Tuesday night (July 24) harness racing at Ballarat featured a further three heats of the 2012 Breeders Crown Series for 2-Y-0 Colts & Geldings over 2200 metres.
Heat 9 was a walk in the park for the Mark Purdon trained and driven all American bred Bettors Delight/Contrapan gelding Border Control.
Beginning swiftly from outside the front row, Border Control a prohibitive $1.04 favourite coasted at the head of affairs, winning by a conservative 18.8 metres in advance of Rising Power (three back the markers) and Aheadofhistime which trailed the winner all of the way in a rate of 2-00.3 (last half 56.9 – quarter 27.8).
Heat 10 was a blowout for punters when Blissful Hall/Lotsa Wealth gelding Ginger Bliss defeated the almost unbackable favourite Major Star from Pukekohe trainer/driver Brent Mangos’ stable.
Trainer at Mt Cottrell (Melton) by John Nicholson and driven by son Rhys who is presently having a stint with David Aiken in Avenel, Ginger Bliss first up since winning at Albion Park in May, speared away from gate five to lead, before surrendering to Major Star shortly after.
Easing away from the inside on turning, Ginger Bliss finished too well for a most disappointing Major Star ($1.10) in a rate of 2-01.3 (half 57.4 – quarter 27.7), with Bliss Man third after facing the breeze for the final circuit.
Favourite backers were heading straight to the bar following heat 11, when hot favourite Lennytheshark ($1.30) was beaten – the winner being Four Starzzz Shark/Sayaka colt Keayang Starzzz for Terang’s Marg Lee and nephew reinsman Glen Craven.
Settling last after galloping wildly in the score up from gate six, Keayang Starzzz did a fair bit of chasing to be three back in the moving line after Lennytheshark which had raced roughly and galloped as the start was effected, showed a slick turn of speed when balanced to let rip and cross the pacemaker Fiddlers Three.
Driven brilliantly, Keayang Starzzz saved ground by switching down to three back along the markers in the last lap, before easing three wide on the final bend to give chase to Lennytheshark and the well supported Flaming Flutter which had enjoyed a sweet one/one trip from inside the second line.
Finishing his race off in fine fashion, Keayang Starzzz scored by 3.1 metres in a rate of 2-01 (half 57.8 – 28.2) over Flaming Flutter, with Lennytheshark weakening to finish third.
Long Forest trainer Andy Gath’s N-S-W Derby runner-up Regal Knight had an easy victory in the Flying Horse Bistro Pacers Handicap for C1 or better class over 2200 metres.
Beginning safely but slowly from the pole at his first standing start attempt, Regal Knight settled four back along the markers, with Emma Stewart’s Dee Millane flying away from barrier four to lead with ease.
Moving to be one/one after travelling half a lap, Kate Gath allowed Regal Knight to stride clear at the bell and from there on, the result was never in doubt, winning by 11.9 metres in 2-04.5 from Dee Millane and The Storm Attack.
A gelded son of Real Desire and Robelle, Regal Knight has raced 17 times for 6 wins.
** At Geelong the day before, Coimadai (Toolern Vale) trainer Adam Kelly who is enjoying his best season ever, snared the Next Race Meet 2nd August Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2100 metres with the heavily supported Jennas Beach Boy/Supreme Affair 4-Y-0 gelding Five OClock Affair.
Driven by stable reinsman Gavin Lang who has made a strong resurgence back into the sport of late, Five OClock Affair from outside the front row was sent forward at the start to park in the open outside Tony Peacock’s bold front runner We Never Say Die, receiving cover mid-race when John Justice moved Tyler Bromac forward to shadow the leader.
Easing three wide on the final bend, Five OClock Affair wasn’t pushed out to score by a head over the pacemaker in 1-59.2, with Shandon Village (three back the markers) closing late when clear to finish third.