BENDIGO region trainers have dominated back-to-back meetings at Lord's Raceway.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Locally-trained horses won 10 of the 17 races contested across Sunday night's nine-race program and Tuesday night's eight-event card.
Leading trainer Glenn Douglas led the charge with three winners, including a double on Sunday night, with six others notching a win apiece.
Heathcote trainer Terry French started the ball rolling on Sunday, combining with daughter Tayla, to win the opening race with the in-form Joeys Hangover, whose last four runs have brought two wins and a second.
A productive night for the local contingent included a double for Douglas, including his 2000th as a trainer following the success of You Ninety Two, and wins to Goornong's Nigel Milne with Our Doreen Days, Elmore's Frank Barac (Madam Reactor) and the young combination of Maddie Ray and Haydon Gray (Just Oscar).
The good times continued to roll on Tuesday night with Axedale's Mick Carbone claiming the honours in the opening event with the three-year-old gelding Lets Make Tracks.
A third win in three days for the Douglas stable included the first in the driving comeback of the state's former leading reinsman Daryl Douglas aboard Bacardi Jess.
Six-times Australia's leading driver, Douglas' return to the sulky ends a five-year hiatus from the sport.
Arguably the most impressive of the local wins was on Tuesday night's card, with the emerging Kent Harpley-trained mare Boxofchocolates making it three-straight victories to start her career, following a convincing performance in the NR 55 to 60 pace.
Longlea trainer-driver Scott Rains put the seal of a triumphant two nights by steering home the $64.90 long shot Illawong Jovial in the final race on the night.
A superb haul for the locals was added to by reinsman Rod Lakey, who was successful aboard the Shaun Kittel-trained The Last Chance on Tuesday.
Thrilled to add his name to the local winners' list, Rains finds himself on a streak of two wins from his last two runners, following the success of Shadow Hunter at Shepparton last week.
He hopes the turnaround in fortunes for Illawong Jovial, who was unplaced at his previous five runs, might coincide with an end to some injury issues for the gelding.
"He's suffered a bit with a greasy heel, but I put him on a course of antibiotics and it's seemed to have worked out for him," he said.
"He's come out the other end alright.
"He should kick on a little bit from here, he's down in the ratings a bit, so I'm hoping he can on with it.
"He's not one of those horses who is just going to win, he needs a bit of luck from the right run, but he's not to bad a horse."
Rains said there were a few options open in terms of the gelding's next start, with racing scheduled to return at Maryborough this Sunday and Echuca next Wednesday, with Shepparton and Bendigo both hosting meetings next Monday and Tuesday.
He said he was thrilled to see Bendigo region trainers and drivers continuing to enjoy plenty of success.
"The locals are going well. I was there watching the other night and couldn't help thinking Kent Harpley has a really nice mare," Rains said.
"Boxofchocolates won really well and looks like it could be something special."
Read more: Barac savours another win with Madam Reactor
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.