Bit Of Irish Luck, trained by Mick Blackmore and driven by this season’s most winningest Victorian reinsman James Herbertson claimed the three-year-old fillies Silver Trot final at Maryborough last Thursday.
The three-year-old daughter of Father Patrick pounced on the lead from barrier three and led her rivals a merry dance over the 2190m trip to claim the major slice of the $25 000 prizemoney.
Blackmore was disappointed in her previous start in a heat of the series the previous week when she was in a winning position and broke stride.
But he was still confident she could give a good sight in the final.
‘‘Her track work had been terrific and although she has some niggling problems she is smart when she is right,’’ Mick said.
Owned and bred by Kyabram trots stalwart Darrell Pell Bit Of Irish Luck — named after he sire Father Patrick — has had just the 12 lifetime starts for four wins, all this season from nine starts.
– Others Kyabram-trained horses to win over the festive break were Tenlilfonzies, Shes Going Places and Ace Montana.
Trotter Tenlilfonzies opened his winning account at his 16th try when he saluted at the Elmore Cup meeting at Bendigo.
Bred by Rob Shellie from 10-times winning Shellie family bred and owned mare Idido, Tenlilfonzies was driven a treat by Damian Wilson who had the son of Fling It in the one-one sit for most of the 210m trip.
Tenlilfonzies had registered only two minor placings in his previous 15 tries but one of these was a third at Bendigo at his previous start, which had connections confident he was near the major money although he still paid a generous $14 on the tote.
Veteran Kyabram horseman Greg Caldwell trains Tenlilfonzies and races the trotter with his son Rodney and both got a big kick out of the win.
Reinsman Damian Wilson also guided five-year-old Grinfromeartoear mare Shes Going Places, prepared by Kyabram trainer Rod Woods Sr and raced by the Woods clan to a win at Cranbourne.
Wilson worked Shes Going Places into the one-one sit and the mare had too much zip for her rivals at the business end of the race.
A winner at Swan Hill in October, Shes Going Places indicated a coming win with a second to Didshedoit at Echuca on December 21 at her previous start.
Her 26 starts have now produced two wins and five minor placings.
– Seven-year-old gelding Ace Montana gave his Kyabram trainer Graham Lyon a nice start to the New Year when he won at the Echuca meeting on Sunday night.
Reinswoman Jordan Chibnall settled Ace Montana, an odds-on favourite, behind the pacemaker, the Gary Merkel prepared Roslyn Gaye, and ran that pacer down when he got into clear running in the home straight.
It completed successive wins for the pacer who had scored fist up from a spell at his previous start on the same track on December 21.
Ace Montana previously trained by his owner Lisa Hardy has now won 10 races and been placed 21 times in 63 race starts.
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