It was a good day for the locals at bet365 Park Kilmore last Thursday, Tony Chibnall and Hanna Powell training winners with Storm’s Colours ($1.85 favourite) and Porky Pine ($9.50) respectively.
Storm’s Colours, a three-year-old Fighting Sun gelding, was a narrow but impressive winner of the MC Labour BM58 Handicap over 1612 metres.
Ridden by John Allen, he defeated Suburbia ($5.50) by a half-head with Ferrocerium ($12) a further seven lengths away third.
“It was a terrific effort,” Chibnall said. “I think he’ll turn into a nice stayer.
“He gutsed it out in the straight and there was seven lengths between second and third.”
Chibnall said the gelding would have his next start on Yarra Valley Cup day (March 14) in a benchmark 58 over 1950 metres.
Storm’s Colours was a $22,000 purchase at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne yearling sale by long-time stable client Leon McDonald and Chibnall (passionate Melbourne Storm supporters, hence the name).
The gelding now has two wins and three minor placings from his 12 starts, earning $36,918 in prizemoney.
The following race saw Porky Pine go one better from his Bendigo second placing on February 13, scoring an impressive win in the bet365 Protest Promise  BM58 Handicap over 1112 metres.
The four-year-old Wanted gelding, giving Jarrod Fry the first leg of a riding double, defeated $3 favourite Cardice by 1½ lengths with Great Bah a half-length away third.
He was having his third start for Powell, having previously been trained at Seymour by Mark Thomas.
Powell said the gelding had been a nervous wreck.
“He’s a sweating mess – in the float, in the stalls, but since Bendigo there’s been a marked improvement,” she said.
“Jason Baldock (former jockey) has done wonders with this horse. He’s been instrumental in the turnaround with him.”
Powell said the gelding would have his next run back at Kilmore on March 11 in a benchmark 58 over 1100 metres.
Porky Pine now has two wins and two minor placings from his 16 starts.
Charm on the wing
Seymour trainer Jamie Scott has Charm Wing flying at present.
The Canford Cliffs five-year-old mare made it back-to-back Albury wins in taking out last Friday’s Purjen Couriers Class 2 Handicap over  1175 metres.
Ridden again by Riverina hoop John Kissick, the mare started at $4.60 and defeated $1.95 favourite Roppongi with Zouly ($7) third.
Formerly trained by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, Charm Wing has two wins and three minor placings from her five starts for Scott.
Off to a flyer
District trainers won five of the six races at Alexandra Picnics on Saturday.
Highlight of the program came in the last — the Nutrien Harcourts Alexandra Trophy Race (2) over 1830 metres, won by the Jody Thompson-trained Go Ferrando ($2.40 favourite), giving Kilmore jockey Tyson Barton his first winner at his first ride.
Barton is the son of former Kilmore trainer Angie Barton and former star professional runner Greg.
Gaining his licence has been a long haul for Barton due to the lack of official trials in Victoria during the COVID pandemic.
“Today was an absolute thrill of my life, to have my first ride as a winner,” Barton said.
“I’m over the moon. A huge thank you to Jody and Ash (Thompson) for giving me the opportunity.”
(See At The Picnics in this edition for a detailed rundown of the Alexandra meeting.)
Coming up  
Kilmore Racing Club will host another turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore next Thursday, March 11. For Trackside dining bookings ring (03) 5783 0777.
Kyneton bet365 Park will be the venue for racing on Friday March 19. Ring (03) 5422 1866 for bookings and enquiries.