Punters betting on the Ararat trots on Tuesday were subjected to a number of rough results, resulting in the TAB Quaddie paying a massive dividend of $31,107.80 for a one dollar outlay.
Leg one – the Chally’s Bar & Bistro Concessional Driver Of The Year for C2 & C3 class over 1790 metres going the way of $46.50 chance LongTan Bliss guaranteeing a healthy payout regardless of what the other legs presented.
Trained at Concongella (Stawell) by Owen Martin, Longtan Bliss (Blissful Hall/Longtan Ebony) taking a concession for son-in-law Michael Sullivan settled mid-field in the moving line from gate two on the second line, with the speedy Our Bedrock taking over from gate four.
Sent forward three-wide solo in the final circuit, Longtan Bliss outstayed his rivals to score by a half-head in a thrilling finish over Lynden Abbey which gained a late split after spending most of the race along the markers, with Gnotuk a gutsy third after facing the breeze 1.2 metres away. The mile rate 2-00.5.
The second leg – The Jason Bond Memorial Pace for C1 class over 1790 metres saw $2.70 favourite Im Intense (Four Starzzz Shark/Oh Ren Ishi) successful for Melton’s Beau Tindale with Jason Lee in the sulky taking a concession.
Trapped in the open from gate three, Im Intense gained cover at the expense of Pelling at the bell and when eased wide on straightening, put the race beyond doubt in a couple of bounds to register a 6.4-metre victory from Doyouseewhatisee which followed the winner throughout. Mac Department finished third after using the sprint lane off the back of the weakening leader Frosty Orielly. The mile rate 2-00.8.
The Peter Manning trained and Jason Lee driven Union Guy/Miss Incline 7-Y-0 gelding Garabaldi Union returned to form in the third leg – the Ararat HRC Horse Of The Year Pace for C4 to C6 class over 2195 metres, paying $34.90.
Bred and raced by former HRV Board member Peter Bourke, Garabaldi Union led virtually throughout from gate two, rallying after appearing to be a spent force approaching the home turn when the runner-up Farmersandtradies seemed to have his measure.
Showing terrific fighting qualities, Garabaldi Union prevailed by a half-neck, with Our Supreme Guy a neck away in third place after easing three wide in the straight. The mile rate 2-00.1.
Eight-year-old Washington VC/Relentless Lady gelding Electric Ollie gave Beau Tindale a double and Jason Lee a treble when a huge victor of leg four – the Victorian Police Service Blue Ribbon Foundation Claiming Pace over 2195 metres in a rate of 1-58.1.
Trapped wide from gate six, Lee pressed forward to assume control and Electric Ollie careered away in the last lap to blitz his rivals by 36.9 metres in advance of Our Mels Dream from last to give the stable the quinella. Accountability was a further 13.5 metres away in third place after a mid-field passage.
The opening event on the program went to local owner/trainer/driver Emma Hamblin’s 8-Y-0 Village Lasper/Ive Got Rhythm gelding Broadway Classic.
Moving the wide from mid-field at the bell after starting from gate three on the second line, Broadway Classic joined the pacemaker Babalaas Jack on the home turn and proved far too strong over the concluding stages, scoring by 2.6 metres in 2-00.5 over Babalaas Jack and Sassy Man which ran on late fron mid-field along the markers.
Armstrong dup Brooke Hansen (trainer) and Leroy O’Brien (driver) combined to land the R & L Emerson Trainer Of The Year Pace for C0 class over 1790 metres with ex-trotter Illawong Dreamtime, a 5-Y-0 gelded son of Grinfromeartoear and Illawong Dream.
Raced by Tim O’Brien, Illawong Dreamtime led throughout from gate two and after being rated to perfection by the local plumber, ran out a 5.7-metre victor over Showem Shifty which trailed and Shadow Of Fortune which faced the open for the last lap. The mile rate 2-03.3.
Hamilton trainer David Lewis snared the Sgt John McNally Memorial Pace for C0 class over 1790 metres with 4-Y-0 Jeremes Jet/Frosty Mattina mare Ennaellie in a rate of 2-04.8.
With stable reinsman John Caldow in the sulky, Ennaellie starting from gate six was trapped three wide before set alight shortly after the start to take over and from there on, the issue was never in doubt, scoring by 6.5 metres from a death-seating Audaz Bonita and Vision And Courage which trailed the winner after leading out from gate four.
Octogenarian Daylesford trainer Bob Conroy combined with son Glenn to land the Dr John Brennan Trotter Of The Year Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2165 metres with 30 metre backmarker Button Brigade in a mile rate of 2-05.
Driven patiently, Button Brigade moved to possie three back along the markers after a number of runners went off stride, with Bee Are Dee running along at the head of affairs.
Extricated to be three wide running into the final bend, Button Brigade (Band Of Chips/Red Buttons) was too strong over the concluding stages to register a 14.6 metre margin over the Glenn Sharp (Longlea) stablemates Tella Tall Tale from a mile back and Spud which faced the breeze.
It was Button Brigade’s 12th success in 154 outings.
by Len Baker
Harness Racing Victoria