Alora continues sensational form

South Australia’s most improved mare Alora produced a sensational performance to take out the feature 2025 Norman Memorial (1800m) at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Roseworthy trainer Toby Ryan suppled the quinella with Alora ($4.20) arriving to beat stablemate Delightfull Tammy ($2.40 fav) by a short half head.

In one of the most exciting versions of the feature, Honeybun ($7) was a head away third with Magic Storm ($8.50), a neck back in fourth.

The action was on from mobile release with another Ryan-trained runner Niki Nah Nah ($3.40) beginning quickly from gate five and eventually finding the front after a short battle with Come On Sloopy ($126) which had showed pace from barrier one.

Lisa Ryan, driving Delightful Tammy, had been caught wide early from the outside of the front row, so she pushed forward and eventually was able to find the front.

Honeybun had been forced to go back from gate six, but driver Dani Hill did not want the leader to get it too easy so came around to sit parked.

Senior reinsman David Smith had allowed Alora to balance up early and she settled a clear second last in the field of nine with Magic Storm on her back.

With 600 metres left, Smith brought Alora three wide, and the mare sprinted powerfully making up ground as Delightfull Tammy and Honeybun were locked in a head-to-head duel in front.

Just as Delightfull Tammy managed to grab a narrow advantage over Honeybun, Alora appeared out wide to claim victory.

Trainer Toby Ryan said he was very proud of his mares.

“To have the quinella in the Norman Memorial is very special,” Ryan said.

“And my other runner Niki Nah Nah also did a great job to finish fifth, beaten just over two metres.

“Delightfull Tammy did a fantastic job but just found Alora a bit better on the night.

“She has had a long campaign and can go for a break.”

Ryan said he was not surprised Alora had been able to claim victory.

“She is just getting better and better,” the trainer said.

“At home, she works like an open class pacer. It is just over a month ago she won a restricted race at Kapunda.”

Alora has now won five of her last six races, the last four in a row.

Driver David Smith said the five-year-old mare had been superb.

“She made a long sprint and was very strong through the line,” Smith said.

“I did think about dropping in behind Honeybun for a short time down the back, but she was in such as rhythm I kept her going and she was good enough to win.”

Smith drove a double with newcomer Ikigai leading throughout in the King Of The North USA @ Llowalong Farm Trotters Mobile (2230m).

Purchased from Victoria by Jamie Braidwood and Chris Dix, Ikigai ($2.30) speared to the front from gate five and was never challenged winning easily by 18-1/2 metres from Illawong Moonbeam ($19) with Muscle Miss ($11) three metres away third.

The star reinsperson of the night was Dani Hill who landed three winners.

Her first winner was Tell A Tall Story ($3 fav) for trainer Errol Johnson in the Pacing For Pink In May Pace (1800m).

The seven-year-old pacer found the front from gate two and was rated perfectly to win by 3-1/2 metres from Jamieson ($21) with Maisielouisa ($5.50), 2-1/2 metres away third.

It was Tell A Story’s second win in a row, and he has built a good record under Johnson.

Hill’s second winner was Just Chai, which she also trains, in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (1800m).

Backed from $5.50 into $3.60 favourite, Hill took Just Chai around to sit parked and he was too strong beating the pacemaker Tonkawaikon ($4.60) by five metres with Blacktop Rock ($18), a short half head away third.

“He has his issues but is good at the moment,” Hill said.

“Tonkawaikon is a nice horse, but he was first up, so I went around to make sure he didn’t get it easy.

“Just Chai hasn’t had much luck from poor draws recently but tonight he loved being up on speed.”

Hill’s treble came on the Victorian United in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pot Pace (2230m).

One of three runners in the race for trainer Naomi Kerr, United ($4.80) put in a tough performance to score by 1-1/2 metres from Duke Of Dundee ($26) with Offyarocka Crocker ($3.50), eight metres away third.

Hill made a mid-race move to put seven-year-old into the race and he was too strong for his rivals.

One of the amazing betting races on the night was the Ladbrokes Fast Withdrawals Pace (1800m).

Ex-New Zealander La Moth opened the $1.60 but when the race started she had drifted to $2.80.

The reason was the heavy support from Sunstar which was backed from $2.80 into $2.25 favourite and That’s Art, $10 into $5.50.

Sunstar, which came from gate four, began quickly but Rocking With Charm ($51) held the inside from gate one forcing the Ryan Hryhorec-trained pacer sit outside the leader.

La Moth, trained by Peter Bain, settled one-out, two-back for driver Wayne Hill.

The mare sprinted strong from the 500-metre mark to win easily by 14 metres from Sunstar which battled on strongly with Didmeselfamischief ($101), two metres away third.

• Graham Fischer
• Walter Bulyga