Albie mangles rivals at Lord’s

Four more winners to Alex Ashwood has him leading driver of the Central Region by two after last night’s Bendigo trots at Lord’s Raceway.

From six drives Ashwood scooped the four wins plus two thirds.

It means Ashwood has a winning strike rate of over 30 per cent under the regional model.

The first of the quartet last night came aboard Trevor Patching-trained seven-year-old Julius Caesar mare Pippa One Two, who was lining up for just her second start after an almost four-year layoff in the first race, the Charlton & District Community Bank Maiden Pace.

Pippa and Ashwood had to fight hard though to overcome early leader Will He Star, who refused to lie down in the straight under the urging of Shannon O’Sullivan, the $23 outsider only beaten a head at the post.

Ray Cross and Rodney Lakey combined for a winner in the Illusion Emblems Digital Printing Service 3YO Trot, with Imperial Count filly Countess Chiron overhauling odds-on favourite Lotta Fuss late for a 4.9m win.

Ashwood combined with partner Kate Hargreaves to claim the Bush’s Produce 3YO Pace with Pet Rock filly Wicked Azz (pictured), scoring by 1.1m over Lets Make Tracks, who made a sustained bid for victory around the outside for Mick Carbone.

Ashwood’s treble came in the fourth, the Gold Central Victoria Trotters Handicap, aboard Kent Harpley-trained Belltopperboy, which drew clear of Delarose late for a 7.7m win.

Trevor Patching brought up a training double as Ashwood made it four in the TLC Carpentry Pace, seven-year-old gelding Busters Grin proving a neck too good for short-priced favourite Exciter in the first leg of the quaddie.

Veteran reinsman Brian Gath continued his terrific affinity with Ross Graham-trained Nephew Of Sonoko, winning his second straight race aboard the four-year-old in the Oxley Feed Mill Trotters Handicap.

Gath sent Nephew Of Sonoko to the front via a dashing mid-race move and the son of Danny Bouchea always travelled strongly from there, drawing clear at the finish to rate 2:02.2 over 2150m to score by 9m over Well Defined, with Aleppo Murphy in third.

The brilliant form of Ace Duigan continued in the Bendigo Sky Boat Centre Pace, with Shannon O’Sullivan guiding the Michael Mannix-trained eight-year-old to an all-the-way win.

Ace Duigan has won three and placed four of his last eight starts, including two wins on the spin. Last night he rated 1:56.3 over 2150m to defeat The High Roller by 7m with Belittled in third.

Clarenden Dazzler, trained and driven by Glenn Douglas, completed the program with victory in the Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic Pace, scoring by a half-neck over Von Ponder in 1:59.0.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s daytime trots spotlight was on Tabcorp Park Melton where John Justice picked up a training/driving double.

Talented four-year-old trotter Hatchback saluted for Justice in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap in 2:04.8 from the stand over 2240m, defeating Ginger Gleeson’s consistent tryer Majestic Eyes by 3m. That win capped a race-to-race double for Justice, who also won the Pryde’s EasiFeed 3YO Pace with Long Weekend, which bolted home by 8.4m over Matts Delight in 1:57.8.

Rhys Nicholson took out the first race, the DNR Logistics Pace, aboard John McCullagh-trained Art Major mare Yannarie, the four-year-old scoring by 14m over Luv Me Or Hate Me in 2:01.8.

Trotter Carnera appreciated a drop in grade to take out the Dynamic Print Group Trotters Handicap for trainer-driver Lance Justice, saluting by 2.6m over Celtic Rose in 2:04.7 from the stand.

Michael Cole’s four-year-old gelding Auckland Red won the third, the Allied Express Pace, in 1:56.3, defeating David Murphy’s Ghostly Silence by 7.1m.

Anne-Maree Conroy-trained Querencia won the Talking Trots on SENTrack Trot, Race 4, with Glenn Conroy in the sulky. The four-year-old son of Andover Hall charged home to overhaul Im Notta Trotter, who produced a bold frontrunning display for Brooke Sadler only to be nabbed late.

Well-backed Speedy Mach won the Beraldo Coffee Pace for trainer Chris Mifsud and driver Joe Pace, while the meeting finished with a long-shot victory to Tiwanaku in the TAB, Long May We Play Pace, for trainer Steve Zammit and reinsman Luke Tabone.

First-Starter Form

Your guide to today's trots debut runners 

Kilmore Tonight

Race 2:

Pepperberry (3yo filly by Major Bronski out of Rock Melody, trained and driven by Monique Burnett)

Out of a two-time winning daughter of Pacific Rocket, this filly is a half to one-time winner Have No Choice.

Broadway And Fifth (3yo filly by Art Major out of Broadway Play, trained by Shannon McLean and driven by Chris Alford)

Out of the brilliant Safely Kept mare Broadway Play (65 starts, 20 wins, $173k, 1:57.3), this filly is a full sister to Live On Broadway (10 wins from 12 starts). Comfortable trial winner at Cranbourne on April 18.

Race 3

Im Josephine (2yo filly by Im Stately out of Spannerintheworks, trained and driven by Joe Attard)

Out of a two-time winning daughter of Safely Kept, Im Josephine is a half-sister to talented 13-time winning trotter Ten Spanners.

Whos The Man (2yo gelding by Angus Hall out of Oh Yes Indeed, trained and driven by Chris Svanosio)

Out of eight-time winning daughter of Sundon Oh Yes Indeed, who has produced six impressive winners, including Earl Of Stanton (10 wins from 155 starts, $64k, 2:03.6), My Mate Mal (14 wins, 164 starts, $73k, 2:05.6), The Boss Man (20 wins from 82 starts, $265k, 1:58.6) and Anywhere Hugo (9 wins from 39 starts, $146k, 1:57.8).

Aldebaran My (2yo filly by Father Patrick out of Aldebaran Daisy)

Out of an eight-time winning daughter of Eilean Donon. This is her second foal.

Sovereign Tiger (2yo gelding by Majestic Son out of Dawn Tears)

Out of a six-time winning daughter of Earl. This debutant is her first foal. Granddam was Golden Teardrops, who threw six-time winner Dawn Tears and four-time winner Sovereign Minx.