THE annual Party with the Ponies race meeting at Hamilton produced competitive racing with results spread evenly among trainers and jockeys.
A good crowd lined the fence to witness racing on a good track, a far cry from the club’s weather-effected year.
Favourite punters started the first half of the meeting on fire with three top picks and a second elect winning, before results were a bit mixed later in the day.
The most promising performance of the day and a horse well worth following is Sonoma Coast, who was an easy winner of the bet365 3YO Maiden Plate over 1200m.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the three-year-old daughter of Savabeel was given a lovely ride by Michael Poy before cruising to victory on debut.
Hopefully the more astute punters took the lead when she was scratched from a harder race at Sandown on Wednesday.
Not far behind the filly and the shortest priced winner of the day was Just A Theory, who is trained by Mitch Freedman.
Jarrod Fry had an easy ride, as the $1.85 favourite won comfortably by five lengths.
Ballarat trainers continued the winning theme with both Robert Hickmott and Andrew Noblet landing winners with Belluna and Le Messager.
Not to be outdone, Warrnambool trainers, Matthew Williams and Tom Dabernig, landed winning blows when Pankhurst and State Of Maine provided a running double.
Dean Yendall and Harry Grace produced lovely rides on the respective winners, the latter making it two wins in a row after success at Penshurst a fortnight ago.
The Leo “Beau” Roberts Memorial BM58 Handicap over 2200m produced a longshot quinella for Colac trainers.
Darryl Cannon put the saddle on $16 chance, Fuentess, defeating resident trainer, Terry Mulder, and Resolutions starting at $21.
Tahlia Hope steered home the winner.
The best of the local runners was Final Atom, who placed at $100 for Rebecca Winnell.
Results
Race 1 bet365 3YO Maiden Plate 1200m - 1st Sonoma Coast (Michael Poy/Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) $3.60f; 2nd Mrs Bull (Harry Coffey/Austy Coffey) $12; 3rd Lord Turnbury (Linda Meech/Aaron Purcell) $5.
Race 2 Party with the Ponies 4YO+ Maiden Plate 1200m - 1st Just A Theory (Jarrod Fry/Mitch Freedman) $1.85f; 2nd Loco For Coco (John Allen/Andrew Bobbin) $4.20; 3rd Final Atom (Neil Farley/Rebecca Winnell) $101.
Race 3 International Day of People with Disability Maiden Plate 1400m - 1st Nightfox (Harry Coffey/Andrew Bobbin) $8; 2nd It’s The Bubby (Jarrod Lorensini/Melody Cunningham) $10; 3rd Chambers Bay (Linda Meech/Phillip Stokes) $2.35f.
Race 4 Star Printing Maiden Plate 1600m - 1st Belluna (Dean Holland/Robert Hickmott) $2.35f; 2nd Ready Set Tap (Neil Farley/Daniel Bowman) $13; 3rd Scamster (Michael Poy/Jamie Edwards) $9.
Race 5 Creek Electrical BM58 Handicap 1600m - 1st Pankhurst (Dean Yendall/Matthew Williams) $2.70; 2nd Bostock Raider (Harry Coffey/Kelvin Bourke) $31; 3rd Romany Rocks (Damien Thornton/Symon Wilde) $2f.
Race 6 Sinclair Wilson BM58 Handicap 1400m - 1st State Of Maine (Harry Grace/Tom Dabernig) $9.50; 2nd Fiji (Linda Meech/Aaron Purcell) $15; 3rd Loose Lip Lloyd (Jacob Opperman/Belinda O’Loughlin) $14.
Race 7 Brandt 0-64 Handicap 1200m - 1st Le Messager (Madison Lloyd/Andrew Noblet) $7; 2nd Zagusto (Dean Holland/Tom Dabernig) $6; 3rd Power Of Song (Damien Thornton/Symon Wilde) $11.
Race 8 Leo “Beau” Roberts Memorial BM58 Handicap 2200m - 1st Fuentess (Tahlia Hope/Daryl Cannon) $16; 2nd Resolutions (Jarrod Fry/Terry Mulder) $21; 3rd Stately Star (Josh Cartwright/Carly Cook) $11.
