TOM HAYES
HORSERACING
By TOM HAYES STONY Creek Racing Club was host to an eight-race card for its Public Holiday Races meet on Tuesday, December 27. The track’s grade began at a Good 4 until halfway through the meet, where it was upgraded to a Good 3. Local success was spread throughout the meet, however unfortunately, none were eventual winners. In the first race of the day, the Race 1 Ladbrokes Mates Mode Maiden Plate over 2100 metres, Botched won for Lloyd Kennewell. The four-year old mare steamed home after sitting at the back of the pack for the majority of the race. Redskin Jimmy for Sale’s Troy and John Kilgower snuck into third by a nose to Irish Knight at the line. Despite never winning a race, Redskin Jimmy has always been close as of late; four of her last seven races have resulted in a place-finish. But, the favourite was too good for the rest, Botched won by a length to second-placed Rayza Warrior in a storming victory. We wouldn’t see any local success until race six, but in the meantime, the Race 2 Meeniyan IGA Plus Liquor Maiden Plate (1700m) was taken out by Abrupt for Leon and Troy Corstens. The three-year-old gelding burst from last to first in a matter of seconds, catching the leaders napping before stretching out to a three-length lead. He held on climbing down the straight to win by a length to the favourite – Shark Island. The Race 3 Fish Creek Hotel Maiden Plate (1000m) was won comfortably by Songaa for Mornington’s Rory Hunter. Just the fifth race for the four-year-old gelding, Songaa had never placed in his career. Songaa led the pack from the jump, before stretching out to a two-length lead on the run into the line. The Brill Building for Phillip Stokes took out the Race 4 Meeniyan Hotel 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m), in a tightly contested three-way battle. Khalida (second) and Extravagant Choice (third) finished within a length of the maiden three-year-old winner. In just his second race, The Brill Building looks to continue his good form, with a third-place finish in his first race, now backed-up by a win in his second outing. The Race 5 Ray White Leongatha BM58 Handicap (1100m) was the final race of the meet that had no local success, as the comfortable favourite Miss Middle Park won for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Miss Middle Park sat off-pace for majority of the sprint, before opening out onto the outside and taking a lengths lead. The three-year-old mare held off a wall of incoming horses, but managed to hang on for her second career win, and her first since January 2022. Tametomo incredibly led from start to finish, holding off a late charge from Bucks, to win the Race 6 O’Connell Motors BM58 Handicap (2100m). It wasn’t all smooth sailing, as Bucks, for Sale’s Damien Walkley, closed in after spending the majority of the race at the back of the pack. Only half a head separated the two at the line, as Bucks continues his great run of form – seven consecutive races within the top four. Tametomo claims his first victory since April 2021, which only included one placing in between wins, coming in November 2022, at Geelong. The Race 7 Ladbrokes Easy Form Class 1 Handicap (1600m) was won by the odds-on favourite Zoutellus. Margaret’s Banter for Moe’s Peter Gelagotis led for the entire race until the home straight, where the four-year-old mare seemingly gassed out. The local hung on to a place-finish, coming home in third behind Albanian Eagle, the two still over five lengths behind the eventual winner. Zoutellus claimed the second win of his career and his first since February 2021, despite having decent form throughout, including six placing in between victories. The final race of the meet was won by Poleaxed for Ken and Kasey Keys, who was followed by two locals. Race 8’s Brandt Leongatha BM58 Handicap (1700m) had two locals in the top three; Little Brother for Moe’s Darryl Blackshaw and Delightful Hustler for Moe’s Christine Sexton. Any of the top four could have taken winning honours in a tightly-contested finish, only 0.8 lengths between the top four. A great finish was provided in the final race of the meet, as Poleaxed won by a nose to a fast-finishing Little Brother, while a steady-paced Delightful Hustler claimed the final placing position.
