Elmore Cup at last for Svanosio

IT WAS a case of fourth time lucky for popular Bendigo horseman Chris Svanosio in Wednesday’s O’Sullivan’s Transport Elmore Pacing Cup.

Svanosio partnered the Denis McIntyre trained Dot The Eye to an upset in the $4000 feature after three previous seconds in the race.

While punters shied away from the Shadow Play five-year-old, a $17 chance on the tote, Svanosio wasn’t surprised with the win.

“I know his form didn’t look all that good but he has had no luck in recent runs. He’s had a placing in the Breeders Crown and is a good type. For a change everything fell into place and he got the job done,” added Svanosio.

Dot The Eye accounted for second favourite Artoripace and the rank outsider Bettor Than That, a 78/1 shot, in the 2180m feature for R2-4 class pacers.

The Glen Douglas trained Franco Rebel was confidently supported from $13 into $2.90 favouritism but beat only two runners home after having every chance.

Svanosio said he wasn’t aware he had finished second three times in the race previously until revealed by the course commentator.

“I knew I had driven in a few (Elmore) cups and had even driven in them when they were being held at Echuca and Shepparton,” Svanosio said.

Northern Victorian trainers produced three winners at the meeting held in stifling conditions.

And two of these were driven by Byrneside horseman Damian Wilson.

Wilson won on Winkin Nod, a pacer he trains, and also on the Echuca trained pacer I Its Me.

Wilson’s growing reputation of revitalising the careers of out-ofform and veteran pacers was evident again in Winkin Nod’s win.

Winkin Nod had been placed only twice in 12 outings prior to Wilson taking over his training. He has now given the seven-year-old three starts for a third, second and now a win.

And Winkin Nod’s winning mile rate of 1.58.3 was second only in mile rates in the 10 event meeting to Ladyrocknrolla, who went 1.57.9 winning over the same 1780m trip.

In contrast the I Its Me, trained by Echuca’s Rob Caldwell, rated a leisurely 2.04.8 to get the job done from a second two draw after finding the lead early in the race when interference disrupted the small field.

Shepparton horseman Dave Farrar also tasted success at the meeting with Hayjoshandco who was partnered by concession reinsman Jack Laugher.

Laugher was sitting second last at the bell on Hayjoshandco but let the seven-year-old stride around the field in the back straight the last time and he was too good for his rivals.

In exactly the same promotion last year Hayjoshandco was second in his heat and third in the final.

Bendigo trained Life Long Voyage caused the biggest upset of the meeting in taking a heat of the C1 Only series at odds of 110/1.