Bunbartha horseman John Newberry took the training honours at last Sunday’s Shepparton meeting with a winning double and two minor placegetters.
Picture: Stuart McCormickHe’s back: Diamond Ace returned to the winners’ list after a long injury-enforced lay-off at Shepparton for his trainer John Newberry on Sunday.
The Newberry-prepared veteran trotter Just Call Me Earl returned to the winners’ list at the meeting and another of his runners, Diamond Ace, also saluted.
Just Call Me Earl had his first win in 33 starts with his last victory almost two years ago in October 2017, also on the Shepparton track.
While he hadn’t saluted in those 32 runs there were a host of top five finishes and 19 previous wins and more than $138 000 in earnings there is naturally a heavy soft spot for him in the Newberry stable.
The rising 12-year-old was driven to his latest win by Newberry’s son Matt from a 20 m handicap.
John himself partnered the speedy Diamond Ace to his 15th win with a patient drive.
He sat last on Diamond Ace in the five-horse field, got a tow into the action in the back straight and the son of Extreme Three finished strongly to beat the favourite Shortys Mate in effortless fashion.
Like his stablemate Just Call Me Earl, Diamond Ace has also been a good money spinner for the stable, winning more than $111 000 in prizemoney.
Catching a big wave
Surfsup got the thumbs up from trainer David Abrahams after notching his first win in a threeyear-old event at Sunday’s Shepparton meeting.
Having only his fifth start the son of Somebeachsomewhere was given the run of the race by driver Chris Svanosio to notch his maiden win.
Svanosio parked Surfsup on the back of the pacesetter Edwina Express and was up to the challenge of sprint laning to victory over the well-fancied pair Chooz Reactor and Hancocks Hero.
Surfsup is bred to be extra smart. He is out of the Artsplace mare Thisiswhoiam, a winner of eight races, his second dam Course She Can (by Our Maestro) was also a multiple winner along with his third dam Confident (by Gyro).
Groom on honeymoon
The Cameron Maggs-trained Groom was another district-trained pacer to break his duck at the Shepparton meeting.
A three-year-old son of Mr Feelgood, Groom flew the barrier and was never headed in a dashing front-running display in which he beat the runner-up, the John Newberry-trained A Good Knight by nearly 16 m with the Dave Farrar-trained National draft filling the minor placing.
Groom was stepping out for the ninth time and had put the writing on the wall for a coming win when third two starts earlier at Maryborough on July 15.
He is a half-brother to the multiple winning pacers Call Me Julie and Call Me Hector, who are currently campaigning in Tasmania.
Passion and fame
There was no surprise when the Ian Ward-trained Passion Play reentered the winner’s circle at the Shepparton meeting, claiming a heat of a 52-55 class series.
In seven previous starts the Shadow Play gelding hadn’t finished further back than sixth and had a win and four seconds in those runs.
Driven by Brad Chisholm, Passion Play did some work early before taking the lead and then ran away from his rivals at the business end, beating the Jeff Gledhill-trained and Abbey Turnbull-driven Fantasy Beach and the Gary Merkel-prepared Roslyn Gaye in a district training trifecta.
Passion Play has had only the 14 starts for three wins and seven minor placings, so obviously has his share of ability.
Big game Safari
Barmah-trained pacer Ona Safari made it two wins in three starts in taking the other 52-55 heat with Chris Svanosio in the sulky to complete a driving double at the Shepparton meeting. .
The hardy Trevor Gallaway-prepared six-year-old Safari mare proved too tough for her rivals after taking up the front-running at barrier rise.
Ona Safari registered a PB mile rate of 1:59.3 in scoring her fifth win from 50 outings which have also produced 11 minor placings.
Roller is rocking
Nine-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding Ramblenroller has won 14 races and 10 of them have been on the Shepparton track — the latest win coming there at last Sunday’s meeting.
The Stuart Govers-trained and Samantha Govers-driven pacer made full use of his barrier three draw in his latest win, leading from pillar to post to beat Destiny Belle and the John Newberry-trained Lombo Idle Belief in a 56-71 class race.
