We whip around the tracks for a wrap-up of the weekend action, with plenty of feel-good stories about and some horses to keep an eye on as we move towards the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup and ID18 here in Victoria.

Let’s get caught up…  

 

Sofala, so good

Sofala is the king of the Castles' stable.

The five-year-old Safari stallion only narrowly won Saturday night’s $10k Allied Express Pace Final at Tabcorp Park Melton, but the margin in his case right now is largely immaterial.

His trainer-driver, popular Ardmona horsewoman Donna Castles, explained: “He’s very green. He’s like driving a two-year-old at the moment, so it will be good when he learns”.

Quizzed post-race on Trots Vision about whether or not Sofala “switched off” in the straight, Castles acknowledged “he does that” and added, “he’s got to learn to race. He’s just gone through his grades so quick that he hasn’t really learnt to fight … but he’ll learn.”

Sofala boasts five wins from nine career starts.

 

Love story continues

It’s the Love story that keeps on giving.

Love Ina Chevy, who made a miraculous recovery courtesy of an around-the-clock care campaign by trainer Lance Justice and his family following an almost lethal snakebite, continues to work through the metropolitan grades.

Greg Sugars guided the fast son of Jeremes Jet to victory in the Schweppes Stakes on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton, overhauling Audi Hare in the home straight with the aid of a perfect drive.

Love Ina Chevy made up the required length and a quarter to win the 1720m dash by a half-head in 1:54.0, producing a 26.5 last 400m.

“He’s in career-best form and he’s not without some chance in better races coming up. I’d imagine (the Inter Dominion) would be his main aim,” Sugars told Trots Vision.

LOVE INA CHEVY WAS AMONG THE HOT TOPICS IN GAIT SPEED. LISTEN BELOW:

 

Birthday double

Two wins and two placings from four drives at Vic HQ on Saturday night helped Kima Frenning celebrate her 27th birthday.

Frenning’s winners were Keep On Rocking for Isabel Walsh in the Pryde’s Vic Cup 13 October Pace and Emma Stewart-trained Phoenix Prince in the TAB Multiplier Pace Final, and she almost won with Pizza Queen for Anton Golino (beaten a short half-head by stablemate Courchevel) in the Allied Express Trot. Frenning piloted Intrusive for Stewart into third place in the Allied Express Pace.

Frenning is currently second on the SBG Accountants Metropolitan Victorian Drivers premiership, one win behind Kate Gath.

 

Tayla a rising talent

Talented young trainer Tayla Gillespie continued her rise in Queensland on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old produced Hot Rod Heaven – a six-year-old by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Bettors Delight mare Nothin Bettor – to win the Radio TAB Qualifying Pace.

Gillespie has been around the sport all of her life and as a 15-year-old in 2010 accompanied her father, Shaun, and their gun trotter Kasyanov to Melbourne for the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship.

Kasyanov finished second, at $147, to Sundons Gift in the last meeting held at Moonee Valley.

Gillespie had 21 winners last season and has had 31 in her career to date.

 

Hood too good

Also in Queensland, Glenferrie Hood won for the 34th time in his career on Saturday night and is fast closing on the $400,000 lifetime stakes mark.

Trained by Wayne Graham and driven by Pete McMullan, the nine-year-old son of Christian Cullen appears to be only getting better with age – securing over $100k in stakemoney last season alone courtesy of nine wins.

Hill, Hall bookend Pirie

Danielle Hall and Lyndon Hall bookended Saturday night’s program at Port Pirie, with the second leg of the double named in honour of the trainer himself.

Ultimate Won, a five-year-old son of Ultimate Art, won the Lyndon Hall Leading Trainer Pace by a half-neck over Loanshark to round out the seven-race card at Pirie.

Mymatethomo was the other Hall/Hill winner, in the opener, the five-year-old son of Courage Under Fire comfortably accounting for Any Suggestions.

Hill already has an eight-win buffer on the SA state driving premiership.

 

Mia launches late to win

Joes Star Of Mia went 1:50.3 and came from downtown to blouse My Alpha Rock in the Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation Free-for-All an Menangle on Saturday night.

The impressive Roll With Joe speedster savaged the line to overhaul a determine runner-up via the judge’s print, a short half-head separating the first two after My Alpha Rock had set the speed throughout (26.9, 28.8, 27.1 and 27.5).

Loorrim Creek finished close-up third and all three may be considering Victorian fast-class options in coming weeks and months.

Meanwhile, Victorian owned Mustang Bart made it back-to-back NSW wins in the Snap Campbelltown Pace for KerryAnn Turner and Robert Morris in 1:51.2. This son of Gotta Go Cullect is a model of consistency.

Shotzzz fires

Punters who secured $5 about Four Shotzzz at Wagga on Saturday night were on good terms with themselves after Tim Doherty steered the Brad Aylett-trained gelding by Four Starzzz Shark home in the John Brasier Memorial over 2165m.

The five-year-old had won three of his past five starts going into the race and just had to overcome an awkward draw.

Doherty didn’t waste time putting Four Shotzzz into the race, and once in the chair, he always travelled well, thundering home in the straight for a tough win.

Meanwhile, horseman Len Clement has had one win each season for the past three seasons – but this season that win has come early!

Clement – who has trained since 1983 and produced 42 winners in that time – guided Lettucefireharvey, a $69 outsider, home in the Don Alchin Memorial from gate three.

And former Vic pacer Me Mate Les won at his stable debut for the Ellen Bartley and Blake Jones combo, winning the Robbie Jack Memorial.