MELTON husband and wife – John and Maree Caldow -snared the Life Sign Pacers Handicap for C3 or better class over 2150 metres at Bendigo on Wednesday with ex-Kiwi Motu Hot Shot Dude, a 6-Y-0 gelded son of Live Or Die and Motu Annabell which has raced well since crossing the Tasman.
Leading easily from barrier four as the tapes released, Motu Hot Shot Dude led all of the way in defeating Flash Of Freedom along the sprint lane after trailing in a rate of 2-01.2, with Village Charm a tough third after racing in the open from the bell.
MELTON duo Ross and Greg Sugars landed the Davis Wholesale Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2175 metres at Stawell on Thursday with 4-Y-0 Malabar Maple/Gemstone Lady gelding Mister Malakye, much to the delight of owner/breeders Marcus and Graham Rayner.
Beginning speedily from gate five, Mister Malakye virtually led throughout in easily accounting for Ostensiby along the sprint lane from three back the markers and a death-seating Maoris Pocket in a comfortable 2-06.5.
PERSISTENCY paid off for a large syndicate of owners (some residents of Melton) headed by Paul Dobson at Geelong on Thursday, when Rustler Hanover/Bluette gelding Weekend Rustler registered his first success in 17 tries, by taking out the Lara District Community Bank 3-Y-0 Pace over 2100 metres.
Trained and driven by Bacchus Marsh’s Amy Tubbs, Weekend Rustler on this occasion retained the lead from the pole and despite a strong challenge by both Thatcertainfeeling and the hot favourite Heisbackinblack on the final bend, found plenty on straightening to score from Heisbackinblack which tried hard to no avail, with Thatcertainfeeling third after racing parked.
The mile rate 2-00.4.
THE Caldows enjoyed a huge day on Friday, with in-form 4-Y-0 gelding Artorius snaring the $20,000 Eastern Challenge Final for C3 & C4 class over 2205 metres at Warragul and the 5-Y-0 gelding Lord Of The Gym $15,000 SEW-Eurodrive Trotters Mobile for TM0 & TM1 class over 2240 metres at Melton
In what was the “drive of the day” by John Caldow, Artorius (Our Sir Vancelot/Taras Gift) from outside the front row was eased to the tail of the field, with the long odds-on favourite Ghadasbest leading from gate two.
Trailing three wide at the bell, Artorius unbeaten in two previous outings for the stable was switched down to the inside in the last lap, weaving a passage in-between runners and when extricated into the clear to be four wide on turning, finished at a great rate to score running away over George Samuel along the sprint lane after trailing the pacemaker, with Franco Newsman a game third after racing in the open from the bell.
The mile rate was 1-59.7.
Former outstanding juvenile Lord Of The Gym (Muscles Yankee/Chancery Lane) now five, has taken time to hit his best form, but did it in style on Friday to record his first victory in just under 12 months.
Settling mid-field in the moving line from gate five on the second row, Lord Of The Gym when taken wide on straightening, ran home stylishly to score from Barneys Invasion and Look Here Bloke in a slick rate of 2-01.1.
OTHER area winners on Friday were Espshlilucky Lombo (John & Rhys Nicholson) and Zitzu (Reno Mizzi) at Warragul and Living On Fire (Bill Galea – Damian Wilson) at Melton.
MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK
Wednesday – St Arnaud@Charlton/Echuca. Thursday - Cranbourne/Bendigo. Friday – Kilmore/Melton. Saturday – Geelong. Sunday – Ballarat. Monday – Cobram. Tuesday – Nyah.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Titillate, Keepyaguardup, Angel Of Life, Maoris Pocket, Collision Course, Cool And Casual.
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