Three Green lights for Kirstin

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Tisbury harness racing trainer Kirstin Green had a special day at Ascot Park today, winning three races and coming within a nose of getting a fourth.

The run started in the $15,000 Kubala Seeds Gold Chip Final when talented trotter Fiery Bandito (Majestic Son) put in a massive effort to win like a good horse in the making.

The five year old half-brother to Smokin Bandar began safely from the twenty metre unruly mark before settling last in the bunch. With 2300 metres to trot he rolled into a gallop coming out of the first bend. Green managed to get him down trotting again. Heading down the back straight for the first time Fiery Bandito was about fifty metres from leader Dignify. Green wasn’t content to stay at the back and moved her charge forward, securing the one one with just under a lap to run. Once Green balanced Fiery Bandito in the home straight he let down to win by a length from Xerion with the ear plugs still in place.

Fiery Bandito winning by a length at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Owned by Tom and Julie Kilkelly, Holly and Shea McKenzie and Ricky Collis the win was the five year old’s fourth from just twelve starts.

Fiery Bandito returning after winning at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“He’s still a work in progress. He didn’t really handle the bends that well today but when he was in the straights he was fine. He’s just a big horse on a wee track and he’s still learning. But he’s got a hell of a motor. He’ll probably only have another two starts, then we’ll give him a spell and come back over winter. We’ll just try and educate him without hurting him. He’s learning all the time, like today he sat in the one one,” Green said.

The winning run continued two races later when Sally Lindenny (Majestic Son) continued her good form for owner Murray Swain.

The effort was helped by a peach of a drive from Green. After sitting at the back with Port Pegasus getting away with some soft sectionals in front, Green sent Sally Lindenny forward with a lap to run. Once she got to the front there was no time to rest with Dont Ask going forward to lead inside the last 800. Turning in, Green urged Sally Lindenny up the passing lane and she got up to win by half a length from Dont Ask.

Sally Lindenny taking the lead off Port Pegasus with a lap to run (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“It’s great she’s now a ten win mare and they just told me she’s siting on $98,000. So hopefully she can win another two thousand.”

Sally Lindenny coming up the passing lane to win at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Sally Lindenny’s race days are short lived as she’s in foal to Royal Aspirations.

Sally Lindenny with Kirstin Green and owner Murray Swain in the birdcage at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

In the next race Fernleigh Blackbird (He’s Watching) owned by Trevor Ryder of Ryder Bloodstock appreciated the drop in class and was too good in the Tip Top Ice cream / Night ‘N Day Mobile Pace.

“She was thrown in that race because two starts ago she ran fourth in a Group Two race at Addington.”

Fernleigh Blackbird with a lap to run (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Green played to the horses’ strengths and took her straight to the top.

“She’s just got so much gate speed it make it a little bit easier when you can have your own way. Yeah, she just loved it. Most of her work is GPing (Galloping pacemaker) and she enjoys bowling along in front. At the end she was just looking for the other horses.”

Fernleigh Blackbird winning for Kirstin Green at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The win was Fernleigh Blackbird’s sixth and it’s been a good few days for her family, with her half-brother Fernleigh Cash (Bettor’s Delight) winning at Cambridge on Friday.