Matthew Craven returns with Amajorjo, winner of the Rachael McGrath/Gration Memorial Pace at Stawell on New Year’s Day. Picture: MARCUS MARROW
STAWELL - Amajorjo's run of wins continued for Hamilton based trainer David Lewis, with the four year old taking out the Rachael McGrath/Gration Memorial Pace at Laidlaw Park last Tuesday.
Driven by Matthew Craven, Amajorjo was sent forward early and was sitting three wide before moving to be outside leader, Panorama Wealth, at the bell.
The pair were going stride for stride down the home straight before Amajorjo dashed away to win by 4.3 metres.
Craven, who has driven Amajorjo in all five of his victories, was confident of a win heading into the race.
"He was probably on paper the best horse of the race," Craven said.
"I managed to work around to be outside the leader and he was a bit too good in the end."
Before his five race winning streak, Amajorjo only had one win from 12 starts.
"I knew he had a bit of ability and as he's gotten older, he's gotten stronger which is helping him a little bit," Craven said.
Amajorjo's last win was at Hamilton in the Hamilton Pacing Cup 13 January Pace on December 17 against a field that was 'a little bit stronger' than Stawell.
Craven indicated the next step for the four year old will be to reach a final at Melton, with the heat to be run at Ballarat on January 16.
He is also hoping to take the drive again.
"I've got a good record with him and hope to keep that going," Craven said.
Meanwhile, punter's elect McArdle Lassie was a winner for trainer Adrian Preston after taking out the Trackside Bar and Bistro Pace (first heat).
Driver Michael Bellman managed to find a spot on the back of Brooke Hanson trained Rockstar Ruler early.
Rockstar Ruler was leading at the bell and was still ahead on the home turn before Bellman came up on the inside, slipping McArdle Lassie into the sprint lane to storm home to win by a head.
Bellman said the race was a 'little bit tricky.'
"Number one (priority) was to get an early lead and then we had to rely on a bit of luck," Bellman said.
"We got the sprint lane and probably had the best position apart from the leader and managed to sprint on down the straight. She just got there."
It was just the second time Bellman has ridden McArdle Lassie.
"(Trainer) Adrian just left it up to me and said we'll see how it pans out," he said.
"But we didn't want to get in the sprint lane too early. He said not too use it too much, too early."
In other races, short priced favourite Bobby Maravu notched up his seventh win from just 13 starts for trainer David Drury in the Stawell Florist Lillies & Lattes Restaurant Pace (second heat) while Emma Stewart-trained Good Time Mike led the whole way to win the Sign Online three year old Pace.
However Good Time Mike had to work hard going to the line, holding off race favourite Keayang Starzzz by a head.
Mosquito Spur brought up her second career win for trainer/driver Garry Jackson, edging out Peter Manning trained Heza Maori by a head in the Skinner's Electrical Trotters Handicap.