Ramblenroller is a veteran of 134 starts which have produced 14 wins and 29 minor placings with prizemoney of more than $84 000, so he has been a good money spinner for his connections.
A Sign of the times
Four-year-old Shadow play gelding Shadow Sign capped a good night for district trainers with his second win in the final event at Sunday’s Shepparton meeting.
Trained by Donna Castles and driven by Doc Wilson Shadow Sign came from last at the bell, securing a three-wide tow into the race before going on to beat Nakita Adele and Another Sparky.
Fourth home was Castafiore, also trained by Castles and driven by her.
Shadow Sign gave a pointer to the win at his previous start on the track when fourth to the Greg Norman-trained Gozo.
Jack enjoys Beach life
Third time proved lucky for the Russell Jack-trained Santa Casa Beach on Monday at Yarra Valley.
Having his third outing the son of Somebeachsomewhere claimed his maiden two-year-old win with David Moran in the sulky.
Santa Casa Beach finished fifth on debut at Melton on May 16 and sixth at his next start at Melton, but dug deep to score an all the way win at Yarra Valley, beating the hot favourite Theultimate.
Santa Casa Beach won an early two-horse war with Theultimate, peeling off a blistering 27.4 first quarter over the 1650 m trip and warding off a herd of challengers in the home straight for a gutsy win in respectable 1:57.5 mile rate time.
Santa Casa Beach is the first foal to race out of the Bettors Delight mare Lombo Sleek Street who had seven wins and 18 placings from 35 starts.
The Amanda Turnbull and Keith Cotchin stables also enjoyed wins at the meeting.
Turnbull produced Ellmers Hoofing It to win a 62-76 class race with Zac Phillips doing the driving honours while Cotchin won with the talented Exciter, who was driven by Michael Belllman, in a 48-54 class event to notch his fifth career win from only 22 starts.
Ellmers Hoofing made it back-toback wins with his victory, his fourth in five outings plus a second placing.
An enormous Stride
Top reinsman Chris Alford described it as ‘‘pretty amazing really’’ when referring to Liberty Stride’s win at Shepparton last week.
The Phil Williamson-trained filly declared herself a front-runner for the Haras Des Trotteurs Victoria Derby this Sunday and Breeders Crown to follow after breaking stride early in her Australian debut and appearing to be out of the race. But she kept coming and coming, rounding up her rivals in arrogant fashion in the finish in an unbelievable performance.
Liberty Stride cleared out and won by 7.1 m against open-age company, immediately declaring herself one to beat in Sunday’s Victoria Trotters Derby.
‘‘She’s going to be really hard to beat in the Derby and the Breeders Crown,’’ Alford said.
Shoshone shines
Promising Shepparton-trained three-year-old pacer Shoshone Brave posted a PB mile rate in an effortless win at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
The Isabel Walsh-prepared son of top sire Bettors Delight had an early tussle for the lead before taking over the front-running and was never in danger of losing after that.
Driven by Kima Frenning. Shoshone Brave cruised to the line almost 7 m clear of the runner-up, outsider Righteously, rating 1:56.5 for the 1650 m trip with closing sectionals of 28.7 and 27.8.
It completed back-to-back wins for Shoshone Brave who had saluted at Shepparton at his previous start.
He has now had just the nine runs for four wins and three minor placings and looks a young pacer going places.
Shepparton reinsman David Moran was also in the winner’s circle at Bendigo, partnering the Amhed Taiba Mach Three colt Zoliver to a strong win.
Chasing Dynamic trick
Smart pacer Dynamic Bromac will be shooting for a hat-trick of wins when he steps out tomorrow night at Melton.
After winning at Bendigo at his previous start the David Aikentrained and Kima Frenning-driven six-year-old son of Bettors Delight saluted last Saturday night at Melton, hoisting his 13th win in the process.
Despite an outside front-row barrier, Dynamic Bromac was able to burn to the front early and with Frenning dictating the terms from then on proved too slick for his rivals in the 1720 m dash.
Dynamic Bromac has drawn to lead again tomorrow night in an 80-94 class event when he tries to complete the three wins in succession feat.
Aiken will also be trying to get talented three-year-old pacer Malcolms Rhythm back in the winner’s circle at the meeting.
