Trots Centre: Some Echuca Bliss to ring in the New Year

Trainer-driver Ellen Tormey has to hang around until well past 10pm at Echuca on New Year’s Day for the last event on the card, but she’s hoping one of her most talented fillies makes the wait worthwhile.

Tormey operates just a small team of her own horses in Junortoun and believes new acquisition Twisted Bliss is perhaps the most talented of them all.

The daughter of Betterthancheddar only returned to Tormey’s barn in recent weeks – after one run with her back in September – and produced a last-start fourth in a heat of the Alabar Vicbred Super Series behind Michael Stanley’s Soho Broadway.

Tormey decided against backing-up in the semi-finals due to illness and a likely tough run behind the unbeaten star Ladies In Red, but has the filly ready to go for tonight’s 2 State Electrical 3YO Pace (2160m).

“She drew 13 in the semis against Ladies In Red and if I raced her I probably would have stuffed her. She would have had to go out to the paddock,” Tormey said.

“I opted to leave it and I’m glad because she’s a nice filly and I wanted to look after her.”

Tormey said there appeared to be a bright future ahead for the lightly-raced nine-start youngster, who won her only race at Mildura in October.

“She’s got a few little attitude problems, but is getting better all the time. She ran second to Rogue Wave at her first start this prep and they went really good time,” Tormey said.

“She’s got a lot of speed and I reckon the older she gets, the better she’ll be. I do quite like her.
“She’s the one that I probably look forward to getting out of bed for.”

Tormey declared Twisted Bliss her best winning chance of the night, which includes another six drives. Perhaps the best of those is the in-form Fremarksgonzo, who shoots for three-straight wins in the Frank & Carmel Ryan Memorial Pace (2160m).

TORMEY ON HER OTHER DRIVES

R1 N6: Littlebitofmagic (MAL & LORRAINE KEEBLE RICH RIVER AUTO BODY MAIDEN PACE)
“Not going as bad as his form reads, but will need luck from the draw.”

R3 N8: Aztec Inti (ECHUCA WORKERS TROT)
“He’s going pretty good, but he’s better drawn off the front and will need luck from the back row.”

R4 N4: Miss Artemis (TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE)
“Hoping to improve on her last few runs and has found a weak race.”

R5 N2: Prosecco Boy (R L & L M EMERSON PRINTING PACE)
“Better draw will suit him and hopefully he can make a bit of his own luck this week and not be far away.”

R6 N8: Fremarksgonzo (FRANK & CARMEL RYAN MEMORIAL PACE)
“Obviously it’s a step-up in grade, but it suits him when the pace is on and there looks like there is a bit of pace in the race. If they don’t get home in 57sec then he’s a chance, but if they have that really quick quarter at the end – if they walk and then sprint home – then he just struggles a bit. It looks a suitable race. I’m not saying he’s a moral, but hopefully he’ll run into the money.”

R7 N2: Sheer Modern (MOAMA BOWLING CLUB NEW YEARS CUP 2021)
“I think she’s a good chance. The front row draw suits her, she’s got really good gate speed and if she’s in a good position, she won’t be far away.”

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