SMOKE N FIRE EXTENDS RECORD IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Former Overport Lodge filly Smoke N Fire (4m Courage Under Fire-Smoke N Mirrors) notched her third win from four New South Wales starts at Bathurst on Sunday, September 11.
Smoke N Fire, who won twice in NZ for the Mark Jones stable, led up from the two gate for trainer Ashlee Grives (nee Siejka) in the C1-2 Shannon Springs Pace and held in a 1:59.7 rate for the mobile 1720m.
Smoke N Fire, winner of three of her four starts in New South Wales.
Still raced by Canterbury owners, Pete, Debbie and Pat Smith, Smoke N Fire had previously won back-to-back Bathurst races in late July, early August, the quicker in a 1:58.5 rate over 1730m on August 3.
She’s now the winner of five from 17 lifetime for $27,353 in stakes.
Meanwhile, three other ex-Overport Lodge pacers were successful at Shepparton, Victoria, on Sunday, September 11.
Forty Thieves (4g Christian Cullen-Harem Franco) kicked off the day taking out the first heat of the Neatline Homes Pace in a 2:01.9 rate for the 2190.
He won second-up for the Mark Jones stable at Forbury last December and was exported, beginning his Australian racing in Victoria in June. He had been racing consistently but this was his first Australian win in eight starts.
Champagne Dreams (5m Art Major-Bethany), the older half-sister to Lazarus, now racing for the David Aiken stable, led throughout a C1 & faster pace and came clear by 14.3 metres in a 2:02.6 rate (2190m).
A 1:55.6 mile rate winner over 1660m at Albion Park, Brisbane, in April, she was recording back-to-back wins since transferring to Victoria.
She has taken her record to seven wins from 34 starts for just over $40,000.
Louie Finn (5g Grinfromeartoear-Miss C S D), like Champagne Dreams, also won a heat of the C1 and faster TAB Ebt’s On Track @ Shepparton Pace.
He led throughout as a $1.50 favourite and held in a faster 2:00.6 rate for the 2190m.
Louie Finn was also recording back-to-back Victorian wins, having won his previous start at Cobram in a lifetime best 1:55.9 rate over 1670m.
His career record stands at 31 starts for four wins and 10 placings for $27,314 in stakes.