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Hillier hoping Cobram raid brings Ideal start to 2022

Trainer Darrell Hillier has a nice American Ideal gelding in his Leeton barn and he’s sending him across the border for a Victorian cup raid to kick-start his five-year-old season.

The destination is Cobram and while Hillier’s lightly-raced charge Ideal Escape has drawn well in gate one, he’ll have his work cut out against some classy opposition in the $35,000 feature.

Group 1 Bonanza winner Boots Electric is first-up from a break for trainer Russell Jack, talented stablemate Blue Chip Delight has barrier two, while the older brigade of Zadaka (Greg Norman), Boy From Bondi (Wayne Potter) and Hashtag (Shaun McNaulty) all shape as winning chances in the Group 3 clash over the 2678m trip.

Hillier told thetrots.com.au he would likely use Ideal Escape’s gate speed in the early stages of the race and seemed confident of a good showing.

“He can come out, and I haven’t actually spoken to the guys yet to see what they want to do, but I’d say he would be coming out to hold his own,” Hillier, 65, said.

“I don’t know a lot of the Victorian horses, but from what I can go on, he should hold his own I think.”

Stewart Richards knows Ideal Escape well and will make the trip to Cobram to drive the five-year-old, who has won six of 19 starts for a tick over $40,000 in earnings.

“He drove this horse when he won the Country Series Final at Bathurst and he doesn’t drive a lot these days, but where he can he does have a drive,” Hillier, who currently works about a dozen horses, said.

Ideal Escape was tried in Queensland for an unsuccessful three-start campaign during November and heads to Cobram after a third placing in an NR up to 75 event at Wagga Wagga on December 21.

He isn’t the only horse from Leeton making the trip to Victoria for the Jim Phillips Memorial Cobram Pacing Cup, with Todd Prest sending down Sporty Dancer for the event. The four-year-old mare will be driven by Blake Jones and start from barrier three.

A quality field will also chase Group 2 glory in the Central Murray Credit Union Cobram Trotters Cup on Sunday.

Veteran driver Brian Gath will partner Tony Peacock-trained Illawong Stardust from a 10m handicap, while fellow Inter Dominion finalist Humble Ladd will have his first start for trainer Alex Ashwood off the same mark. Last year’s country cups champ Well Defined (Kate Hargreaves), Jackson Square (Mick Blackmore) and Travel Bug (Jason McNaulty) are also off 10m.

TrotsVision will be in full swing on Sunday, with Paul Campbell and Dan Hibberd joining caller Luke Humphreys to bring you all of the action.

TUNE IN at COBRAM on Sunday 

First Race: 1.07pm Last Race: 5.49pm
Racecaller: Luke Humphreys with Paul Campbell and Dan Hibberd hosting the TrotsVision coverage.
TrotsVision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: LISTEN LIVE 
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE

CRAIG RAIL ON COBRAM

RACE 1: YANKEE SPIDER TROT
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,5
SELECTIONS: WALKABOUT CASCADE (3), THREE BROS (7), STARLIGHT STORM (5), YANKEE LOVER (2)
RATINGS: 3,7 / 5 / 2,4,6 / 1
SUGGESTED BET: WALKABOUT CASCADE (3) each-way

For tips and speedmaps for all races visit Good Form at thetrots.com.au

Winner of the Week

RAINBOWSEND, by American Ideal out of Starlitestarbright, a winner of the Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Bronze Plate at Bendigo on December 30.
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre

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The good oil from the Vic trials circuit

BLACKBOOKER: Cobram, R6 N10, Humble Ladd
At Bendigo on January 2, HUMBLE LADD returned from his Queensland and Inter Dominion campaign with a big victory. He settled down last of the four runners, sprinted quickly down the back straight to join the leader WELL DEFINED and asserted his superiority at the end. He was performing brilliantly at the trials before his Northern campaign and was very good again on Sunday. Interestingly, he has yet to race in Victoria but that will change at Cobram on Sunday, where he should make his presence felt in the Cup. REPORT and REPLAY
BLACKBOOKER: Cobram, R4 N10, Mister Artikulate
At Bendigo on November 21, MISTER ARTIKULATE began quickly to find the lead then took cover. He peeled away from the markers with 600m remaining and dashed to the front at the quarter pole. He kept on rolling to the line and seemed to win with something reserve so it was an impressive display. REPORT and REPLAY

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