Two winners for Symington

West Australia’s latest harness racing reinsman Kyle Symington found himself with two winners over the weekend, with the 19-year-old steering home Fleur Du Maquis to victory at the Central Wheatbelt on Sunday for trainer Bianca Ashcroft.

Starting from barrier eight, the three-year-old filly was settled three back on the pegs, coming away from the fence at the bell to run down the leaders, claiming race four by 4.6m in 2:02:6 over the 2130m.

“I thought I had a couple of good chances with luck, and today I thought my best chance was Bianca’s horse with her current form,” Symington said.

It was a successful day for Ashcroft with her runners the ‘two cheese girls’ (both sired by Betterthancheddar USA) running first and second in their races on the day.

“I thought they’d both run an honest race but didn’t think we’d win. Brie nearly always runs in the top five though.” Ashcroft said.

Allwood Stud Farm continued their great form at Kellerberrin, with the Peter Anderson trained Pacific Eagle claiming the first on the card, the two-year-old maiden over the 2130m.

In a mile rate of 2:06:2, the double-westbred gelding started from the widest on the front line to settle at the rear, making his move at the bell, claiming the front just 50m from home he went on to win by for driver Aldo Cortopassi.

Anderson trained the quinella in the race, with his other runner, the $1.75 favourite Regimental Star going down by 1.9m on the post after having to work to get to the front around 600m after release point.

Race two was dedicated to the three-year-old Westbred maidens over the 2130m, with Clear Springs breaking through for his first win at his 15th start.

Trained by Craig Abercromby and driven by Chris Voak, the short-priced favourite led all the way, hanging on for a narrow victory over the fast-finishing Wheresthetowrope, going down by half a neck in a mile rate of 2:06:8.

Betting outsider Flash Mob saluted in the third for trainer Claire Cummins and driver Deni Roberts, giving Roberts the first win of her driving double on the card. The three-year-old turned her form around, coming from behind to win by 4.1m in 2:03:1 over the 2130m.

“I never go into a race expecting them to win, but I thought she was as good as the others in the field, she just needed the race run to suit her.” Cummins said.

Warren Robinson had a training double at the Central Wheatbelt, with his runner Jonimac and Fiord taking out races five and seven, giving Aldo Cortopassi the second and last legs of his driving treble on Sunday. Jonimac led all the way for the duo in the fifth, saluting at $11 odds in 2:02:9 in the 2130m pace.

Coming from behind in the seventh after settling well back from barrier three, Cortopassi made his run with Fiord just 350m from home, running down the favourite to claim the second last on the card by just a half head in 2:07:3.

Deni Roberts walked away with a driving double on the card, with Hittheroadjack NZ taking out race six over the 1730m sprint journey for trainers Greg and Skye Bond. After beginning well from barrier four, the four-year-old managed to sit outside the leader and still go on to win untouched by 31.7m in an impressive 1:57:0 around the community circuit.

The last on the card went the way of Brewery Lane for trainer Garry Elliot, giving Chris Voak a winning double in the cart. Winning by a narrow margin, the seven-year-old recorded his sixth career victory after popping into the breeze at the bell, fighting out the finish to come out on top by a half head in 2:07:3 over the 2130m.

Racing will return to the Central Wheatbelt in two weeks on Sunday the 12th of September.

By Ashleigh Paikos for RWWA