THE final of the Spiller Family Sprint Series was taken out by the Ballarat-trained Cute Art during last Tuesday's Ararat Harness Racing Club meeting at the Russell T White Raceway.
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Cute Art, trained by Tracey Collins, came home three wide with cover over the final lap of the 1790-metre race for the very strong win.
Helens in Paradise, which led from the start was second with Steely Blue rounding out the placings.
The finish was strongly contested with less than a length between the first five placegetters.
Other highlights of the night included veteran Weering trainer Dick Lee saluting the judge in the Brad Hunt Pace for C2 & C3 class over 1790 metres with six-year-old mare Reeds May.
With regular reinsman Daryl Douglas in the sulky, Reeds May led throughout from gate two and after being rated to perfection, proved too strong at the finish for the heavily supported favourite Racer (gate three) which raced in the open, with Znana (one-two and then three-wide last lap) third. The mile rate was 2:01.8.
On what was a profitable night for the western district, Terang's Glen Craven landed the David and Jacinta Harman 3YO Pace over 1790 metres with homebred Art Officer/Boorcan Queen gelding Jilliby Royal on debut.
Great Western sisters Kerryn Manning and Michelle Wight snared the quinella in the Murray Woods Pace for C4 to C6 class over 2195 metres, with The Noble Steed defeating Kamwood Jack in a rate of 1:59.7.
Popular Melton trainer Ken Tippet combined with Rod Petroff aboard lightly raced ex-NSW 10-year-old gelding Walter Creed to capture the Kath McGrath Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2165 metres and, in doing so, brought up two wins in succession at Ararat from two Victorian outings since starting off his career here in 2007.
The next Ararat Harness Racing Club meeting will be at the Russell T White Raceway on Tuesday, November 11.
- with Len Baker, Harness Racing Victoria