Having his first outing since May, Mister Rhys began at 100 miles an hour from the 20 metre mark in the $8,000 feature over 2700 metres to tackle the rank outsider Dark Shadow which also began with a wing on every foot from 10 metres to lead.

Unsuccessful in his bid, Mister Rhys was eased to trail the leader, with Kerryn Manning sending By The Sword forward to park in the open.

When Lance Justice made a swift move on the 40 metre back marker Ohoka Utah making his first appearance since winning the Easter Cup at Launceston back in April to face the breeze mid-race, By The Sword gained cover.

With little change until the final circuit when Talamahara moved wide to try and issue a challenge being trailed by Road To Rainbow, Dark Shadow was still in front on turning.

Extricated into the clear on straightening, Mister Rhys finished full of running to score by 2.6 metres in 2-04, with Ohoka Utah a game third.

A winner of 20 with 39 placings from 108 outings, Mister Rhys has earnt in excess of $150,000 in stakes.

First success

Former pacer Zanzi Bromac opened his winning account when successful in the VHRT&DA 3-Y-0 Trotters Handicap over 2200 metres.

Trained at Dunnstown (Ballarat) by David Murphy and driven by Gavin Lang, Zanzi Bromac a gelded son of Red River Hanover and Zanzibar began safely from barrier two and given plenty of time to find his feet, settled mid-field along the markers.

Moving to be one/one, Zanzi Bromac was left in the open at the bell, before crossing down to the inside to give chase to the running leader and favourite Mals Image in the final circuit.

Easing to the outside on turning, Zanzi Bromac ran home stylishly to overhaul the leader in winning by a 7 metre margin on the wire in a rate of 2-06.3, with the backmarker Kan Yu third.

• The duo were to chalk up a double when quality 3-Y-0 colt Franco Newsman (a Victoria Derby Heat winner) toyed with his rivals in the Southern Grampians Shire Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2200 metres.

Moving three wide from mid-field at the bell, Franco Newsman (Falcon Seelster/New Review) trailed Rythm of The Pride in the last lap and when taken four wide on the final bend, cruised home to score from a death-seating Status Seeker and On Fire in 2-02.1.

Debut victory

Beautifully bred Rustler Hanover/Jilliby Magic gelding Jilliby Rusty scored a first-up victory in the Matthews Petroleum 2-Y-0 Pace over 2200 metres for Great Western's Kerryn Manning in a rate of 2-03.6.

Given a beaut passage from gate two on the back of the pacemaker and favourite Ohoka Detroit (gate four), Jilliby Rusty when taken away from the markers on turning, finished his race off in grand style to nab Ohoka Detriot right on the wire in a finish which tricked many. Aristos Way ran on late from last at the bell for third.

Two in a row

Glenn Douglas has revitalized ex-Kiwi 9-Y-0 gelding Everton Star racing at his peak, bringing up two claiming victories in a row - the latest in the Alexandra House Claiming Pace over 2200 metres on Monday.

Given the run of the race one/one from a solo second line draw following the favourite Mighty Maurie, Everton Star (The Gladiator/Everton Princess) nabbed Mighty Maurie over the concluding stages to score easily on the wire in 2-02.3, with Magic Spark third after following the pair.

Handy type

Four year old Village Jasper/Ech Fillee gelding Fremarksrufus has always shown ability and snared his 4th victory in taking out the Graham Torbet Memorial Pace for C1 class over 2200 metres.

A winner in restricted grade at Tabcorp Park Melton on June 20, Fremarksrufus with Colac's Courtney Slater driving for partner trainer Mark Driscoll travelled kindly throughout the event from gate two after leading out, then surrendering to Advanced Crossing drawn next to him running into the first turn.

Easing off the markers to challenge approaching the home turn, Fremarksrufus proved too strong at the business end of proceedings for Advanced Crossing which battled on gamely, with the well supported Rhys Lightning a gap away third in a rate of 2-01.2.

Len BAKER