Stanley drives home winner
Hamilton driver Jackie Barker and Burrumbeet trainer-driver Michael Stanley took the honours on a nine-event card of harness action at Stawell’s Laidlaw Park.
Barker landed a quartet of winners for the afternoon and Stanley snared a feature double in taking out both the $10,500 James Mcleod Memorial Trophy Pace and $8500 Judith Mcleod Memorial Trophy Pace.
First up from a spell, Stanley’s four-year-old entire Drain The Swamp gave a brilliant display of front running in the ‘James Mcleod’ to score by 18 metres in equaltrack-record time of 1.56.3 over the 2160-metre journey.
Stablemate Let It Linga repeated the dose in the ‘Judith Mcleod’.
Also first up from a spell, the fouryear-old mare led from go to whoa to post an effortless 14-metre victory in a rate of 1.55.7 over the 1785-metre sprint.
Barker landed the first of her four in the opening event of the day with nine-year-old gelding Jack Of The Green in a $7000 Trotters Handicap for her grandfather-trainer Jim Barker and owner Stacey Barker.
The talented horsewoman later reined the stablemates Elli Joh and Jackierabbit to greet the judge for
Elliminyt trainer Julie Brimacombe in a maiden pace.
Barker also combined with Heywood trainer Rebecca East for success with She Will Wantano in a $7000 pace.
Diva delight
Haven’s horse-loving family of Justin, Jo, Morgan and Reilly Lane have enjoyed a marvellous March with their mare Muckinbar Diva, capped off at Bendigo last week with her third successive victory.
The daughter of Shadow Play and Muckinbar Lady with Kerryn Manning aboard, showed brilliant early toe to claim the lead from gate five and from that point on, the result was never in doubt.
Once in front, ‘The Diva’ relaxed beautifully through the middle stages and with ears pricked dashed home in 28.0 seconds to score by 4.4 metres in a rate of 1.56.5 for the 1650-metre dash.
All going well, the Lanes can look forward to the upcoming heats of the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship and hopefully a spot in the $40,000 final at Tabcorp Park on August 6.
Echuca
Victoria’s country cup carnival continued at Echuca on Friday night where the powerful Emma Stewart-clayton Tonkin stable continued its purple patch with a one-two-three finish in the $35,000 Echuca Pacing Cup.
Demon Delight – Jackie Barker – backed up just five days after its win in the Charlton Pacing Cup to add another
trophy to the Hockham family’s mantlepiece.
The six-year-old stallion led all the way to score from Like A Wildfire – Leigh Sutton – and Phoenix Prince – Jodie Quinlan – in a rate of two minutes dead for the 2560-metre journey.
Ouyen
Ouyen buzzed on Sunday afternoon for the town’s 2022 cup day and Charlton’s Sanderson family enjoyed their time in the sun with Equity Stride’s victory in the $14,500 Ouyen Pacing Cup.
With Ryan Sanderson taking the reins for father-trainer Shane, the lightly raced five-year-old held off Naracoorte owner-trainer Greg Scholfield’s four-year-old Stratofortress in a very close finish, with Pocket The Deal – Jack Laugher – third.