Millers Persistence Pays Off with Lilly Laguna
Lilly Laguna and connections after her maiden win. Photo Credit- Northam Harness Racing Club
After a troublesome few years with the seven-year-old, Lilly Laguna saluted at odds for owner, trainer, and driver Patrick Miller in the last at Northam over the 1780m sprint trip. After a short tussle for the lead after release point, the lightly raced mare was able to lead from start to finish, breaking her maiden status at just her fifth start in a race. Resuming first up from a short break and coming off two last start seconds, she went on to win by 5.5m in 2:01:4.
“She (Lilly Laguna) had a paddock injury as a youngster but took a while to fully fill out, then she injured herself in the float going to Northam and had to be scratched,”
“My brother James has helped a lot with her, as well as my dad Harry ringing up to give me advice.”
Torrevean Amy took out the first on the card in the 2YO pace at $10 odds for trainer Sam Torre and driver Deni Roberts, bringing up the fillies second win in 13 starts. After restraining early from barrier six and settling towards the rear, the youngster was first to go, making her run three wide with a lap to go, to win by 3.4m over the 2190m in 2:02:4.
After leading all the way in race two, Kissed By A Rose claimed first prize for Jemma Hayman and Chris Playle in 2:00:5 over the 2190m trip. With 14 months between wins, the three-year-old filly saluted at generous odds, kicking away from her rivals to win by 9.2m.
It was a close one in the third on the card, with the $1.85 favourite Rusinol staving off the fast finishing Sleek And Sweet in the finish to win by a half head for leading Northam trainer, Peter Anderson. Driven by Aldo Cortopassi, the three-year-old brought up his third career win after settling behind the leader throughout, using the sprint lane in the final stages to get the win.
Blue Stone led all the way from barrier two in the fourth over the 2190m trip for trainer and driver Ryan Bell, giving connections their third win in 38 starts. In a mile rate of 2:00:5, the four-year-old managed to kick away from the field, winning by 2.1m over the fast-finishing Dwayne in the concluding stages.
Glenn Elliot and Aiden De Campo teamed up with the $1.40 favourite Twobob Cracker taking out the fifth on the card by 7.8m in 2:01:9 over the 2560m distance. Starting off the 10m handicap from barrier five in the standing start, the handy three-year-old stepped faultlessly and worked his way to the lead after 600m, skipping away to win with ease and bringing up De Campo’s first leg of his winning double.
De Campo didn’t have long to wait for his driving double, with his runner Pradason saluting the judge in race six in 1:59:0 over the 2190m trip. Leading all the way from barrier three, the in-form four-year-old resumed after a short let up, bringing up his 10th career victory in just 34 starts.
Ending a 29-start losing sequence and 14 months between drinks, Hilo Tyson started as the $2.70 favourite in race seven and didn’t disappoint, with the five-year-old claiming the win for trainer Tom Groves and driver Kyle Harper. After leading all the way in the penultimate, Hilo Tyson won by 4.6m in a mile rate of 2:02:4 over the 2190m journey.
Hilo Tyson with driver Kyle Harper and the Groves family after his win. Photo credit – Northam Harness Racing Club
Ashleigh Paikos