Champion driver Dani Hill certainly didn't Miss Out on the wins Saturday
The trainer-driver combination of Ryan Hryhorec and Danielle Hill had a day out at the harness meeting at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
They combined for a treble with Peace Of Heaven (race one), Star Of Patrick (race four) and Miss Out (race six). Hill made it four for the night also scoring on Hasty Bid (race five) for trainer David Harding.
Peace Of Heaven has been a pleasant surprise for Hryhorec.
“When he came to me he hadn’t won for a year,” Hryhorec said.
“He was a bit of a handful in trackwork but has slowly improved in our system.
“After tonight, he has won four of six starts for the stable.
“He blotted his copybook last week galloping at the start, and neither Dani nor myself really know why.”
On Saturday, in the Ladbrokes Fast Payouts Pace (1800m), Peace Of Heaven ($1.90 fav) sprinted strongly over the final 600 metres for a comfortable six-metre win from Centrefold Star ($4.20) with Rocknroll Raider ($21), a metre away third.
Coming from gate three on the second row, the six-year-old settled near last but was able to get a good cart into the race, three wide, on the back of Captain Barnato.
Hill sent Peace Of Heaven four wide down the back, and he finished too powerfully to win easily.
Hryhorec admitted to being a little surprised by the last-to-first win of Star Of Patrick in the Hahn Super Dry Trotters Mobile (2230m).
“When he settled last I didn’t thing he could win,” Hryhorec said.
“I thought it was a pretty even field, but credit to Dani, she drove him in great style.”
Star Of Patrick ($2.70 fav) scored by 1-1/2 metres from Hayoak ($3) with Prohibited Bid ($6.50), a metre away third.
After running third at Victor Harbor, the five-year-old galloped at Globe Derby Park in a standing start race a week earlier.
Back to a mobile start, he was safely away but showed little speed from gate three and settled last in the field of six before coming with a well-timed run to score.
Like her stablemate Peace Of Heaven, Miss Out also came from gate three on the second row in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (2230m).
After the runners found their positions, despite being in the running line, Hill decided to bring Miss Out three wide to find the spot outside the leader Harlem Town.
Miss Out ($2.70 fav) found the lead in the home straight and held her rivals off to win by a metre from Didmeselfamischief ($14) with Harlem Town ($3.80), a neck away third.
Fourth home was Shireen ($5), driven by Corey Johnson, which did not have much luck but flashed home late.
Hill’s fourth winner was on Hasty Bid in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m) for trainer David Harding.
Backed from $2.20 into $1.85 favourite, Hasty Bid sat parked and was able to hold off the fast-finishing Alora ($14) to win by a half neck with the leader Tonkawaikon ($7.50), five metres away third.
Hill, 41, is a champion in harness racing.
She finished second to her brother Wayne on last season’s SA Drivers’ premiership but won successive titles for seven straight seasons from 2015/2016 to 2022.
Two horrific crashes have hampered her career, but she is back doing what she loves – driving winners.
- Story by Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga