Cups double opening night to Dani Hill

South Australia’s legend Dani Hill collected a cups double at the Kadina Harness Racing Club meeting Port Pirie on Sunday.

Hill drove the trotter Regal Attire to win the Wombat Hotel Kadina Trotters Cup for Two Wells trainer Ryan Hryhorec, then partnered Bellezza Nera for David Harding in the Ardrossan Hotel Kadina Pacing Cup at the KHRC’s feature meeting.

The program starts South Australia’s run of county cups with Victor Harbor, Gawler and Kapunda conducting meetings leading into a feature night at Port Pirie on Saturday, April 12.

Hill has driven 2348 winners during her career and has been a dominant reinswoman this century in SA.

She has had injuries, including losing the sight in an eye, which threatened to curtail her career but has bounced back each time and Sunday’s feature double showed she has lost none of her skill.

A former Western Australian pacer, Bellezza Nera, heavily backed as a $1.65 favourite, led throughout in the Ardrossan Hotel Kadina Cup (2530m) and lasted by a half head to beat Lord Zarias ($6) with Springfield Affair ($10), two metres away third.

Maharajah was driven hard to lead from gate three but then handed up to Hill on Bellezza Nera which had begun well from barrier four.

Driver Lisa Ryan quickly brought Delightful Tammy around to sit outside the favourite as the pair had done at Globe Derby Park on February 15.

In that event, Delightful Tammy proved too strong winning in a photo, but at Port Pirie, Bellezza Nera was superior drawing clear in the home straight, then having to withstand a late challenge by Lord Zarias.

Trainer David Harding purchased the winner from Western Australia for owner Lachie Cormack from Hillier.

“It is Lachie’s first horse, so it is great to have a Cup for his first win,” Harding said.

“He is friends with Rob Tomlinson from Perth and was able to buy this horse for a fair price.

“He is only a little horse but has nice speed and tonight he showed plenty of heart.

“Dani said he responded when the runner up came up to challenge.”

Harding said Bellezza Nera would now go to Victor Harbor for their pacing cup.

The decision by Australia’s biggest owner Mick Boots to send trotter Regal Attire to South Australia has proved a cups goldmine.

After picking up the Fred Jones, Strathalbyn, Ladbrokes and Victor Harbor Cups last year, Regal Attire added the Wombat Hotel Kadina Trotters Cup (2530m) on Sunday.

Trainer Ryan Hryhorec prepared four of the first five trotters past the post in the cup.

Regal Attire ($5) scored by four metres from My Used To Be ($4.40) with Aldebaran Dexta ($4.20), eight metres away third.

Dani Hill drove the winner while Hryhorec was in the sulky of Aldebaran Dexta. Tweedledee and Phoebe Onyx came in fourth and fifth for the trainer.

Coming from a 20-metre handicap, Regal Attire settled towards the tail of the field of 12 before Hill asked him to improve going into the back straight on the final lap.

She opted to drop in to take a trail before going for the sprint lane in the home straight and he trotted through to claim victory.

Trainer Ryan Hryhorec was delighted with his team.

“Regal Attire has been a wonderful trotter for the stable,” Hryhorec said.

“Tonight was his first run for more than a month and I’m sure he will further improve.

“He will head to the Victor Harbor Cup which is a mobile start before we look at the rest of the series.”     

Port Pirie brothers Ryan and Trent Hoare started the program on a winning note with former New South Wales pacer Bully Bourne.

Solid in the market at $5.50, Bully Bourne was given a great drive by Corey Johnson and finished best to win the Minlaton Hotel & Caffe Primo Pace (2050m).

A good beginning from gate three enabled Johnson to cross and sit on the back of stablemate Odins Black Crow which led from gate one and set a solid tempo.

Johnson angled Bully Bourne into the clear turning for home and sprinted strongly to grab a metre win from Lochinvar Camaro ($4) with Winston Alexander ($17), 4-1/2 metres away third.

Trent Hoare said the winner had run very well on his debut for the stable in December.

“He then galloped at Globe Derby, and we found he had a virus,” Hoare said.

“We gave him a break and he lost a bit of fitness.

“We thought he might have been a run short tonight, but Corey gave him a great drive and he was good enough to win.”

One of the most consistent mares racing is Lildabldooya, owned and trained by Toby Ryan from Roseworthy.

Driven by Ryan’s wife Lisa, Lildabldooya ($11) finished strongly to win the Robust Worx Civil Solutions Yorke Peninsula Harness Racing Club Cup (2050m).

The five-year-old mare began quickly from gate four but found runners inside pushing through to hold her wide.

John Vincent ($1.50 fav) eventually found the front and Lildabldooya was caught outside the leader, but Samantha Hill dashed around on Thats Art ($7) to give Ryan a perfect trail.

Lildabldooya sprinted quickly in the home straight to win by a half neck from a game That’s Art with John Vincent fading to third, 3-1/2 metres back.   

• Graham Fischer

• Photo Lyndall White

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