Shepparton trainers and drivers were prominent in Breeders Crown heats for two-year-old pacers at the Ballarat on Wednesday night.
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Damian Wilson had a big night, partnering the Clayton Tonkin-trained Major Moth to win a colts and geldings heat.
Claiming a Breeders Crown heat was one of two wins savoured by Wilson at the meeting.
He also won a three-year-old race on the card with the Laura Crossland-trained Iamthefirecracker who won in PB 1:55.8 mile rate time.
Wilson also placed third in another Crown heat on the Crossland-trained Dessie Gee behind the Emma Stewart-trained and David Moran-driven Jacks Hawk in a colts and geldings heat.
Moran also won a fillies heat of the Crown on the unbeaten Stewart-trained Ladies In Red.
Yet another of the Stewart runners Joanna claimed a fillies heat with Amanda Turnbull in the sulky.
Trainer Isabel Walsh produced the Josh Aiken-driven Star Of Timpany for a third placing in the same fillies heat.
The David Aiken-trained and Josh Aiken-driven Mach Hammer and Spock both finished second in their colts and geldings heats.
Breeders Crown heats for three-year-olds take place at tonight’s Bendigo meeting and feature many northern Victorian-trained pacers.
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It was a big weekend for northern Victorian trainers last weekend, headlined by Speak No Evil’s brilliant win in the Group One $100,000 Benstud Queen Of The Pacific Pace for Shepparton trainer-driver Amanda Turnbull.
While Turnbull enjoyed a feature race double at Melton to continue her hot run, Avenel trainer David Aiken and Elmore mentor Keith Cotchin also produced winners at the meeting.
Aiken struck with Brevity and Cotchin with Gooddealehemily, both pacers who were having their second starts for their respective new stables.
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Amanda Turnbull’s big weekend was kick-started at Shepparton on Friday night with a winning training double.
Turnbull produced The Crimson Prince, who was driven by Ryan Duffy, and two-year-old filly Blaze Coops, who she drove herself, for wins.
The Crimson Prince made in two wins in five starts since resuming from a spell and has now saluted nine times with six minor placings in 26 starts.
A daughter of American Ideal, Blaze Coops was having her sixth start in scoring her maiden win in impressive fashion.
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Former Riverina pacer Sheza Runny hasn’t wasted any time getting on the winners’ scoreboard in Victoria.
After finishing third in her Victoria debut on October 26 at Shepparton, Sheza Runny went two better on Friday night to claim her second win in seven starts.
A filly by Fourstazzzshark, Sheza Runny had won at West Wyalong in early October before transferring to the Shepparton stables of David Moran who drove her to victory at Shepparton.
Sheza Runny was the first leg of a driving double for Moran who also partnered the Kasey Kent-trained Reckon Im Smart to a tough win as a hot favourite.
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Rochester trainer Neville Pangrazio loves his squargaiters and he produced another winner at this gait at Shepparton on Friday.
Driven by top reinsman Greg Sugars Willdomxav, a three-year-old gelding by underrated sire Tennotrump, was able to get the better of the Damian Wilson-trained and driven Kilarney Heidi and the Brian Bourke-trained and Laura Crossland-driven Starlight Red in a tight finish.
Willdomxav was having his ninth trip to the races with his previous seven outings producing one placing.
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Wahring horseman Daniel Jack completed a hat-trick of driving successes on former Riverina-trained Pearls For Tash on Friday night at Shepparton.
A winner at Echuca on October 21 and Bendigo on October 28, Pearls Of Tash was having her ninth start for trainer Mary Ann-Mifsud.
Pearls For Tash had to do some work in the final lap from midfield to prevail in a spirited battle with the John Newberry-trained and Matt Newberry-driven Tweet About It.
A four-year-old daughter of Shadow Play, Pearls For Tash was formerly trained by top Riverina horseman Bruce Harpley.
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Patience was rewarded for trainer Rosie Weidenbach when pacer Goodlooking Rooster saluted at Shepparton last Friday.
Winless in 18 previous starts for Weidenbach, Goodlookin Rooster upset the more fancied runners as a $35 chance in a tough performance.
Goodlookin Rooster had to sit parked for the entire 1690 m trip and was up to the challenge.
Driven by Olivia Weidenbach, Goodlookin Rooster accounted for the John Newberry-trained pacesetter A Good Knight and the Gary Merkel-prepared Argy Bargy in a district trifecta.
It was the Christian Cullen six-year-old's fifth win in 58 starts.
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Four-year-old trotter Nickys Son opened his winning account for trainer-driver Clive Dalton last Friday at Geelong.
Nickys Son had clocked up six minor placings in 14 starts prior to stepping out at Geelong where he spreadeagled his rivals in a bold front running display.
He beat the runner-up Kaylasister by more than 25 m.
Nickys Son is another of the Imperial Count progeny who have made a mark although given few breeding chances in Australia before heading for New Zealand.
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Reinsman Josh Aiken was on the ball in an interview when he was asked to name any of the Aiken runners who were worth following.
He declared Aldebaran Crescent and those who took his advice and put some of their hard-earned on were well rewarded at Redwood Day at Maryborough last Sunday.
The five-year-old Majestic Son mare came with a strong finishing burst to edge out the Finley-owned trotter Peregrine Pheonix in slick 1:57.4 mile rate time for the 1609 m dash which was a PB.
The bonus was Aldebaran Crescent paid $16.50 for the win.
It was Adlebaran Crescent’s eighth win in 28 starts and her first since scoring at Shepparton on August 11, six starts previously.
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Kyabram trainer Fiona Widdup’s patience with veteran pacer Murano paid off on Tuesday when the nine-year-old gelding delivered the goods at Charlton.
Murano was having his 182nd start and had not won since saluting at Menangle in May last year, 41 starts previously.
Matt Gath drove Murano, who was a 27 times winner and had been placed on 34 occasions before joining the Widdup stables.
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Racing returns to Cobram today for the club’s first meeting since the autumn — and COVID-19.
Meetings coming up:
Friday: Cobram (d), Bendigo (n).
Saturday: Melton (n).
Sunday: Kilmore (d).
Monday: Horsham (d).
Tuesday: Swan Hill (n).
Wednesday: Geelong (n).
Thursday: Maryborough (d), Shepparton (n).
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