In Brief
- Koolaz Elvis breaks track record in an effortless win.
- Pacer to be aimed at New Norfolk Cup.
- Artyboy Glenwood takes out Guineas.
Koolaz Elvis demolished his rivals and the St Marys track record in an effortless win in the 134th Southern Cross Austero St Marys Cup this afternoon.
Driver Rohan Hillier got the pacer to step cleanly and settle on the back of the leader, Northview Dave, who set a solid tempo throughout.
Hillier eased the Conor Crook trained pacer out at the 550 metres with the gelded son of Courage Under Fire scoring by 28 metres.
“He got a dream run, Zeke Slater (driver of Northview Dave) led and tried to run them along which suited my bloke,” said a delighted Conor Crook after the win.
Koolaz Elvis joined the Conor Crook stable in October with the pacer winning two races this season.
“He hasn’t had much luck lately, he has missed away a couple of times and he went to the line hard held in his heat of the Golden Apple, it’s good to get a cup to his name as he deserved the win,” said the trainer.
Crook handed driving responsibilities to his boss, Rohan Hillier for today’s $12,000 event.
“I hadn’t been getting him away so I went for experience over youth and it paid off,” explained Crook.
The mile rate of 2m 1.7s demolished the previous track record of 2m 3.6s that was set by Pushkin in 2016.
Two-time winner Black Centurian finished 28.5 metres away in second ahead of the early leader Northview Dave in third spot.
Crook indicated that Koolaz Elvis will be aimed at the New Norfolk Pacing Cup in Hobart on 26 January.
The other feature race on the card was the 6ty° Country Guineas which was taken out by the Brian Mackrill trained Artyboy Glenwood who scored by one metre over Kens Chips with Wave The Hat 4.2 metres away third.
“I thought he would be a chance once he got a run as he was an emergency,” said Mackrill after the race.
“He badly needed the run at Carrick on Sunday which topped him off nicely for today,” explained the trainer.
The gelded son of Modern Art is owned and bred by Mackrill along with Maree Breward and bookmaker Robin Wilson.
It was the first winning drive back for driver Rodney Ashwood who has spent many months on the sidelines through injury.
It was a big day for trainer Ben Yole with a training quartet.
Pushkin got the ball rolling for the Yole stable with an all the way win with Gareth Rattray in the sulky in race one.
Samantha Gangell drove Yole’s next two winners with Border Cross and Fortino.
Yole’s final winner was Chilla Breeze in the final race.
Standing start specialist Island Bliss won her second race of the season for trainer Brett Jaffray and driver Todd Rattray.