Cobram Harness Racing Club’s meeting earlier this month belonged to Samantha Govers, who drove her first winner within an hour of her first drive in a race.
In what was a family affair, the Invergordon driver, 22, saluted on Ramblenroller, trained by her father Stuart for her grandfather and renowned horseman Max Govers, in the Hygain Pace.
Govers had her first drive in the previous race when she partnered Wheresyareallybeen to sixth place.
The day was a special one for Gillieston trainer Russell Thomson when Graciella Pinevale, piloted by Rebecca Bartley, backed up her win at Bendigo the previous week in the Jim Canny Memorial Trotters Handicap to chalk up two successive wins after 23 attempts.
It’s All Business brought a smile to the face of Kennington trainer Shaun McNaulty when the two-year-old colt reined by Michelle Phillips in just his second outing saluted in an impressive pillar to post performance, stopping the clock at 1:58.9 in the Ken and Marjory Wadeson two-year-old pace.
Merrigum trainer/driver Simon Turnbull piloted six-year-old mare Rosa First to her second career win in the Hyland Sportswear Pace to the delight of patrons on a day when only five of the 10 favourites saluted.
A breathtaking photo finish in the Katunga Lucerne Mill Pace between interstate visitors saw five-year-old mare Ginas Gold, superbly reined by Blake Jones, break through for its first win under Coleambally trainer Ellen Bartley, snatching the money from the Albury-trained five-year-old mare Silver Jolt.
Nathan Jack was in red hot form, saluting for Kyabram trainer Bruce Rose with Threepeat in 1:57.2, the fastest mile rate for the meeting.
Scotlynn Beach NZ, trained and driven by Jack, cruised home after sitting in the death for 1400m of the 2170m journey to deliver the Lemnos horseman a driving double.
The VHRSC Pace saw Congupna’s Scott Stewart upset the quaddie punters when he reined Alpe De Huez to a brilliant pillar to post win, running second-placed Flight Officer, driven by Monique Burnett, and punters choice Cruz NZ, reined by Luke Tabone, ragged in the run home to the judge.
It was a breakthrough performance for the five-year-old gelding, having run three seconds in his previous five starts.
Tabone made amends in the next race on the program when he saluted with Better Than That NZ in a thrilling photo finish with David Miles four-year-old mare Six Elements.
The last of the day, the AAA Woolbuyers three-year-old pace, completed a successful afternoon for the northern Victorian trainers when the Steven Duffy-trained and reined Rothko, owned by Shepparton board member Owen Flynn and his wife Chris, were able to hold sway over the Craig Turnbull-trained La Player.
Cobram Harness Racing is indebted to Greg Wadeson, Jan Canny and AAA Woolbuyers, who continue to generously support the club with trophies for their respective races.
The club now turns its energies to organising the Community Pink Ladies Day at the trots on June 3.
The event will be a charity meeting to support the McGrath Foundation and the valued work of the breast care nurses in regional Australia.
by Courier Cobram