Hill Equals Australian Record

Freelance reinsman Wayne Hill equalled an Australian record of six winners at a meeting at Victor Harbor on Monday, December 28. Hill is the 18th Australian driver to achieve the effort including Victorian champion Kerryn Manning who has done it three times. He is the third South Australian joining Geoff Webster (Monday, December 15, 2003) and David Harding (Saturday, February 18, 2006). Hill’s winners were Windburnt ($6.80 for Jill Neilson), Machtwister ($22.20 for Andrew Kearney), Queen of Sharkz ($5.60 for Tyson Linke), Silver Ranger ($2.60 for Andrew Kearney), Danamite Lass ($10.50 for Wayne Hornhardt) and Wills ($4.80 for Wayne Brodie). A $1-win investment, all up on Hill’s winners would have returned $110,780. Webster drove Albert Longlegs ($2 fav), Scruffy Murphy ($1.95 fav), Spitfire Shadow ($10), Sammy Rainbow ($6), From Down South ($1.28 fav) and Fibber Magee ($1.28 fav). A $1 all up on those winners would have returned $383. Harding’s feat was on Live To Love ($1.30 fav), The Juggernaut ($11.70), Deep Pockets ($1.60 fav), Nicky Anvil ($1.70 fav), Cee Fennell ($1.50 fav) and Anvils A Christian ($1.40 fav). A $1 all up on those winners would have returned just $86. For Hill, he actually thought one of his best winning chances at Victor Harbor was on Franco Talon which ran the $3.40 favourite in the final event but which had to work to the lead and faded to finish tenth. “It is unbelievable,” Hill said. “I am really proud of the effort because I don’t have my own horses and have to rely on picking up outside drives. Also, none of the drives were favourite which also is amazing – I didn’t have any short priced horses which could have been ‘sure things’. “I am lucky to have a group of trainers who use my services and I thank them for their continued support.” Hill said he had not done the form properly for the Victor Harbor meeting because he has had to go hospital to be with his 12-month-old son Noah. “Noah has been in hospital for two weeks and I have been with him each day,” Hill said. “He is slowly on the improve but I am still going in to be with him. “Tyson told me he thought Queen of Sharkz had a chance, and I thought Franco Talon looked a good hope so they were my thoughts heading into the meeting.” Hill said Windburnt’s win had not been a complete surprise. “She had trialled well recently but I was a bit disappointed with her last run. She has some talent so I was happy after the victory. “Machtwister won well on Saturday night but the field was genuine free-for-all class and I thought maybe a place would be good but credit to Andrew (trainer Andrew Kearney) he really has improved the horse and it was a pleasant surprise. “Tyson is an excellent trainer and knows his horses so when he gave Queen of Sharkz a good chance I was confident she would run well and so she did.” Hill said Silver Ranger was a tough horse and had been well placed in his field. “Ryan (Hryhorec) made it a staying test on Star Brutus but my horse was good enough to win. Another top training effort by Andrew. Hill said Danamite Lass didn’t have a lot of gate speed and he thought there was a chance the mare could end up three back on the fence. “Fortunately that didn’t happen and she had the trail behind Strike On Command and I was able to push off on the apex of the home turn and she was good enough to win.” Hill revealed he thought his last winner Wills had just missed in a photo finish. “I thought Little Tweek on the inside might have kicked and won, but the photo showed otherwise. “Wayne (Brodie) does as good job with his team and again I was able to get off the inside at the apex of the home turn which was crucial.” Hill said Franco Talon’s race didn’t pan out as he thought. “I was hoping to get a one-one trail but the battle for the lead didn’t work out as I thought and I got caught wide so I went to the front but at the finish the early effort took its toll. “Again, I would like to thank all the trainers who support me because without them such an effort would not be possible.”