York based trainer Maryann White ventured to Busselton on Friday night, January 12 with Velvet Shadow and Observation in tow, a decision proving extremely fruitful, with White preparing a training double on the night, with a 100% winners to runners strike rate for the stable.
Whites training double saw young reinsman Kaden Elliott bring up career wins four and five, the first driving double for the 23-year-old.
With both winners getting up at odds, it was Velvet Shadow in race two that kicked off the festivities, with the six-year-old gelding coming out on top in a tight finish on the line ahead of Hope, for Central Wheatbelt based trainer Tom Elliott.
Observation took out race six on the card, with the win a special one for Kaden Elliott, who donned his late grandfather's colours (Garry Elliott), the first win for Kaden in the sentimental silks.
"Obi (Observation) was Garry's pride and joy." Maryann White said.
Busselton holds plenty of special memories for White, with the 53-year-old revealing that she also drove her first double at Busselton back in her driving days, making the four hour drive well worth it in the end.
Matt Scott continued his Busselton success with a win in the first with four-year-old Flys At Night, a double westbred son of Fly Like An Eagle leading all the way over the 2400m trip for Emily Suvaljko.
Collie King turned Busselton Beau Trent Wheeler claimed the win in race three on board Im The Best NZ for local trainer Michael Callegari.The impressive 10-year-old made it four in a row, with a win at each of the Busselton meetings this season and will be looking to add the Busselton Cup to his resume this Friday for their closing meeting.
Wheeler made it a race to race double with the $3.10 favourite Gov Starzzz leading all the way for trainer Cliff Woodworth. Having just his second start for the stable, it didn't take too long to get his first win on the board for the new connections, with the Woodworth family hoping to contest the Busselton Cup later this week, previously having two successful attempts in recent years with Tiza New Day and Hi Tommy.
Motor On Lilly overcame the 40m handicap in race five to make it two in a row at Busselton for local trainer Chris Feast. Driven by Emil
y Suvaljko, the win gave the 23-year-old the final instalment of her driving double, and the win edged the five-year-old daughter of Follow The Stars closer to taking out the Sweetheart Series which offers a $2000 bonus at the end of the season to the winner.
Matt Scott recently acquired Queen Of Stars and has made it two from two for the new stable. Driven by Corey Peterson, the four-year-old double westbred daughter of Follow The Stars was able to lead all the from the 10m handicap over the 2030m trip around the tight circle, going on to win by a 2.2m margin.0
Errol Ashcroft and Emily Johnson took out the last on the card with Briggs On Bond leading all the way from barrier two on the frontline handicap. Another win for stallion Follow The Stars, the four-year-old came off a last start win at Albany six days earlier, making it two in a row in the space of a week.
The final meeting at Busselton for this season gets underway this Friday night January 19, with the feature of the season, The 2024 Busselton Cup.
