Stawell trainer-driver Jason Ainsworth and his partner Natasha Raven collected two winner’s cheques courtesy of the same horse at Stawell’s Easter race day.

Optimal took out both the second heat of the Pleasant Creek Plate and $10,000 Stawell Toyota Pleasant Creek Plate final – making it a $8310 payday for Ainsworth and Raven. 

The pair of victories were achieved in similar style, with Optimal settling in the running line from his second row draws, making steady ground three-wide with 600 metres to go, and finishing the best over the final stages.

It was a fine training feat by Ainsworth to have Optimal prepared for the testing back-to-back assignment of the Plate and testament to the standardbred’s speed and endurance.

Hard to beat

Armstrong horseman Danny O’Brien only has small numbers in his stable, but whenever the white-red-green silks hit the track, they are always hard to beat. 

O’Brien notched up a training double at Stawell on Friday with Rocknroll Willow and King Kasey.

Driver Kerryn Manning piloted Rocknroll Willow to an impressive victory in the $6000 Stawell Times-News Pace over 1785 metres. 

Drawn gate six on the front line, the three-year-old filly worked three-wide in the middle stages to be outside the leader Namella, Ashley Ainsworth, at the bell.  

After forging to the lead at the 400 metre mark, Rocknroll Willow kicked well clear round the home turn and went on to score by six metres in a rate of 1:58.5.

There’s sure to be plenty of improvement to come with the outing, her first since finishing out of the money in the rich Breeders Crown final three months ago.

With three wins and three placings from seven starts, Rocknroll Willow is likely to head north over Autumn to contest feature races at Menangle including  the NSW Oaks.

Stablemate King Kasey bounced back from a tough first up run at Ararat with an all-the-way victory in the $6000 Ecycle Solutions Pace.

After beginning quickly from gate four to find the lead, driver Jack Laugher kept them running over the 2180m journey with four solid quarters in succession.

Punters cheered as the three-year-old gelding raced away over the final stages to score by seven metres in a rate of 1:58.0 and took his record to four wins and a minor placing from just eight starts.

Kamaran on track

Legendary trainer Peter Manning has resurrected the career of  Kamaran since the seven-year-old gelding moved camp to Great Western back in January with a single win and no minor placings from 23 starts. 

After putting in two flawed outings at Maryborough, Karaman got his act together on Ararat Cup night for a 33m victory with driver Kerryn Manning aboard.

Ten days later at Stawell, Karman did everything right in taking out the D&N Trotters Handicap. After a safe beginning from the 10m mark, Kerryn was content to let her charge lob along in the running line, enjoying the moderate tempo set by Im Above The Law, Paul Warnock.

Eased three wide to make a forward move at the 450m mark, Karaman claimed the lead half-way round the final bend and trotted boldly to the line to score by 3.7m from Freemarks Peggy, James Herbertson, with a gap of 20m to the third placegetter Im Above The Law.

Winning return

Former Stawell horsewoman Kate Hargreaves made a winning return to Laidlaw Park on Good Friday as part-owner and trainer of Magellan in the $6000 Stawell Gift Hall of Fame Maiden Pace.

Drawn on the second line, driver Jordan Leedham settled the three-year-old filly in the running line, content to keep out of the early bustle and mid-race moves over the testing 2180m journey.

Leedham waited until the 400m mark before taking Magellan three-wide and brought her with a well-timed run down the middle of the track, accompanied by the cheers of her large band of part owners, family and friends to score by four  metres in a rate of 2.01.1.

– Tony Logan

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