Victoria’s leading reinsman of last season Chris Alford made a rare visit to Swan Hill on Sunday and finished the afternoon with a double – I Am I Cried and PleadThe Fifth.

Lightly raced 10Y0 Wind Cries Maori-Diamond Copy gelding I Am I Cried trained at Riddell in the Macedon Ranges by John Heffer, brought up two wins in succession when successful in the Tennotrump @ Northern Rivers Equine Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2240 metres. Making only his 32nd race appearance, I Am I Cried coming from 20 metres enjoyed a charmed passage one/one following Spirit Walker which started from the same mark to park outside the leader Tenno Sho which was quick to begin from 10 metres.
Easing three wide on turning, I Am I Cried despite running about, prevailed by a half neck from Tenno Sho which refused to give in, with Bridie Okane a half neck away in third place after trailing the runner up and using the sprint lane. The mile rate 2-04.7.

Bungaree trainer/driver Michael Stanley snared a stable double at the Swan Hill HRC fixture last Thursday, winning with American Ideal-Flair For Life colt American Zest in the Sebastian K @ Trump Bloodstock 2Y0 Pace over 1750 metres and Falcon Seelster-Striking Sally gelding Sammy Strikes in the Decron 3Y0 Pace over the same journey.

American Zest making his third appearance at the races, led for the majority of the journey from gate four to account for first starter Brackenred (three back the markers) which flashed home to go down by a nose in a tricky finish, with Im Joey Jones third after trailing the winner. The mile rate 1-58.7.

Local part-owner/trainer Des Hilton’s very honest home bred 5Y0 Live Or Die-Sokin Wet gelding Itmademyday was victorious in the Virbac Stategy-T Pace for C3 to C5 class over 2240 metres last Thursday.

Raced in partnership with Arthur Graham, Itmademyday was driven by Ararat freelance Michael Bellman who made the long journey from Hamilton after driving a winner there during the afternoon. Crossing to lead from gate four, Itmademyday was eased running into the first turn to allow the heavily supported Sluggem to cross over from outside the front line, receiving a cosy trip for the majority of the race. Using the sprint lane, Itmademyday finished his race off strongly to prevail by 1.7 metres over the pacemaker in a mile rate of 1-57.6. Times A Bonus was 7.3 metres away in third place after racing in the open.

Terang based trio Marg Lee, son Jason and nephew Glen Craven made the long trip form Terang to Swan Hill a happy one last Tuesday after winning two races at the Swan Hill Trots program.

Marg provided first starter Jilliby Madonna to land the HR Products 2YO Pace over 1750 metres and 3Y0 gelding Jilliby Bandit the Toro Australia Group Pace for C2 class over 2240 metres.

Former Sandgropers the Ainsworth family who are based at Moyriesk in-between Avoca and St Arnaud, took the honours at last Tuesday’s Swan Hill meeting with a stable double – father Barry providing 7Y0 Majestic Son-Steffi Jay gelding Jaden Gil to land the Congratulations Jason Lee Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2240 metres with son Ashley in the sulky who later in the night captured the Swan Hill Holden Pace for C0 class over 2240 metres with 5Y0 The Warp Drive-Light Diamond gelding Night Performer who he trains.

Jaden Gil starting from 20 metres spend most of the race buried four back along the markers after coming from the 20 metre mark and when taken wide on straightening, ran home strongly to score by 1.3 metres over Tiroroa Tom (one/one – three wide home turn) and Tella Tall Tale (three back the markers) in a mile rate of 2-06.6. Night Performer broke his maiden status at start number 48 after being placed only five times. Given a sweet trip three back in the moving line from gate two on the second line, Night Performer raced three wide solo in the final circuit, proving too strong at the finish for Atomic Warlord which followed him home, going down by 1.7 metres in a rate of 2-03, with Swearengen a head away in third place after trailing the pair.

The Ainsworth’s have been huge supporters of Swan Hill and rarely miss a meeting.

Premiership Leader Board - April 2017

The Swan Hill Harness Racing Club held a terrific meeting last Tuesday with the highlight being the $25,000 Alabar Bloodstock Northern Region Championship for C1 & C2 class over 2240 metres taken out by the David Aiken (Avenel) trained and Josh Aiken driven Kiwi bred 3Y0 gelding Laredo Torpedo. Starting from gate five on the second line, Laredo Torpedo coming off a second in the Tasmanian Derby at the start of the month settled a long way off the pole pacemaker Hammerhoff which easily retained the front running as the mobile pulled away..

Trailing home both Parisian Rockstar and Nickys Idol in the three wide line for the final circuit, Laredo Torpedo produced a whirlwind finish out wide in the straight to record a 2.8 metre margin over the hot favourite Rocknroll Icon which raced in the open before leading on turning, with Carter Bromac using the sprint lane for third after a one/one trip. The mile rate 1.57.8.

PREMIERSHIP LEADER BOARD - MARCH 2017

Australia’s most decorated reinswoman Kerryn Manning was back in the winners after being sidelined from a nasty fall at Charlton a few months back, when successful aboard 5Y0 ex-Kiwi gelding Duke Of Albany in The Guardian Pace for C6 or better class over 1750 metres at a terrific Swan Hill meeting last Wednesday.

First up since last July, Duke Of Albany (gate three) led throughout to record an easy 2.5m margin in advance of Daylight Dan which trailed and Diamond Ace which switched down to the sprint lane from three back in the moving line. The mile rate a slick 1.54.4.