentarily holding their breathe.
They were then on good terms with themselves when she found her trotting rhythm and settled midfield.
But they then had to endure more anxious moments surviving a photo finish with Illawong Champers before collecting.
Verry Cheeful had 13 starts for four wins and three placings in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman.
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Talented three-year-old Hesty hoisted his fifth win when he saluted at last week’s Echuca meeting.The three-year-old son of Heston Blue Chip has had his moments in his 16 starts to date, but when on song, as he was at Echuca when driven by David Moran, delivers the goods.
Trainer Patrick Ryan has a bit of pressure on him when ever Hesty steps out because he is raced by extended family members.
But with his current winning strike rate he is not getting too many suggestions on how he should be training the horse.
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Consistent mare Shez Elite broke through for her third win in style when she saluted for Bunbartha horseman John Newberry at Wednesday’s Kilmore meeting.
Settling midfield the five-year-old daughter of Village Jolt was second last at the bell, but got a tow into the race before storming home in the straight.
Shez Elite has been a consistent money earner for the Newberrys as apart from her three wins she has also been in the minor prizemoney on 17 occasions in 39 starts.
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Cobram Harness Racing Club is gearing up for its first meeting since March.
On-track action returns to the spacious track and picturesque surroundings on Friday, November 6 with another meeting scheduled for Monday, November 23.
With COVID-19 restrictions still applying spectators at this stage won’t be permitted for the first two meetings at least, although club manager Adam Rudd is hopeful that may change by the new year.
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Meetings coming up:Friday: Mildura (d), Ballarat (n).Saturday: Melton (n).Sunday: Cranbourne (d). Monday: Charlton (d).Tuesday: Bendigo (n). Wednesday: Melton (d), Echuca (n).Thursday: Ballarat (n).
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