Kyneton trainer Ray Matthews got a real kick out of the win of Viva Acheeva ($6.50) on the Sportsbet-Ballarat synthetic last Friday.
Viva Acheeva was previously in the care of the late Frank Conlan, the Woodend-based trainer who was killed after falling from a horse at Carlsruhe in February.
Matthews was assisted by Frank’s son Tom, who also works as a Racing Victoria barrier attendant.
Five-year-old Anacheeva gelding Viva Acheeva made it three wins and a third from four starts on synthetic surfaces when he took out the Hygain Winner’s Choice BM58 Handicap (1400m).
Ridden by Jordan Childs, the gelding defeated Cadabra ($14) by two lengths, with the Luke Oliver-trained En Aval ($3.50 favourite) a further 1¼ lengths away third.
Asked by Racing.com’s Brad Bishop about Viva Acheeva’s good record on the synthetic, Tom Conlan replied that some horses seem to go on it and he’s one.
“He just loves it,” he said. 
Reflecting on February’s tragedy, Conlan paid tribute to his mother, Louise.
“I’d like to thank Mum for helping me through the hard times we’ve had. It’s been tough but we’re starting to get the job done.”
He praised Childs for his winning ride.
Jordan’s been a good friend of mine for ages and he did everything I asked,” he said.
Bred and part-owned by former Seeker Athol Guy, Viva Acheeva has had three wins and three minor placings from his 15 starts.
More joy for George
In-form Kyneton trainer George Osborne’s Celeritate Regem ($7) was rewarded for his consistency at Mornington on Monday.
Between a last of 10 on debut and his maiden win in Monday’s Highview Accounting Mornington Plate (1000m), the Equiano four-year-old gelding had not been further back than fourth in seven starts.
The gelding was the third of four winners on the program from four rides for jockey Jamie Mott.
He beat Alltoofast ($11) by 1¾ lengths with Sky Royale ($21) third.
“Jamie’s aggressive approach picked him up and made him try harder,” Osborne said. “I was very happy that he was drawn out wide so he didn’t get smothered up and didn’t get field shy. 
“Everything worked out well and he was strong through the line. Hopefully he might have learnt something,” Osborne said. 
Osborne is enjoying a fabulous season, having won 38 races across Victoria and New South Wales.
Emperor reigns
Seymour trainer Stephen Brown has a smart one in Heavenly Emperor, judging by the gelding’s win as a $1.95 favourite at Bendigo on Sunday.
The three-year-old Echoes of Heaven gelding, having his second start for Brown after showing promise in New Zealand, was an impressive winner of the $35,000 Big Screen Maiden Plate (1300m).
Ridden by Brett Prebble, the gelding defeated the Kyneton-trained Lavrovsky ($8.50) by 1¼ lengths with Play School ($14) third.
“It was a good win and I’m really happy,” Brown said. “A good mate of mine bought him for us in New Zealand and I’m happy he got that one on the board. 
“We’ll probably step him out in distance now and hopefully he’ll go on to bigger and better things.”
Heavenly Emperor had three minor placings in New Zealand prior to crossing the Tasman.
Bay cruise
Brown’s fellow Seymour trainer Bryan Maher saddled up Great Bay ($5.50) for a nice win at Wodonga last Saturday.
Ultra-consistent this prep, the six-year-old Sharkbite gelding was a comfortable winner of the Vince Tobin 0-58 Handicap (1590m), defeating Ghost Doctor ($8) by 1½ lengths with the Luke Oliver-trained Malevolent ($4 equal favourite) a short half-head away third.
Also owned by the trainer, Great Bay has now won four races with eight minor placings from his 34 starts.
Highlight of the Wodonga meeting was a running double by local trainer Craig Widdison with Straover ($3) in a 1400-metre maiden and Dissedge ($7.50) in the $28,000 Jack Maher Classic (1200m) for two-year-olds.