Kyneton trainers John Roberts and Steven Noble finished Monday’s Benalla meeting on a high, producing the last two winners.
Roberts scored with Sullivan’s Paddock ($4.20), who made it three wins on the trot in taking out the $20,000 Sportsbet BM64 Handicap (1106m).
The seven-year-old Barton Gate gelding, ridden in all three wins this prep by apprentice Chelsea Hall, defeated As Bad As Tyson ($6) by a long neck, with $4 favourite Chanceofalifetime a further length away third.
Bred and raced by Roberts and wife Paula McKnight, the gelding has been giving the couple “a great ride”.
“We tipped him out for three months and he’s come back super,” Roberts said. “Chelsea has had only three rides on him for three wins. She rides him so well.
“We’ll just keep him in the country and if his form continues up till Christmas we may look for a restricted race at The Valley.” 
Roberts has only two horses in work.
Sullivan’s Paddock has now won seven races with five minor placings from 35 starts.
The following race, the Ryan & McNulty Sawmillers BM58 Handicap (1206m), saw trainer Steve Noble combine with his daughter Samantha to win with Ben Bader ($4.20).
The five-year-old Easy Choice gelding got up in a driving finish over Tahlia Hope’s mount, Annesbrook ($17), by a neck. Our Project ($4.40), ridden by Brooke Sweeney, was a half-head third.
Ben Bader, raced by Noor Elaine Farm, has now won three races with two minor placings from 15 starts.
Song strikes
Seymour trainer Murray Johnson made the long float trip to Swan Hill worthwhile last Thursday when Cosmic Song broke through for his maiden win, but not before surviving a protest.
The four-year-old Astronomer Royal gelding, sent out a $2.80 favourite on the back of consistent form, took out The Bottle-O Maiden Plate (1200m) with Samuel Payne aboard.
The gelding defeated Antagonist ($7.50) by a nose with Zoomesday ($9) third.
Cosmic Song was placed three times prior to his win.
Seal performs
One never knows where and when Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer will bob up in a winner’s stall.
Last Saturday at St Arnaud, Dyer had his first winner in Victoria since returning from his winter campaign at the Darwin carnival.
At St Arnaud he won with Sacred Seal ($3.20) in the Northern Grampians Shire Council Maiden Plate (1100m).
Ridden by John Keating, the five-year old daughter of Bel Esprit and Oregon Seal defeated the Frank Conlan-trained Melba’s Maestro ($16) with Jetstream Jetted ($20) third.
Sacred Seal is raced by a local syndicate headed by Kyneton & Hanging Rock life member Mike Rowland.
Sacred Seal was racing for the first time since November last year, and should go on now she has had a taste of victory.
Kyneton up for cup
All roads will lead to Kyneton next Wednesday for the running of the 2016 bet365 Kyneton Cup.
It’s always a popular meeting, sandwiched between Melbourne Cup day and Oaks day, and this year it’s the club first meeting of the season, with earlier fixtures washed out.
Kilmore has been in the same boat (excuse the pun), losing a couple of meetings due to the extraordinary wet weather.
Kilmore races this Sunday (October 30).
Good luck to both clubs.