Doubles all round at Port Pirie Saturday night
Champion reinswoman Danielle Hill demonstrated her outstanding talent with a driving double at Port Pirie on Saturday.
Hill brought Diamond Mounted from last to win the Barastoc Race N Win Pace (2050m), then produced a copybook drive on Hes All Torque in the following race, the Afford Engineering Pace (2050m).
Trained by Robert Caton at Globe Derby Park, Diamond Mounted ($6.50) sat back from gate five with Hill allowing the front runners to provide the tempo.
Her patience returned the ultimate dividend as the four-year-old mare rounded up her rivals to win easily by eight metres from Whitestarchristian ($10) with Royal Watch ($19), four metres away third.
Diamond Mounted now has a win and two seconds in three runs from a short break and continues a good run for Caton who also has the trotter Madame Kelly in winning form.
In fact, Caton has had 14 winners and 11 placings from his last 30 runners for a sensational strike rate with just three horses in work.
“There is no doubt Diamond Mounted has taken a giant step up after a freshen up,” Caton said.
“She is a very big mare and just might have a bit of time to settle in after coming from New Zealand. She is seriously a different horse after that short break.
“The way she is going I might look at a three and four-year-old classic at Gawler in a few weeks.
“I am aiming Madame Kelly for the feature Pride Of Petite at Gawler so it will be great to have two runners in the better class races.
“I am amazed at the recent run of success, but I will ride it as long as I can.”
Hes All Torque made it two wins in a row for Hill who is currently training the four-year-old.
Settling in the running line, Hill saw the leader Per Ardua Ad Astra fading coming off the back straight and brought the four-year-old with a winning run.
Hes All Torque ($3.30) scored by two metres from Uncle Chan ($10) with Im Themightylucy ($2.30) flashing home late to be third, nine metres back.
Im Themightylucy had been trailing Per Ardua Ad Astra and when he faded she got caught up in traffic losing any winning chance as Hill made her winning move on Hes All Torque.
Globe Derby Park trainer Luke O’Neill brought up his 50th winner for the season when So Vogue scored a courageous win in the Big Chief Hire Trotters Handicap (2050m).
Beginning well from gate two in the standing start event, So Vogue was challenged strongly for the lead by noted front runner Our Spitfire.
The pair raced side by side before driver Terry Brown eased Our Spitfire behind So Vogue which was driven by Kevin Weidenbach.
Once in front, Weidenbach rated the leader beautifully, but Majestic Tilly ($2.70 fav) had been given a gun run by trainer-driver Garth Hurrell and sprinted up on the home turn and looked the likely winner.
However, So Vogue ($4.60) fought on strongly to win by a neck from the favourite with Lord Chancellor ($10), 6-1/2 metres away third.
Weidenbach landed a driving double scoring on Watchtheclock for Two Wells trainer Shane Loone in the Birrell Heavy Tilt Pace (1609m).
Watchtheclock was easy in the market drifting from $1.45 to $1.80, but his backers were always on good terms with themselves.
Weidenbach had the four-year-old on the back of stablemate Celestial Daybreak with s good trail, and fortunately was able to get him to the sprint lane.
Watchtheclock dashed through to win by four metres from Whodat Boodat ($5.50) with Grove Dale ($8.50), a metre away third.
Talented trainer-driver Samantha Pascoe continues to build her industry profile with a double.
Joonior Brown ($6.50) led throughout in the Five540 Services Pace (1609m) to score a two-metre win from Jilliby Mistress ($4.40) with Kahina ($6) a neck away third.
The seven-year-old rated 1:57.5 and was driven to perfection by Pascoe.
The reinswoman also gave a peach of a drive on recent stable acquisition Global Gem in the CT Electrical And Data Pace (2050m).
From gate four she allowed the four-year-old mare to balance up early before working into a one-out, one-back position behind Miss Poppys Friend which took her right into the race.
Global Gem ($5) sprinted strongly over the final 400 metres to win by a metre from Resurrects ($4.20) with Miss Poppys Friend ($2.40 fav), 20 metres away third.
Promising three-year-old filly Quick Dip resumed from a short break with an impressive victory in the Ladbrokes Own Spring Pace (1609m).
Trained by Tyson Linke in Kadina, and driven by Wayne Hill, Quick Dip went forward from gate four to try and find the lead, but Hezrockinroyalty from gate five had just too much pace and was able cross and lead.
Hill let the filly balance up before ensuring there was sufficient tempo and sending Quick Dip ($1.50 fav) for home off the back.
The filly won comfortably by three metres from Johnboyazza ($8) with Hezrockinroyalty ($3.10) fading for third, a further five metres astern.
Port Pirie trainer Dale Afford supplied first and last in the Midstate Hardware Pace (1609m).
Nicely Spoken ($2.50 fav) led from gate one, as expected, but surprisingly faded to finish last, beaten 41-1/2 metres.
It was left to promising three-year-old Tembie to sprint powerfully for victory.
Reinsman Josh Holberton settled Tembie one-out, one-back before unleashing his winning dash.
The gelding, a $3.20 chance, held off the fast-finishing Better Be Lively ($81) by a half neck with Winston Alexander ($21), three metres away third.
Next Saturday’s meeting will again be at Port Pirie before meetings at Gawler on Monday, September 9 then a feature meeting on Thursday, September 12.
- Story Graham Fischer