Alabar Bloodstock stallion Village Jasper left the first two winners, Lombo Air Express and two-year-old Lilla ($13.80).

Showing exemplary manners, Lilla led from the outset and was completly untroubled to notch her first win from seven outings.

She was bred and is raced by Maryborough identity Len Parker and trained and driven by Tony Berg.

Former Kiwi Our Madagascar provided the 'run of the day'. Starting from inside the back row, the Falcon Seelster gelding had only two behind him on settling down.

Switched three wide in the last lap, he gained a lovely cart into the race before being taken four wide on the home turn.

Our Madagascar finished resolutely to cut down Breenys Trouble in the last stride.

Ballarat - July 20

Romsey horseman John Ryan experienced the highs and lows of harness racing in the space of 24 hours on July 20.

The night before Ryan's father Frank, one of Australia's best known trotting administrators, passed away at the age of 80.

John later geared up promising youngster Artillery Fire ($3.30), an Art Major half-brother to top mare Jazzam, to lead most of the way and secure his first win at Ballarat.

Scott Dyer was the winning driver.

The finish to Race 3 had most punters guessing about the outcome. Four horses crossed the line together with the judge unable to separate Room With A View ($2.90 fav.) and Total Asset (7).

Orphamoyne and Keayang Princess were only inches away, third and fourth respectively.

Craig Demmler and John Caldow shared the driving honours on the night with each landing a winning double.

Demmler won with his own nomnation Frank Cullen ($16.90) and System Two ($29.40), trained by Phillip Chircop, while Caldow hoisted wins behind Sarum Prince ($2.50 fav.) and Close Shave Lombo ($5.40).

Sarum Prince, a member of Geoff Dodd's Romsey barn, sizzled in a 1:57.7 mile rate with the last half in 56.8 seconds.

Peter WHARTON