Mums the word for Big Black Betty
Talented mare Big Black Betty may have ended her racing career with a win at Globe Derby Park on Saturday in the Happy Birthday Lynton Davies Pace (1800m).
A heavily backed $1.70 favourite, Big Black Betty led from gate four, rated perfectly by reinsman Wayne Hill and won comfortably by three metres from Clarenden Legacy ($9.50) which trailed her throughout, with Rocknroll Yankee ($17), 2-1/2 metres away third.
The victory was the seven-year-old mare’s 18th from a 114-race career earning close to $80,000 in stakes for trainers Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson.
Big Black Betty was bred and is owned by Geoff Easom’s Wyndown Stud.
Easom said it would be good to send the mare out on a winning note.
“She has been a really good mare,” Easom said.
“I might ask Jill & Katie to nominate one more time and if she draws to win then maybe go around, but if she doesn’t we can scratch and she can head to the breeding barn.
“We tried to get her in foal last year but there were complications, so we kept racing and she has won another four races.”
The victory gave connections a race-to-race double following the easy win of Kittycat Cutie in the Ray White Commercial Adelaide Pace (2230m).
Heavily backed from $2.50 into $1.80 favourite, Kittycat Cutie trailed the pacemaker until the home turn before coming wide and sprinting strongly.
The four-year-old mare cruised home 3-1/2 metres clear of Lochinvar Ruler ($6) which had led up with Lord Verde ($151), three metres away third.
Co-trainer Jill Neilson was back on track for the first time in a month after being injured in an accident at a set of trials, believes Kittycat Cutie is on the improve.
“She had a good break from December and has now had three good runs this preparation, and looks to be getting better,” Neilson said.
“Tonight was her sixth win from just 24 starts and she has been placed 10 times as well.
“She sprinted quickly off the back to assume control and Wayne (Hill) gave her an easy time over the final stages.”
“She just seemed to train off late last preparation and that is why we gave her a good break. We are really happy with her progress this time in work.”
Mature-age reinsman Terry Brown loves telling anyone who asks that he is not the best driver in the state but on Saturday he produced an absolute masterclass in the sulky.
His drive on Sammy Barbaro, trained by his wife Peta, in the Hahn Super Dry Trotters Mobile (2230m) was one to watch for any aspiring reinsman.
Sammy Barbaro was backed from $5.50 into $3.50 favourite, and those punters should hail the drive.
The seven-year-old began well from gate five but Brown looked likely to be caught three wide, so he eased back to the rear of the field and crossed to the fence where he stayed.
With 600 metres to travel, a few of the back markers tried to improve out wide but Brown was content to stay where he was, then with 500 metres to run, a run appeared and Sammy Barbaro was suddenly well in the clear and able to give chase after the leaders.
The gelding trotted clear to win by three metres from Star Of Patrick ($3.70), one of the horses which came wide, with No Remorse ($7.50), two metres away third.
“He is not the type of horse to go forward and sit parked,” Brown said.
“I had no option to go back and settle back. I did think about coming wide and trying to trail up Quartararo and Star Of Patrick but felt it was too much to ask and I was pretty sure one of the horses in the running line would drop off and I could get out.
“And so it happened.
“This horse has a sprint as good as most pacers when races are run to suit like tonight.
“I am just so happy to get him back into the winner’s list.
“We had issues with ulcers earlier in the year but fortunately we now have him back a healthy and happy horse.”
Sammy Barbaro is owned by John Nielsen, who part-owned 2000 Mermaid Stakes winner Direct Cindy but is raced on lease by Barb Nielsen, Peter Atkinson and Peta Brown.
Victorian square gaiter Queen Kizen, atoned for a poor performance a week ago, with a good win in the Hygain Trotters Mobile (2230m).
Trained by Brent Lilley, Queen Kizen blotted her copybook as a $1.80 favourite last week.
Driven by Kevin Weidenbach on Saturday, the four-year-old mare, a $7.50 chance, trailed the leader before dashing home to beat Reoffender ($1.85 fav) by 1-1/2 metres with Daisy Bouchea ($7), a half-metre away third.
Weidenbach brought up a driving double in consecutive races leading throughout on Upright in the Northside Trophies Pace (1800m).
Heavily backed from $2.20 into $1.75 favourite, Upright speared to the leads from gate two on mobile release and was never seriously challenged after being rated perfectly.
The gelding scored by nine metres from Keilah ($5.50) which trailed the winner, with Parisian Bandit ($10), two metres away third.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga