The Lord’s Raceway story was Rod Lakey last night, the resuming reinsman who, after 14 years out of the sulky, has not missed a beat since his racetrack return earlier this month.
Lakey’s winning double last night came aboard two long-shots, and he is quickly making a name for himself as someone who can land the knockout blow aboard unwanted commodities in the betting.
The first winner came in the opener, the World’s Best Hoof Oil Pace, aboard Tiza Nightmare for trainer Shane Organ (pictured absolutely dominating his rivals!).
Tiza Nightmare, a nine-year-old son of Tiz A Masterpiece, drew away for a 13.7-metre win in a mile rate of 1:59.2 over 2150m.
Lakey then struck in the seventh race, the Aldebaran Park Trot, aboard Ray Cross-trained Honey Please.
The $29 shot upstaged $2.4 favourite Zarem in a rate of 2:00.8.
Jayden Brewin and Ellen Tormey also drove winning doubles on the card.
Brewin steered three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding Adam Crocker to a 1.9m win over All Whitey Then in 1:54.7 over 1650m, before doubling up a race later aboard smart mare Leigha Miller – a Gary Donaldson-trained daughter of Art Major.
Tormey’s successes came aboard Wicked Azz for trainer Kate Hargreaves, the three-year-old Pet Rock filly upstaging stablemate Naamark by a head in 1:56.2 over 1650m, and Courageous Saint at odds in the Schweppes Pace for trainer Glenn Douglas.
Meanwhile, Betternbetter took out the Alabar Bloodstock Pace for trainer Keith Cotchin and talented young driver Tayla French, while Paying Your Way captured the Great Ocean Road Real Estate Pace for trainer Daryl Pace and driver Matt Gath.
First-Starter Form
Your guide to today’s trots debutants
Kilmore Tonight
Race 4
Jo Rocks (2yo filly by Pet Rock out of Our Ruby Banner, trained by David Miles and driven by Jayden Barker)
Jo Rocks is out of 10-time winning mare Our Ruby Banner, who pocketed $101k and rated 1:54.0. She is Our Ruby Banner’s first foal to the races. Our Ruby Banner was a half-sister to multiple winners Dudley Poplar and Mister XJ.
Holi Starzzz (2yo filly by Four Starzzz Shark out of Paintball, trained and driven by David Miles).
Holi Starzzz is the third foal to the races from well-performed Art Major mare Paintball. Holi Starzzz is a half-sister to The Pantheist, who has won four from 13 for David Miles, and also Balterra. Paintball won 11 races from 55 starts and finished fourth in the 2011 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final behind Secret Desire, La Machane and Blazeaway Macray.
Asante Sana (2yo filly by Courage Under Fire out of Braeview Creation, trained by Alison Alford and driven by Chris Alford)
A half-sister to Braeview Bondi, Asante Sana is out of Caprock mare Universal First, whose progeny included Lils Dream.
Thetrots.com.au – Cody Winnell