Craven claims long-distance double

Astute country Victorian harness racing horseman Mattie Craven trained a winning double on Saturday night—1800 kilometres apart!

Craven, based in the Western District dairy farming region of Ecklin South, near Terang, guided Lamandier (Somebeachsomewhere) to victory at Redcliffe, a popular bayside resort city about 35 minutes from Brisbane.

Three hours later he cheered home BanksoftheMurray (Bettors Delight) at the Victorian meeting conducted at Cranbourne.

Craven is campaigning a seven-horse team in the “Sunshine State” for the traditional winter carnival, now known as the Constellations.

“I’m stabled with John and Jeanette McMullen, and they have been terrific. They just go out of their way to help us—and the weather has been brilliant!” Craven added.

“Hopefully I’ll have a few more runners racing up here in the next seven days. I went to the Albion Park trials on Monday with four and came away happy,” he said.

“Credit Master trotted nicely and although he was up the back, he wasn’t beaten by all that much and they ran a bit of time.

“We had Bettor Isolate in the fast class trial and the speed was on from the start with the winner I Cast No Shadow (Jason Grimson) stopping the clock in 1.49-1. Our horse was third beaten about seven metres.”

Craven said he was aiming Credit Master (Muscle Mass) for two races to be run under mobile barrier conditions.

The gelding hasn’t raced since early April when he put up an impressive performance to win the TAB Uncle Petrika G3 Trotters FFA at Melton. Four weeks earlier, Credit Master caused an upset at long odds to win the G1 Aquagait Equine Centre Trotters Mile at Menangle.

Back home at chilly Ecklin South, teenage concession driver Rory Coverdale is in charge of the stable and her trip to Cranbourne was a case of “same, same….but different”!

The 19-year-old landed her first win as a driver at Hamilton with Banksofthemurray (Bettor’s Delight) on June 17, and nine days later made it two wins with the same horse.

“Rory is doing an awesome job while I’m away. She has the stable ticking along nicely,” Craven said.

Banksofthemurray is out of former top racehorse Maudie, bred by the late Jack Honan. Sired by Armbro Oliver, Maudie won the 2006 Pink Bonnet along with another 15 races at Harold Park (eight wins), Menangle, Young, Newcastle and Penrith for $105K.

She has also produced Maudie Mombasse (11 wins) and Courtsinsession (22 wins) from five to race.

Watch: Visiting trainer Mattie Craven drives pacer Sweet Passion and has trotter Credit Master on the lead during a solid two-mile workout in Queensland. click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink