Sport
1 January, 2023
Exell-ent Oasis victory
By LEN BAKERBoort – the oldest club in Victoria still in operation commenced 2023 with an exciting afternoon of racing today. Horsham owner/trainer Janet Exell’s most honest 8Y0 Allawart Ray-Chantivari gelding Show Me The Moolah was an easy...
By LEN BAKER
Boort – the oldest club in Victoria still in operation commenced 2023 with an exciting afternoon of racing today.
Horsham owner/trainer Janet Exell’s most honest 8Y0 Allawart Ray-Chantivari gelding Show Me The Moolah was an easy victor of the Victorian Olive Groves (David Young) The Northern Oasis Trotters Handicap over 2250 metres.
With regular reinsman David Murphy in the sulky, Show Me The Moolah stepped cleanly from a daunting 30 metre handicap to settle four back along the markers as Count Eyre led from barrier three.
The race was to change significantly in the last lap when the leader galloped allowing Christmas Babe which had moved from three pegs to race exposed approaching the bell to dash clear with Show Me The Moolah in hot pursuit joining him on the home turn.
Cruising to the front on straightening, Show Me The Moolah scored by 8.6 metres in a mile rate of 2-04.1 over Christmas Babe, with Get Smart Max third 4.1 metres away after trailing the pacemaker.
Longlea trainer Glenn Sharp has enjoyed a wonderful 2022 season and started of the new year in fine style when 6Y0 Imperial Count-Aladen Star mare Bellmac Bambi led throughout from the pole in the 2250 metre Nutrien Ag Trotters Mobile.
Driven by Jack Laugher, Bellmac Bambi was rated to perfection before reaching the wire a neck in advance of Algorithm which used the sprint lane after trailing from the extreme draw. Double Dot after racing exposed from gate two held down third 4 metres away. The mile rate 2-09.7. Its interesting to note that Teddy Carmody, a long time supporter of the club is listed as one of the breeders.
The Ed Carmody Tribute Pace over 2250 metres saw veteran Hamilton octogenarian trainer Jim Barker combine with granddaughter Jackie to land the prize with Creative Lad, a tough 9Y0 Artistic Fella-Bunny Lebowski gelding who was making his 174th race appearance to chalk up his 14th success.
Going forward three wide from gate five to park outside the poleline leader Classie American, a position he relishes, Creative Lad took a narrow lead on the home turn and was too strong at the finish for Classie American, scoring by 8 metres in a slick 2-00.5. Illawong Phoenix (one/two) was third 2.1 metres away.
Charlton-based trainer/driver Ashleigh Markham snared the Boort Lakes Holiday Park The Northern Oasis Pace with Riverina Flash, a 6Y0 gelded son of Mr Feelgood and Return To Texas in a rate of 2-00.7.
Angling to be three pegs from gate five as Interpretation led from gate three, Riverina Flash angled away from the inside in the back straight on the final occasion to be one/one and when eased three wide on the final bend, ran home strongly to gain the day by 1.2 metres over Interpretation, with Bettor Sport third 2.7 metres back after racing exposed from gate two.
Other winners on the program were Gerrale (Jason Ainsworth – Stawell) the Dry’sdales Chaff Mill Pace, Sugoi Alto (Tony Berg – Timor West & Ellen Tormey) – the Keith & Dawn McClelland Tribute Pace and El Boston (Ken Tippet – Melton) the Boort Grain Co-Op Pace.
Boort's Cup Day meeting is on Sunday March 5.