Duchess Pat (Mark Hayes) chases another win in Ballarat in the G.J. Gardner Homes Trot, 2200m, tonight.PICTURE: KATE HEALY
IM Barney Rubble will be out to make amends in the Heinz and Partners C5-C6 Pace, 2200m, in Ballarat tonight.
The gelding had an impeccable record before going to Melton on October 5.
He was unbeaten, having won on debut in New Zealand and then five straight for Melton trainer-driver Lance Justice in Australia – the last of these in Ballarat.
Im Barney Rubble blemished his copybook in that Melton event, galloping his way out of contention early in the $50,000 City of Melton Plate.
That was always going to be a tough assignment, but the mistake gave him no chance.
The son of Life Sign can turn this around at Bray Raceway.
As long as he does everything right, Im Barney Rubble will almost certainly take a shot at leading and from there dictating terms.
Another ex-Kiwi Jaccka Luke is the obvious danger.
Trained by Kerrryn Manning, Jaccka Luke has been a model of consistency with six wins in 11 Australian starts.
His latest two outings have produced wins at Horsham and Melton.
SNAKE Valley trainer Kelvin Barker has only a small team, led by country cups candidate Allwevneed.
Barker has done enough, though, to be the early leader in Ballarat and District Trotting Club trainers’ premiership.
The award is based on points and one win, two seconds and two thirds has him on 10 and one ahead of Lance Justice at this early stage of the season.
The Unionist is leading the way for Barker, but tonight No Shanks carries the stable’s hopes of retaining the lead.
Like The Unionist, No Shanks has not been in the Barker stable too long, but has managed a win.
In the BDTC premiership context, No Shanks made his contribution to the points tally with a last-start second.
This time he lines up in the Newington Physiotherapy C2 Pace, 1720m, with a second row draw not making it easy.
BALLARAT’S SEASON BEST
TRAINERS
Lance Justice 2-0-1
Kelvin Barker 1-2-2
David Murphy 1-1-1
Andy Gath 1-1-0
David Barnes 1-1-0
Brent Lilley 1-1-0
Lisa Miles 1-1-0
DRIVERS
Gavin Lang 3-2-0
Lance Justice 2-0-0
Neil McCallum 2-0-0
Ellen Tormey 2-0-0
Greg Sugars 1-2-1
Daryl Douglas 1-2-1
Scott Dyer 1-2-0
Glen Craven 1-1-3
Jodi Quinlan 1-1-1
David Murphy 1-1-1
HORSE
The Unionist 1-1-1
Mach Beauty 1-1-0
Coltrane Bromac 1-1-0
david.brehaut@thecourier.com.au
