Regional success at Stawell
Stawell Harness Racing Club staged a successful nineevent program at Laidlaw Park and plenty of regional stables enjoyed success.
Dancingallalone took out the Trotters Handicap for Ararat trainer Phillip Ralph, driver Neil Mccallum and proud owners, the Ralph, Cocks and Dudman families.
The lightly raced four-year-old gelding stepped away smartly when the tapes were released and led the field early. But he lost stride on the first turn, and when back to a trot, settled on the back of leader Keepthedream for the remainder of the 2180-metre journey.
Mccallum eased away from the pegs at the top of the home stretch and set sail after Keepthedream, which had booted clear of the pack. Dancingallalone balanced up and overhauled the frontrunner to score by three metres with Someones Singing a further five metres away in third place.
The ‘local trainer’s trifecta’ of Ralph, Exell and Giles was a popular result for racegoers.
Home-town win
Stawell horseman Owen Martin enjoyed a home-track victory when four-year-old mare Marjorie Jean took out The Weekly Advertiser C0 Pace, first up after a fivemonth break from racing.
A neat piece of driving by Fabian Bigmore saw ‘Marjorie’ find the back of the leader by the time the field had gone 150 metres, after starting from the three-wide spot on the second line.
It’s been a while between drinks for owner Steve West since Marjorie Jean last saluted – some seven months and 15 starts ago – cheers!
Eleven wins
Smart four-year-old Armstrong mare Imprincessgemma made it 11 career victories from just 23 attempts when successful at Stawell.
Imprincessgemma won the Laidlaw Family C2-3 Pace for trainers Leroy and Danny O’brien, driver Jason Lee and owner Sharyn O’brien. ‘Gemma’ led the small field a merry dance over the 2180-metre journey and dashed home in 28.0 seconds to score by two metres in a rate of 1:57.6.
Promise
The Horsham stable of Barry and Aaron Dunn also enjoyed a spot in the winner’s circle at Stawell when the lightly raced five-yearold gelding Regardless got the judge’s nod in a very tight finish to a C4-6 Pace.
Regardless and $2.90 favourite King Of The Stars forged away from the rest of the pack and settled down to a real ding-dong duel over the final 400 metres.
Halfway up the home straight, King Of The Stars looked to have the race in his keeping, but Regardless found another effort and bought up his eighth victory from 24 starts.
Top treble
A special mention to Ararat reinsman Michael Bellman, who notched up a treble at Stawell.
This took him to sixth spot on the Victorian driver’s premiership table with 44 winners.
Important causes
For the next six weeks throughout Australia and New Zealand the harness racing industry is supporting Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Until March 11, all women harness racing drivers will wear specially designed teal pants to raise money and promote awareness for the Women’s Cancer Foundation.
Harness Racing Victoria and Tabcorp will kick in $200 for every winner booted home on Victorian tracks by the girls in teal pants.
HRV has agreed to extend its commitment to the cause by an extra day, which will see the Horsham club host the ‘Team Teal Finale’ at its Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers Championship race meeting on March 11.