John Dunne
Glen Craven appeared set for a big night on paper and duly headed home with a personal best winning quartet at Melton on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old Craven took the reins behind five favourites and saluted on four commencing with short course specialist Jillibyjacksparrow, who led all the way in the Hyland Racing Colours
Pace.
Talented mare Aldebaran Vera scored a tough first up win in the Prydes Easifeed Trot after sitting parked outside Aldebaran Miley.
Later in the night Craven played his role in the run of the night when Imperial Monarch scored a last stride win in the Aldebaran Park Trot.
Imperial Monarch galloped out settling more than 50 metres off the lead and was still second last on turning for home.
When pulled to the outside, the son of Trixton stormed home and got the verdict by half a head as five horses crossed the line locked together with only a head separating the quintet.
Lightly raced four-year-old mare Isthisjustfantasy capped off Craven’s memorable evening when she led all the way in the COGS Pace.
“It was a good night on paper so it’s great when a night like this comes off,” Craven said.
“I’ve had some good Group 1 nights but tonight’s one of my best nights as I haven’t driven four down here,” he said.
Champion racemare Ladies In Red restored rightful order of proceedings after taking out the Richmond Lass Mares Free For All
The Emma Stewart trained mare suffered a rare defeat at her previous start when narrowly beaten by Aardies Express in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth 11 Mile at Menangle.
Sent out as favoruite, Ladies In Red assumed the front running from her main danger Rakero Rebel inside the final lap of the race and was untroubled to score by three metres from that mare with First Dance a metre away third in a mile rate of 1.52.3.
Driver David Moran said Ladies In Red is inclined to conserve her energy on the racetrack.
“She’s pretty casual in front and she doesn’t really run away from them at electric speed and just does what she needs to do,” Moran said.
“And she didn’t have a complete gut buster first time back from Sydney which is good, she did it pretty easily and could have gone a lot quicker,” he said.
Ladies In Red is likely to head north for next month’s The Queensland Constellations where she will contest 150,000 Garrards The Golden Girl.
She will be at long odds on to maintain her unbeaten status at Albion Park having beaten the boys in the Group 1 The Rising Sun two years ago at her only start in the track.
Enigmatic trotter One Over All was on his best behavior when he rounded up his rivals in the I Didn’t Do It Free For All.
Greg Sugars made a three wide move on his own behind One Over All and the son of Angus Hall loomed up three wide around the home turn before reeling favourite Ollivici down the straight with Hephaestus Phoenix in third place.
