The continued rise of Samantha Pascoe in harness racing took another boost at the Gawler meeting on Thursday.
Pascoe, 26, drove four winners including the two features.
It is the fourth time she has driven four winners at a meeting. Her previous three were all at Globe Derby Park, starting on February 15, 2021, then January 8, 2024, and finally July 1, 2024.
At Gawler, Pascoe took out the opening event, the DF & E Kemp & Son Pace (1609m) on Joonior Brown which she also trains, before driving the last three winners on the program.
She continued a strong association with squaregaiter Madame Kelly, trained by Robbie Caton, easily winning the $8500 2024 SA Square Trotters Association Pride Of Petite (2070m) before scoring a victory on Im Themightylucy for trainer Aaron Bain in the $9999 2024 Ladbrokes 4&5YO Classic (2070m).
Her fourth winner was on Diamond Mounted, also prepared by Caton, in the Two Wells Bakery Pace (1609m).
Pascoe has already driven 66 winners this year to sit third on the SA Drivers premiership and she almost certainly will eclipse her best tally of 69 winners recorded last year.
Madame Kelly made it three wins in a row, and five victories from her past seven starts with a dominant 20-1/2 metre win in the Pride Of Petite trot.
With a field of 12, and Madame Kelly starting from barrier four on the second row, there was a fear of interference early, but Pascoe had the four-year-old mare away superbly and she settled three back in the running line having a clear run.
With 600 metres to travel, Madame Kelly ($2.20 fav) sprinted strongly to gather in the leader Our Spitfire ($16) and trot away to win easily with the leader holding on for second, seven metres clear of Majestic Tilly ($4.60).
The win continued a breakout season for trainer Robert Caton.
It was his second feature win following the win of Fly The Banner in the Ladbrokes Emerging Stars at Globe Derby Park on June 29.
Caton said Madame Kelly would likely race at Gawler next Friday in a $9999 Trotters Mobile before he looked for a suitable event in Victoria to try and pick up the mare’s Vicbred bonus.
“Today’s double takes my tally to 16 winners, with 11 placings from my last 32 starters,” Caton said.
“Going at a winning strike rate of 50% is unbelievable.
“I’m just enjoying every win because I know the sport has highs and lows.
“Sam drove a sensational race.
“I was nervous about the start with 11 horses off the front and with Madame Kelly on the second row, but Sam had her away superbly and could not have settled in any better position.
“After her next two runs I will start to look at the country cups circuit here in South Australia.”
Bagot Well trainer Peta Brown, and her husband Terry, the driver, were delighted with Our Spitfire’s run and had hoped for a fairytale win as the mare was bred and is owned by New Zealander Frank Weaver who owned Pride Of Petite after which the race was named.
Pascoe also is forming a strong partnership with Im Themightylucy, winner of the Ladbrokes 4&5YO Classic.
Thursday’s win was her fourth on the mare since she came back into the Gawler stables of Aaron Bain after a successful stint in Western Australia.
Coming from gate two on the second row in the Classic, Pascoe had Im Themightylucy away well but made a smart move allowing the well backed Rio Rock ($2.70) to drop in in front of her on settling down.
That meant when Rio Rock made a run seeking victory, Pascoe would have a perfect trail into the race knowing her mare had a dazzling sprint.
And so the race developed with Im Themightylucy trailing the Victorian visitor when it made a run for victory.
Im Themightylucy ($4.20) dashed to the front in the home straight to score by 3-1/2 metres from Rio Rock with Hes All Torque ($2.40 fav), a head away third.
Trainer Aaron Bain said the winner had been most unlucky at her previous run at Port Pirie when third and now had a good record of five wins, a second and a third, from her last seven starts.
Included in those wins was a trip to Launceston in Tasmania to score in the Tasracing Leigh Plunkett Feature.
“I think she is getting stronger with racing,” Bain said.
“Her form is good enough to contest the country cups races and she is now qualified for standing start races.”
The Gawler meeting also saw the return to training and driving of Ryan Hryhorec following a three-month enforced absence.
Hryhorec made the best possible return coming from last to win the Cluse Brothers Tyrepower Pace (2070m) on Lord Zarias which he also trains.
An easing $2.30 favourite, Lord Zarias showed great acceleration to score by 3-1/2 metres from Van Mara ($5.50) with Delightful Major ($3.60), 2-1/2 metres away third.
The winner had not raced since April and Hryhorec praised Kadina trainer Leah Holman for jogging him up and having him ready for a successful return.
Hryhorec made it a driving double in the following event, the Lyndoch Motors Pace (2070m), when Royal Watch ($3.40), trained by Alan Cronin, scored a head win from Lady La Salle ($2.20 fav) with Tell A Tall Story ($5.50), 6-1/2 metres away third.
Confiscated ($3 fav) made it a driving treble and training double for Hryhorec taking out the Podiatry Care Gawler Trotters Handicap (2070m).
Beginning quickly off his 20-metre handicap, Confiscated trotted boldly and found the front in the space of 200 metres and weas never troubled winning by 5-1/2 metres from Buckles ($6) with Dalton ($7), 2-1/2 metres away third.
“I have always had a high opinion of this bloke,” Hryhorec said.
“He has been mentally immature and that caused him to gallop in his races.
“But he has had two long spells and hopefully is going to show the ability I know he has.
“Credit to Dale Afford for getting him ready and he was ready to trot today.”
With Globe Derby Park out of action due to track renovations, the Gawler Harness Racing Club will hold another metropolitan meeting next Friday, September 20.
