ARARAT-based reinsman Michael Bellman enjoyed a day out at Birchip on Sunday, winning both the Mallee Bull pacing and trotting cups.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bellman, who finished the Birchip Harness Racing Club's meeting with a treble, combined with Brent Lilley to win the trotters cup aboard Mass Destruction.
He then made it two-from-two in the feature events by steering home the Denis McIntyre-trained Dot The Eye in a thrilling finish to the pacing cup.
It was country cup win number two for Dot The Eye, who previously won the Elmore Pacing Cup in 2018, when driven by Chris Svanosio.
Bellman, who has now driven the gelding 23 times for three wins and seven placings, said he was happy with how the race panned out.
"I sort of got checked a little bit at the start when Leigh (Sutton on Coco Beach) galloped and I was hoping James (Herbertson on Cee Cee In America) didn't get in front of me as I felt he was the danger," he said.
"When I caught him napping at the top of the straight and got outside him and he couldn't come in front of me, I was fairly confident that I would beat him home then.
"To his credit, my bloke just kept toughing it out. Credit to Denis and Elise for the job they've done with him."
The son of Shadow Play and Jatiki Miss boosted his career record to seven wins and 33 placings from 85 starts.
McIntyre, who trains at Moolerr, near St Arnaud, said it was a great privilege to win the race.
"Last year, we had the horse in this race, but unfortunately the Gods weren't good to us and the meeting got washed out," he said.
"We had a better draw and I thought we had a better chance last year, so the Gods have shined on us again.
"He's a home-bred horse, he's not a good horse, but he's a nice horse.
"He's won an Elmore Cup, he's won a race at St Arnaud, where we come from, on cup day, he's won one night at Shepparton at 150-1 when I've always dreamed I would train a $150 winner, so he's achieved that and he's won two cups.
"On behalf of (wife) Elise and I, we are off the planet."
Second in the pacing cup was Travelnpastyou for Pyramid Hill hobby trainer Chris Cain.
OTHER NEWS:
The gelding was aiming for back-to-back victories after winning at Echuca late last month to give Cain his maiden training win.
Bellman was not the only driver or trainer to finish the day with multiple wins.
The combination of trainer Kate Hargreaves and reinsman Jordan Leedham scored a double with Last Court and Redbank Rendezvous.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.