Trots Centre: All downhill from here as Wayne makes Mildura return

Wayne Hill had thought he was on the cusp of something special when COVID-19 changed all before it, including circling Victoria with a strict border that would deny the travelling South Australian reinsman entry.

Having become a fixture of Mildura racing after plenty of toil and time behind the wheel, the pandemic hit pause on everything for Hill.

That included robbing him of a chance in the Mildura Pacing Cup, which was postponed and then cancelled.

“I felt as though I had a really good chance in the Mildura Cup with Bettorhavtim, who was an 83 or 84 rater and due to draw (gates) one or two in the cup heats,” Hill said. “After they wiped (the cup) he won his next six or seven in a row and was low flying.”

Instead of chasing Cup glories, March 17 would be Hill’s last trip to Mildura before racing was restricted to locals, a prospect that he had seen coming.

“I remember on the way home from that last meeting with Dani and COVID was starting to hit and take Australia into lockdown,” he said.

“We thought at the time that might be about it as far as Mildura’s concerned for six to eight months and it turned out to be that way. We were due back about July 20, then two weeks before that date Melbourne got bad and they didn’t reopen the borders.”

Hill has since been regularly applying for permits, but said it wasn’t until about a fortnight ago that he finally got some positive feedback and was urged to apply again the folllowing week because “there could be a change of direction”.

“The following Monday morning (October 26) I put in again and had a permit to travel on Tuesday. I have got to COVID test every week and once I’m across the border I can’t get out of the car until I get to the track.”

Hill said the strict on-track measures, with tracks closed to all but essential staff and participants, and those in attendance being temperature tested, having to wear face masks, social distance and use hand sanitiser, aided in his application.

Now he’s looking forward to seeing some familiar faces behind the masks.

“I had built up good connections with owners and training over the last five years, it’s finally good to get back there.

“I kept in close contact with Frank Mercieca and Scott Garraway. I spoke to them every week or fortnight since I left. We had built up good relationships, not only on the driving side, but they are good fellas. And a couple of South Australian horses are going as well.”

As a result Hill will steer nine tonight, kicking off with Beancounter for Mercieca in The Euston Club 3YO Pace, with the three-year-old having his second Mildura start having finished third last week.

“He doesn’t go to bad,” said Hill, who had driven Beancounter in his nine other starts at Globe Derby. “He is a South Australian horse who is going there to win his (Vicbred first-win) bonus. He has good gait speed and if in front he will take some running down.”

Hill then follows up with Orama in The Gateway 2YO & 3YO Pace for Scott Garraway, with his 14-start three-year-old maiden to launch from gate four.

“There are a couple of two-year-olds drawn underneath, so she will go forward and be hard to beat.”

And there will be potentially more wins in the offing when Hill partners Headmaster in the Happy 80^th Birthday Des Tobin Pace Final, Suresoundslikealie in the Tenderprint Australia Pace, Falcons Beauty in the Sunraysia Security Pace, Valbarann in the Zilzie Wins Pace and Have A Crack in the Tankard Dental Pace.

In the middle of all that is Im Sir Blake, who he will steer for the first time for Leroy O’Brien in the Tasco Petroleum Pace, the talented four-year-old who’s been racing in elite company.

That continues tonight when he shares the back line with Mildura royalty Bernie Winkle and Egodan, while Perspective and Joe Nien loom large on the front line in what shapes as a terrific race.

“(Im Sir Blake’s) been to Mildura a couple of times and put up some really good efforts,” Hill said. “He is quite a fast little fella.

“He hasn’t been in this grade up Mildura way, but his Melton form is good enough for him to be very competitive at Mildura. It will probably be a quick lead time and some intense racing.”

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