Great Western harness racing sisters Michelle and Kerryn Manning combined to land the Wedderburn HRC 2-Y-0 Pacers Handicap over 1650 metres with Village Jasper/All In Good Time gelding Aheadofhistime who was making his second race appearance after finishing third at Maryborough on December 30.
Settling five back along the markers after a slow beginning from barrier four, Kerryn eased Aheadofhistime away from the inside approaching the bell to lead up the outside division.
Cruising to the front on straightening, Aheadofhistime scored by an easy 14.4 metres in advance of Say Cheese which followed the leader and third placegetter Lucy Cassandra in a mile rate of 2-02.
Kerryn Manning herself provided in-form 4-Y-0 Bettors Delight/Starling gelding Our Blackbird to register a huge victory in the Bendigo HRC Country Clubs Championship (3rd Heat) for C6 or better class over 2150 metres.
Exploding away from gate five, Our Blackbird led throughout to win in a breeze from Franco Tijuana which raced outside him in a rate of 1-56.7 and in doing so, brought up a hat trick of wins. Matty Chrimes ran home well from mid-field to finish third.
Popular local trainer Trevor Monk was in the winners stall at his home track, when consistent 4-Y-0 Red River Hanover/River Radio gelding Red Riverbed greeted the judge in the Charlton HRC Pace for C0 class over 2150 metres.
Driven by Bendigo based Scott Dyer, Red Riverbed from gate four was trapped wide running into the first turn, before pressing forward to assume control from Seca Dream (gate one).
Allowed to bowl along at his leisure, Red Riverbed proved superior to his rivals in accounting for Seca Dream which had every opportunity of running him down along the sprint lane, with Mandean Chief (three wide last lap) third from last. The mile rate 2-01.4.
Great Western’s Warren Bird snared the St Arnaud HRC Trotters Handicap for T3 or better class over 2650 metres at Bendigo with 6-Y-0 Malabar Maple/Chiolas Luck gelding Looks A Moral in a rate of 2-03.9.
With Greg Sugars in the bike, Looks A Moral trotted to perfection outside the pacemaker Sunnys Bar after coming from the 10 metre mark.
Striding to the front on turning, Looks A Moral was a sitting target for those back in the field which had enjoyed easy runs, but defied all challengers to score by 1.1 metres from the 20 metre backmarker Prettylilangeleyes (three wide last lap from last) and Sunset Truscott which had every chance one/one.