Unbeaten Rewrite History wins sixth straight

On a glorious summer’s evening on Thursday 18^th June, the harness racing crowd at Corbiewood Stadium, Bannockburn in Scotland were treated to a driving hat-trick from Gordon Gilvear and a back-to-back driving double from Stuart Mackenzie, on a night that featured the SHRC 3YO Derby and PJI Engineering Ltd. Final.

The first race saw six horses go to post for the first of three eliminations of the PJI Engineering Ltd. Final.  Anniejoan, driven by Gregor Menzies, led out from post position two and sought to control the race from the front.  She remained unchallenged until the three-quarter marker, when regular visitor to the winner’s circle Funtime Frankie and Gordon Gilvear loomed large on the outside.  Rounding the final turn, Gordon looked confident and his charge did not let him down, winning by one length from Anniejoan with Mega Star another length behind them in third.

Race 1 (1 mile)

1^st Funtime Frankie (Jimmy Long-Lyons Flum) – G Gilvear

2^nd Anniejoan (Genghis Pan-Big Red Dog) – G Menzies

3^rd Mega Star (Genghis Pan-Party West) – G Cullen

6 Ran

Time: 2.08.88

Dist: 1L & 1L

Elimination 2 featured another six runners who were all vying for a position in the final. The two gate horses, Mrs Doubtfire and Ayr Escape, driven by young guns Tony Allan and Hugh O’Neil Jr respectively, fired out of the gate both in pursuit of the front end. Mrs Doubtfire and Tony Allan secured the lead and dictated the early fractions until the race began in earnest. The first challenge came from Final Fantasy as the field approached the bell (which signals that there is one lap left), with Sureamsomething looking a serious threat second over. Approaching the final bend, Sureamsomething switched three wide and showed a good turn of foot to take up the running half way up the home straight.  Alan Scot and Scott Murray, who had been last heading down the back straight, made the quick decision to pull wide to avoid slowing traffic on the rail and thundered down the home stretch against the stand side rail to finish a fast-closing second to Sureamsomething and William Greenhorn.

Race 2 (1 mile)

1^st Sureamsomething (Wolfdancer Mindale-Suream Smart) – W Greenhorn

2^nd Alan Scot (Prince Lee Dancer-Southlands Kestrel) – S Murray

3^rd BJs Harmony (The Firepan-Country Melody) – H Menzies

6 Ran

Time: 2.07.75

Dist: Neck & 3/4L

The third and final elimination again had six runners facing the starter. Styx N Stones on his seasonal debut led out with Stuart Mackenzie in the bike. The betting favourite, Bestinthewest, filed away in second spot with Dreamfair Dancer in third, and the runners remained in Indian file for most of the race.  Brian Gilvear felt Bestinthewest had waited long enough and challenged at the three-quarter marker, looking to be a major danger as they swung off the last turn. However, Styx N Stones kicked on again and despite Bestinthewest’s bravest efforts, Stuart Mackenzie’s horse was not for passing and he was second to a very game winner.

Race 3 (1 mile)

1^st Styx N Stones (Daylon Alert-Styx Soprano) – S Mackenzie

2^nd Bestinthewest (Cammibest-Party West) – B Gilvear

3^rd Mr Brightside (Dreamfair Vogel-Dillys Eyes On You) – G Gilvear

6 Ran

Time: 2.05.79

Dist: Neck & 1 1/2L

Race four featured 8 runners with no more than one lifetime win and looked to be a competitive race on paper. Betting favourite GDs Beauty made a break behind the starting gate which allowed locally-trained Styx Locomotive to establish early supremacy. William Greenhorn dictated sensible fractions from on top, with the first challenge coming with one lap to go in the form of Caragh’s Hall and William Drysdale. Heading away from the stands, Evenwood Coolsting was snapping at their heels with Iliana looking for racing room on the inside. Down the back straight Stuart Mackenzie switched a bold three wide and challenged the leader with Evenwood Coolsting, and took up the running off the last bend. Iliana had by now found the racing room she’d been searching for and hit top gear, however Evenwood Coolsting proved too hard to catch and ran out the winner to provide Stuart with his back-to-back double.

Race 4 (1 mile)

1^st Evenwood Coolsting (The Firepan-Lamour La Plott) – S Mackenzie

2^nd Iliana (Dream Work-Cherokee) – G Cullen

3^rd Styx Locomotive (Soulofthematter-Styx Ghost) – W Greenhorn

8 Ran

Time: 2.09.37

Dist: 3/4L & 2L

The fifth race was the prestigious SHRC 3YO Derby, which has been won by some of the finest 3YO pacers the UK has seen. Going into the race the Sportswriter colt Rewrite History, who boasted a perfect five wins from five lifetime starts, was the overwhelming favourite. The 2013 Harrisburg purchase, owned and trained locally by the Gilvear family, landed fourth from post position six, whilst San Diego and Gregor Menzies took up the running. As soon as the field settled, Gordon Gilvear decided it was time to go and breezed to pole position after a lap. From then on it was a race for the minor placings, with the filly ATM taking second spot and the improving Rhyds Opal finishing impressively for third. This victory took Rewrite History’s record to six from six and a lucrative stakes campaign lays ahead.

Race 5 (1 mile)

1^st Rewrite History (Sportswriter-Treat Me Good) – G Gilvear

2^nd ATM (Genghis Pan-Yoko Hall) – H Menzies

3^rd Rhyds Opal (Hasty Hall-CPR) – W Greenhorn

6 Ran

Time: 2.06.00

Dist:  3L & 4 1/2L

The final race on an evening of exciting racing was the PJI Engineering Ltd. Final over an extended distance of 1m3f, featuring six of the best placed horses in the earlier eliminations. Funtime Frankie made use of his favourable starting position, receiving at least 20 yards from the other runners. He remained the uncontested leader for much of the race which allowed him to go through the mile in 2.11. Sureamsomething emerged from the chasing pack as a big danger under a cool drive from William Greenhorn and looked to have a big chance of victory when heading Funtime Frankie halfway up the home stretch. However, Funtime Frankie, who had tasted victory in his last three starts, was not to be denied and dug deep to get back up in the shadow of the winning post.  This win gave Gordon Gilvear his hat-trick on the night and was four on the run in Bannockburn for Funtime Frankie.  Once again, regular driver Logan Fowler was present to celebrate in the winner’s circle and no doubt the wins are helping him to a speedy recovery.

Race 6 (1 mile 3 furlongs)

1^st Funtime Frankie (Jimmy Long-Lyons Flum) – G Gilvear

2^nd Sureamsomething (Wolfdancer Mindale-Suream Smart) – W Greenhorn

3^rd BJs Harmony (The Firepan-Country Melody) – H Menzies

6 Ran

Time: 2.58.70

Dist: 3/4L & 2 1/2L

The next meeting at Corbiewood will be Thursday 25^th June; first race 7:30pm.