Bet365 Park Kilmore was a punters’ paradise on Monday, with five favourites and two second favourites successful on the eight-race card.
Longest-priced winner for the day was the Brian McGrath-trained Yatta Izu ($6.50).
In what was also the closest finish of the day, the four-year-old daughter of Pour Moi got up in the last stride to take out the $20,000 North Central Review Class 1 Handicap (1212m).
The mare, ridden by Beau Mertens, defeated $3.80 favourite Yeldarb by a short half-head with Run Pam Run ($21) the same margin away third.
The win was the mare’s second from three starts.
Yatta Izu was a bargain purchase by Brian McGrath Racing for $NZ20,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Select yearling sale.
The owners include the trainer’s father, former British broadcaster Jim McGrath and his family, Victoria Racing Club vice-chairman John O’Rourke and O’Rourke’s brother Steve.
The mare has earned $26,910.
Bob up
Earlier on the Kilmore program, Kyneton trainer Bob Challis flew the district flag with a narrow win to The Donchess ($2.30 favourite) in the Georgina & Co BM58 Highweight Handicap (1912m).
With rider Clayton Douglas turning the tables on Tom Sadler from their battle in the previous race, the eight-year-old Southern Image mare got up by a short half-head over Bouffon ($2.60).
Bred by Ralph Portaro and raced by him in partnership with Liz Irwin, the mare has now won four races with nine minor placings from her 26 starts.
It was a day of mixed fortunes for the connections, with stablemate What’s Up breaking down badly 100 metres from the winning post in a later race.
Cup’s up next
The listed bet365 Kilmore Cup is the main attraction at the next Kilmore meeting, on Sunday week (November 25).
After cup day the track will be out of action for some time as it undergoes major drainage works and widening of the straight to accommodate rail movement.
For dining/marquee bookings for the cup, or for further information, ring the Kilmore Racing Club on (03) 5783 0777.
Coldie’s cup
The success of Darren Weir over recent years has prompted some punters to adopt the motto “Back Weir, drink beer.”
The omen bet for last week’s $125,000 bet365 Kyneton Cup (2000m) therefore had to be the Weir-trained Another Coldie ($3.60)
The five-year-old son of Snitzel, coming off a Horsham Cup victory last month, was perfectly ridden by the in form John Allen in defeating Rhythm to Spare ($12) by two lengths.
Another Coldie, raced by the Lindsay Family, is a half-brother to the smart Mick Price-trained mare Nariko.
The entire has now won 10 races with six minor placings from 28 starts for $431,325 in prizemoney.