Eighty-seven-year-old Bet Bet trainer Ray Cross enjoyed a most profitable day at Maryborough on Wednesday thanks to a winning double.
Six-year-old Centurian Alm-Kumbya mare Romantic Nina took out the 2190-metre McPhersons Printing Group Mares Trotters Mobile and three-year-old Classic Connection-Honey Please gelding Itz Classic Gold scored in the Worlds Best Hoof Oil Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
Both were driven to perfection by Goulburn Valley-based former Tasmanian Liam Older.
Romantic Nina was given a sweet passage from gate three, trailing the pacemaker Abbie (gate five) for most of the race. Receiving plenty of room to come away from the inside approaching the final bend to join the leader, she raced clear on turning to record a 6.1-metre margin (her 14th win in 121 outings which includes 23 placings) on Fremarks Peggy with The Italian Dream third. The winner’s mile rate was 2-00.8.
Itz Classic Gold, starting solo on the second line, landed three back along the markers as Mattyo led from the pole. Angling into the clear prior to the home turn, Itz Classic Gold ran home best to prevail by a neck in 1-55.9 from Champagnes with Saint Eyes third 5.5 metres away.
Ray does a fantastic job with his small but select team.
