A border-hop to Corowa (NSW) proved fruitful for Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson last Friday when Saracentinal ($4.80) scored a nice win.
The six-year-old Dangerous gelding was a narrow but impressive winner of the $20,000 Corowa Race Club Melbourne Cup Day Fashions on the Field Class 2 Handicap (1400m).
The gelding defeated the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Medal of Valour ($5) with Platinum Circle ($26) third.
Thompson said the Seymour/Kilmore-based apprentice Tahlia Hope “rode him a treat”.
“She box-seated him throughout the race.”
Thompson said the gelding pulled up as if he hadn’t gone around.
“We’ll look for a race over a similar distance as he doesn’t run out a strong mile,” she said.
The gelding, part-owned by district harness and thoroughbred man Ian Forsyth, was formerly trained by Patrick Payne.
He now has three wins and six minor placings from his 23 starts.
The win was the first leg of a winning double for Hope, who also won aboard Atunnah Courage for Wangaratta trainer Libby Haworth.
Hope, who’d won on Valrouz for Cranbourne’s Doug Harrison the previous Tuesday, made it four wins in six days when she piloted House of Stars ($3.20) for Swan Hill-based Jane Duncan at Echuca on Monday.
The young apprentice has had to cover plenty of kilometres over the winter months to get rides, with turf tracks in the north east out of action. 
Wodonga winners
Well done to the Wodonga & District Turf Club on taking out the Kelly Sports Country Racing Victoria Event of the Year at last Saturday’s successful Country Racing Victoria awards night in Ballarat.
Congratulations are also due to club life member Terry Maher on receiving the prestigious Balance Tony Shanahan Award for services to Country Racing Victoria – a worthy acknowledgment of a true gentleman who has put so much into the border club.
Opener in a good cause
With no racing on Kilmore’s turf track since April, the Board, CEO, members and racegoers alike are champing at the bit for the club’s first meeting of the 2016/17 season, on Saturday September 10.
The meeting promises to be action-packed on and off the track, incorporating the annual fundraiser for the Northern Health Foundation.
This is the second year of Northern Health’s participation. Funds raised go towards pediatric services at Northern Health.
A feature of the day is the Life After Racing celebration incorporating programs from the three codes — Off the Track (thoroughbred), HERO (Harness Education & Rehoming Opportunities) and GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program), with demonstrations and displays during the day.
A portion of admission fees go to these Life After Racing groups.
Dining bookings can be made online at kilmoreracing.com.au or by ringing (03) 5783 0777.
Racegoers at Kilmore’s September 10 meeting will notice works were completed on the redesigned mounting yard and horse precinct during the winter break.
Funded by local government and the racing industry, the design has considered all angles when it comes to safety.
The owners’ and trainers’ bar and the public bar have also been attractively refurbished.
RIP, Bob Skelton
My deepest sympathy to Craig Skelton and family on the sad loss of R.J. “Bobby” Skelton last week.
I had the pleasure of Bobby’s company several times when his son was Kilmore’s marketing manager for a number of years.
Rest in peace, Bob — many a race you have run and won with distinction.