Harness racing returns to Laidlaw Park in Stawell on Wednesday afternoon for a seven race card, set to start at 1:53 pm with the running of the Sign Online 2YO Maiden Pace.
In what promises to be a highly competitive affair, a debutant from the Horsham stable of Aaron Dunn creates a a deal of interest after an impressive recent trial at Ballarat.
Bondi Lockdown settled three back on the pegs in the six horse field and found clear running with about 150 metres of the 2200 metre journey remaining.
The beautifully bred son of Somebeachsomewhere USA and unraced Art Major USA broodmare Without Guilde dashed through to score untouched by 3 metres in a rate of 2:02.2 and a last-half in 28.5 seconds.
HRV trials spotter Craig Rail blackbooked Bondi Lockdown after his video review with the comment "he showed good acceleration in what was an impressive display."
However, the colt will need to bring it's best to Stawell to go home a winner with Bonnie Belle (Greg Sugars), Major Mischief (Michael Stanley) and October Reign (Sofia Arvidsson) also showing plenty of ability.
Harness fans should check out www.harness.org.au for Stawell fields, form guide, form analysis and gear changes.
Ararat horseman Michael Bellman blew most punters out of the water when he landed $92 longshot Dot The Eye at Shepparton on Saturday night.
Bellman brought the 6yo gelding home with a rush up along the sprint-lane to score a runaway 3 metre victory in a rate of 1:59.4 for the 2190 metre journey.
Dot The Eye is raced by St. Arnaud owner/breeder Denis McIntyre and has been a model of consistency through four years of racing, with 6 wins and 27 minor placings from 67 starts.
With his success at Shepparton coming up in the "lucky last" Bellman then faced a long haul to arrive home in the wee-small hours of the morning.
Sunday saw seven drives at the Bendigo twilight fixture and a victory with Ears Ponder for King's Park owner/trainer Wally Toczynski took Bellman's tally for the season to 85 wins and 216 minor placings.
The hard-working freelancer will be in the sulky for all seven races at Stawell on Wednesday afternoon and his best chance on paper looks to be Crompton Bay (r2, no.7) for trainer Ballarat trainer Ricky Ryan.
The Kerryn Manning/Grant Campbell team also enjoyed success at Shepparton with a stable double courtesy of Tinder Surprise in a 3YO Pace and Rupert Of Lincoln in the fast class event.
Tinder Surprise was purchased by the Williams family from NZ with two wins from two starts and has made it four straight since crossing the ditch to Great Western.
Rupert Of Lincoln with Greg Sugars aboard, used the sprint lane to snatch victory from stablemate Yankee Lincoln - his 12th win from 29 starts for owners, the Butterworth Racing Syndicate.
West Side Wimmera Wally
Last return: $25.80 @ Stawell Trots
Balance: $226.15
Best bet: R5 No.5 Orlando Jolt $6 win
Value bet: R7 No.1 Rebeccas Art $4 eachway
Multi bet: R3 box quinella Nos. 5,7,9 spend $6
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