DIGGERS Rest trainer-driver Tony Romeo produced four-year-old Pacific Rocket-Jodie's Babe gelding Rockon Babe first up since November last to capture the Barry Eeles Pace for C0 class over 1690 metres at Maryborough on Monday, February 16.

Starting from the extreme draw, Rockon Babe spent most of the race at the rear of the field, before latching on to the back of the well backed Christian Lombo ahead of him three wide in the final circuit.

Taken wide on straightening, Rockon Babe ran home stylishly to defeat the local hope.

Raced by Tony Romeo in partnership with close friend Eric Nania, Rockon Babe broke his maiden status at start No.16.

■ Melton father and daughter - Vic and Natalie Pace were successful with home bred 4-Y-0 Armbro Operative/Natalies Babe mare Autumn Magic in the Colonial Motel Ararat Pace for C0 class over 2195 metres in a rate of 2-04.9.

Crossed from the pole by both Jaylyse (gate three) and Tejays Trojan (gate four), Natalie was quick to ease Autumn Magic away from the marker line to possie with the run of the race one-one.

Easing three wide in the last lap to give chase to the odds-on favourite Taurus George which was handed the lead on a platter, Autume Magic dashed to the front on straightening and held a head margin on the wire in accounting for Jaylyse which followed her home, with Pacific Maker running home from last on the markers for third.

■ Bacchus Marsh's Amy Tubbs enjoyed a profitable day at Ballarat on Wednesday, chalking up a stable double with Black Pontiac taking the Eric White Memorial Pace for C0 class over 1710 metres and Salutetocabby the Bob Freeman Memorial Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2710 metres.

Black Pontiac a 3-Y-0 gelded son of Grinfromeartoear and Short And Black recently sold to W-A interests for a high figure, raced in the open from gate five outside the polemarker pacemaker Rojen Town, before scoring comfortably over Glenburn Rock (three wide last lap) and Partyhanover in a rate of 1-59.4.

Keystone Salute/Carrick 6-Y-0 gelding Salutetocabby bred and raced by Shirley McGillivray is racing at his peak and brought up successive victories after coming from a 20 metre equal backmark.

Stepping cleanly to possie four back in the moving line, Salutetocabby gained a great ride home three wide on the back of Chipmont Lad at the bell and when taken to the centre of the track on turning, ran home strongly to record a 6.4 metre victory in 2-06.3 over the

rank outsider Cost Me A Quid from

last, with Carletonhill third after

trailing the weakening leader Lastingimpressions.