Kyabram sporting great Paul Newman certainly had a week to remember last week.
On the Sunday he coached the Kyabram Under 16 footballers to a thrilling premiership win over the Shepparton Swans and four days later was celebrating a long-shot win in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Newman along with other Kyabram football identities in Peter Croxford and Dave Williams and Bendigo’s Denis Bice and the trainer own the pacer Heavenly Flyer, who beat the heavyweights in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series at massive odds.
Up to 150/1 was bet about the chances of Heavenly Flyer and by starting time she was a 50/1 shot on the tote and 68/1 on the fixed odds.
Driven by Liam Older for Kyabram trainer Graham Lyon, Heavenly Flyer enjoyed an easy run over the 2180m trip, sitting three back on the pegs and spearing to the upset win along the sprint lane when the hot favourite and pacemaker Quatro Moth got the staggers in the home straight.
It was the pacer’s second win with six minor placings from just 11 career starts.
By Rock N Roll Heaven, Heavenly Flyer now contests the semi-finals of the lucrative series at Melton this Saturday night.
Kyabram trainers went close to landing two Super Series heats at the Kilmore meeting with the Mick Blackmore-trained Dusty Philtra a fast-finishing second in his heat of the three-year-old colts and geldings Super Series.
Dusty Philtra also contests a semi-final of the series this Saturday night.
Lyon was also popular with punters at the August 20 Kilmore meeting when a trotter he trains and owns, Majestic Monarch, ran his rivals ragged.
A five-year-old gelding by Majestic Son, Majestic Moment was urged to the front-running role early in the 2180m race and dashed clear of his rivals in the home straight.
It was only the second start Lyon has given the trotter and he put the writing on the wall at his previous start on the track at the August 13 meeting when third on debut for Lyon to Buslin Brody.
Majestic Monarch has now faced the starter 27 times for three wins and 11 placing and as a $1.55 favourite for his latest win it was his most popular victory with punters.
• Former GV-trained and Kyabram-owned pacer Wicked Wizard has made the most of a switch of states with a dashing win at the August 22 Menangle meeting in NSW.
Now being prepared by David Thorn and driven by Jye Coney, the four-year-old son of McWicked dashed to the front at barrier rise and remained there until the finishing line.
Wicked Wizard’s scorching 55.7 last half and 1.51.7 mile rate for the 1609m trip was the reason none of his rivals could run him down.
A syndicate of Kyabramites, Peter Hall, Rob Whitford, Tony Hansen, Brenton Shepparton, Susie and Rohan Bennett, and Bendigo’s Steve Sharp, are among the owners of the promising pacer.
• Moorilim trainer Lisa Hardy landed her third win on the track in her past five starts when four-year-old pacing mare Mammals Reason saluted at last week’s Shepparton meeting.
The daughter of For A Reason had scored wins at the July 28 and August 4 meetings and did it again this week.
Mark Pitt has been in the sulky for all three wins in four starts for Lisa, who lives in Kyabram. She ran third in her other start.
Stanhope reinsman Pitt gave Mammals Reason a midfield passage and she singled out to fight out the finish with Our Mystery Bet, who put in a big run after racing outside the pacemaker for the 2190m trip.
Mammals Reason is certainly on a form surge, with her mile rate of 1.57.8 a PB.
She is a well-travelled mare, with most of her early racing done in the Riverina.
Pitt also had a winner at the August 21 Melton meeting, landing the Emma Stewart-trained pacer The Final Dance an easy winner.
It was the third time Pitt has partnered the Rocknroll three-year-old colt to victory in his past five starts.
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