All eyes on the action: The crowd watches the field in the Caledonian Hotel Easter Cup.
Photo by
Gregor Mactaggart
It took a sister act even Whoopi Goldberg would have been impressed by to win the Caledonian Hotel Easter Cup (2160m) at Echuca on Sunday night.
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Girgarre trainer Lisa Pitt’s decision to put sister Bec Bartley in the sulky struck paydirt as Killara Shogun won the Echuca Harness Racing Club feature at Frank Ryan Raceway.
Killara Shogun ($2.10 fav) withstood a brave showing from Mahindi to prevail by a neck.
Making the win all the sweeter was the fact Bartley stood in as a late replacement for Lisa’s husband, champion reinsman Mark Pitt.
“It’s an extra kick along to get a nice win with this horse,” a delighted Pitt said post-race.
“Thanks to the Caledonian Hotel for their sponsorship of this race, you don’t have races like this without the support of sponsors.”
Killara Shogun, a four-year-old by Betting Line out of the mare Killara Ninja, was bred and is owned by Damien McKelvie.
Sunday night’s success was just his second in 11 starts, but he has been minor-placed on six other occasions.
Tight finish: Killara Shogun (inside) holds off Mahindi to take out the Caledonian Hotel Easter Cup (2160m) on Sunday night.
Photo by
Gregor Mactaggart
Killara Shogun saluted in a mile rate of 1:58.9 following quarters of 31.9 seconds, 29.9, 29.1 and 29.9.
He banked the first-prize cheque of $3990, not bad in a gross time of 2:39.6.
Mahindi, who burnt punters when he went down as the $1.55 favourite on Echuca Pacing Cup night, raced much more impressively for Daryl Douglas.
Will He Reign closed out the trifecta, powering home from the rear of the field to finish 7.4m behind Mahindi.
A terrific crowd was on hand at the Frank Ryan Raceway for a strong eight-event card, but the off-track activities kept the kids entertained.
Glory: Bec Bartley with Killara Shogun after winning the Caledonian Hotel Easter Cup.
Photo by
Gregor Mactaggart
The Easter Egg Hunt was arguably as competitive as the action on the track, as youngsters vied for some prized chocolate, while the presence of Transformers Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proved popular.
Optimus Prime and Bumblebee had a race named after them, which was won by Roslyn Gaye, trained by Tongala’s Gary Merkel and driven by Damian Wilson.
Young trainer Tom Rundle enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his emerging career when White Star Molly won the Rich River Golf Club Eureka Series Final (2160m).
White Star Molly, driven by Lochie Cook, edged out favourite Major Collect by a half-head in a bell-ringer of a finish.
The mare has been in terrific form for Rundle and rising reinsman Cook, with Sunday night’s win her fifth in succession.
The result was a carbon copy of the Bendigo heat on March 29 where White Star Molly beat Major Collect.
Longlea trainer Glenn Sharp produced the quinella in the Noel Evans Memorial Trotters Handicap (2130m), as Mystic Chip (Josh Duggan) beat home Bellmac Bambi (Jack Laugher).
Other winners on the program were Pete Mitchell (trainer Mick Carbone, driver Tayla French), Friends (Alannah Logie, Leigh Sutton), Over The Line (Jeff Cakebread, Alex Ashwood) and Letsgobro (Greg Fleming, Codi Rauchenberger).
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