Humbeltonian Day could have been re branded as ‘Debutants Day’ at Maryborough with three of the first four winners making their race track debuts.
With all races at the meeting restricted to maiden performers for a purse of $10,000, several trainers seized the opportunity to earmark the day as the ideal starting point for their newcomers.
Emerging American bred trotting stallion Volstead took the early honours siring the winners of the first two races with both bred from the leading nursery Yabby Dam Farms
The Antti Ruokonen trained juvenile filly Ikigai surrendered the early lead before wresting it back shortly after outclassing her rivals defeating Loteria in the HBV Vic bred Maiden 2YO Trot.
Ruokonen said he secured the filly while working at Pat Driscoll’s Yabby Dam Farms complex.
“She was still in the paddock five months ago and she’s getting better all the time,” he said.
“She’s not big but she’s strong and has a great attitude- she has speed and a great engine, so she has everything you need
Half an hour later the Ainsworth prepared colt Argyle Rocks, who was having only his second start, recovered from breaking in the score up to score an easy win in the second division of the HBV Vicbred Maiden 2YO Trot.
Co trainer Barry Ainsworth said he wasn’t surprised by the winner’s hiccup behind the mobile.
“He has been getting a bit excited lately, he thinks he knows what he’s doing and as it proved he might be a bit off the mark,” Ainsworth said.
Despite racing greenly in the home straight, the Emma Stewart trained first starter Meteor Moth managed to arrive in time to prevail by a half neck in the HBV Vicbred Maiden 2YO Pace.
Jason Lee completed a driving double when he steered the debutant Jilliby Mojito to victory in the HBV Vicbred Maiden 3YO Pace.
Sent out a $2.40 favorite, Jilliby Mojito enjoyed a cosy run behind the leader before Lee eased to the outside and the son of Jilliby Kung Fu scored running away from Lively Rascal and Jilliby Sovereign.
Appropriately, the day was rounded off with a quintessential Humbletonian story after Shewinswegrin took out the HBV 3YO Maiden Pace.
James Herbertson made a race winning move when he looped the field mid race to wrest the lead off the $2 favorite Jilliby Tidalwave and managed to stave off all challenges to score from Quick Decision.
The filly first trialled in April 2022 and had six subsequent trials before making her race track debut three weeks ago for trainer Stephen Mark finishing unplaced at Melton.
“She’s a tough little filly and she actually showed a bit of speed today which was nice,” Herbertson said.
“I said to him after her first trial that she will be able to pick up a race,” he said.
Picture: Harness Breeders Victoria
