In The Winners Circle - with Len Baker

JANUARY 9  -  BOORT@CHARLTON

New Gisborne owner/breeder/trainer Sean Portelli’s 9-Y-0 Armbro Operative/Megellan Clouds (Nuke Of Earl) gelding Greater Magellan made a return to the winners list, when successful in the Loddon Transit & Whitmore Busline Pace.

Taking a concession for nomadic Ash Wharton, Greater Magellan starting from inside the second line was given the run of the race trailing the polemark leader and last start Echuca winner Ifwegowellgo and always appeared to be travelling.

Using the sprint lane, Greater Magellan dashed through to gain the lead in the shadows of the post, scoring by 1.7 metres in a rate of 1-59.9 over Alluring Lombo which raced in the open, with Waterslide (one/one) third.

It was Greater Magellan’s 10th victory in 132 outings, having last greeted the judge at Kilmore in May 2010.

 

JANUARY 10  -  SHEPPARTON

Avenel trainer/driver Juanita Breen’s honest 5-Y-0 Live Or Die/Takestwototango (Whats Next) gelding Callnineoneone returned to the winners list, when victorious in the Davidson Cameron Yearling Sale 22nd January Pace for C1 class over 1690 metres.

Starting from outside the front row, Callnineoneone was trapped six wide into the first turn with plenty of speed under him, moving a little closer turning out of the straight to be four wide before settling outside the pacemaker Illawong Lipstick (gate two).

Joining the leader at the straight entrance with the roughie Statelyness three wide outside the pair, Callnineoneone’s class told over the concluding stages as he safely held Statelyness to score by 2.3 metres in 2-01.2, with Knapdale Guy using the sprint lane for third after trailing Illawong Lipstick.

It was Callnineoneone’s 6th success in 37 outings.

 

JANUARY 11  -  YARRA VALLEY

Graeme and Gavin Lang brought up two wins in a row with 4-Y-0 Bettors Delight/Red Hot Mamma (Albert Albert) mare Well Hello Dolly who snared the Harness Breeders (Vic) Pace for C1 & C2 class (mares) over 2150 metres.

Showing surprising speed to lead from gate three, Well Hello Dolly had the race in her keeping a long way out, scoring by 1.5 metres in advance of Stylish Jasper from last in a rate of 2-05.7, with Ilquello Veloce (one/two) third after switching down to the sprint lane in the straight.

 

JANUARY 11 – NYAH

Charlton’s John Tormey has a very smart Mcardle/Heritage Listed (Perfect Art) gelding by the name of Saint Petersburg who was a strong victor of the Kiel Plumbing 3-Y-0 Pace over 2170 metres.

First up since August 11, Saint Petersburg from gate two driven by daughter Ellen was forced to do all of the work outside the polemarker Shezagrinner, proving equal to the task by scoring impressively over the leader in a rate of 2-04.6. Mcardles Art (three wide last lap) ran home nicely for third.

With a record of three wins and 3 placings from 9 race appearances, Saint Petersburg has a future.

 

JANUARY 12  -  TP MELTON

Popular local trainer/driver Ken Tippet snared the Yeomans Slate & Stone Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres with 4-Y-0 Western Terror/Minnie The Moocher (Astreos) gelding Steely Blue much to the delight of wife Sue who holds a share of him.

Given an easy time three back the markers, Steely Blue from gate two followed the heavily supported Ollington (gate three) which trailed the leader Demolition Dave (gate four) throughout.

When Ollington eased away from the inside on turning to tackle the pacemaker, Steely Blue was saved for a last shot at him and when asked to respond, finished full of running to score by a neck in a rate of 2-00.3, with Demolition Dave 8.7 metres away in third place.

 

JANUARY 12  -  BALLARAT

There was elation all round following the running of the Baxter & Stubbs Printers Pace for C1 class over 1710 metres, as the winner was 7-Y-0 Caprock/Yeo Jess(Keystone Scotch)  entire Glenburn Rock for Weering breeder/owner/trainer/driver John Devine who has been out of the winners list since March 2010 when Glenburn Rock last tasted success.

Trapped in the open from gate three, Glenburn Rock gained cover at the expense of Monarco Playboy (gate five) shortly after the start, receiving a cosy trip for most of the race.

Easing three wide approaching the home turn, Glenburn Rock ran home strongly to gain the day in advance of Nalangil (four wide home turn from last) in a rate of 2-00.6, with Hei Egyptian Reine third after trailing the weakening leader Cullens Dancer and being held up for a clear run.

It was Glenburn Rock’s 2nd success in 41 outings.

 

JANUARY 13  -  MARYBOROUGH

Stawell’s Terry Croton landed the Bendigo Bank Maryborough Pace for C1 class over 2190 metres with reliable 5-Y-0 Cammibest/Belachar (gelding Jerry Marshall, leading throughout from the pole to score from Western Lover which raced outside him, with Fernleigh Raider (three back the markers) third.

Driven by Michael Bellman, Jerry Marshall returned a rate of 2-01.6.

 

JANUARY 13  -  OUYEN@MELTON

Bacchus Marsh trainer/driver Scott Phelan who stables at Jodi Quinlan’s Parwan property, was successful with 4-Y-0 Grinfromeartoear/Dacca mare Take Time To Smile – taking out the Ouyen Inc. Pace for C0 class (mares) over 1720 metres.

Restrained from outside the front line to settle at the tail of the field, Take Time To Smile came with a late finish to overhaul the pacemaker and favourite Shez The Barmaid over the concluding stages in a rate of 1-59.1, with Dance With Mia third after following the leader throughout.

 

JANUARY 14  -  BENDIGO

Ballarat HRC CEO Paul Rowse, part-owner/trainer of 9-Y-0 home bred Village Jasper/Painted Black gelding Decorated Jasper was all smiles after winning the $50,000 PETstock Bendigo Pacing Cup for M0 or better class over 2650 metres at Lord’s Raceway with him.

Driven as usual by Jodi Quinlan, Decorated Jasper from the pole led throughout in accounting for Villagem (three wide last lap) and Captain Joy (three back the markers) in a rate of 1-57.3 (last half 56 seconds – quarter 27.6).

Apart from Paul, Decorated Jasper is raced by father Ken, brother Peter and close family friend Garry Mannington.

 

JANUARY 15  -  HAMILTON

Bannockburn trainer/driver Geoffrey Webster snared the $25,000 Matthews Petroleum Hamilton Pacing Cup for M0 or better class (Discretionary Handicapped) over 2660 metres with ex-Kiwi 7-Y-0 Christian Cullen/Jaz Atom gelding Lets Slash An Burn.

Raced by Sanzaro Racing Pty Ltd, Lets Slash An Burn stepped cleanly to possie four back in the moving line, where as stablemate and favourite Our Arlington missed away from the pole settling in a tight pocket three back along the markers.

Taking off three wide within a lap after Peter Tonkin’s Devilish Smile had moved around the leader Arber to assume the front running role, Lets Slash An Burn had a decent attempt for the lead which proved unsuccessful, leaving him posted without cover for the remainder of the journey.

Despite the tough passage, Lets Slash An Burn joined Devilish Smile at the straight entrance and in a slogging finish, prevailed by 1.7 metres in advance of Arber which surprisingly eased three wide on turning instead of using the sprint lane, with Devilish Smile a further 3.8 metres away in third place.

A winner of the 2010 Cobram Pacing Cup and 2011 Geelong Rocket among his 18 victories, Lets Slash An Burn returned a mile rate of 2-00.6 for the journey (last half mile 57.8 – quarter 28.2).