Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
A flying start from barrier four paved the way for Machlani’s long overdue win in the 2536m Direct Trades Supply Maddington Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The six-year-old gelding’s victory over Allwoods Rocknroll ($4.40) and Withoutthetuh ($2.50 favourite) ended an 857-day drought and a losing sequence of 35, stretching back to his win at Gloucester Park on March 31, 2020.
Machlani, an $11.90 chance at his second appearance after a spell, flew out for 20-year-old reinsman Kyle Symington, who had driven $7 chance Bayardo to victory at Bunbury seven hours earlier.
Symington then rated Machlani perfectly in front and the gelding won by just under a length from Allwoods Rocknroll, who had enjoyed the perfect trip behind the pacemaker all the way.
“This was the right race for him and the 2536m was ideal,” said Machlani’s trainer Michael Brennan, just back from an enjoyable three-week holiday in Ireland. “Special thanks for Aleesha Bynder and Kim Young, who have done a great job looking after the horses in the stable while I was away.”
Machlani, who is owned by Brian Ridley, was placed only once from his previous 14 starts. He impressed with his first-up run the previous week when he finished strongly into seventh place behind Rock Me Over.
He is by Mach Three and is the fourth foal out of Leilani Lombo, who raced 23 times for ten wins, six placings and stakes of $224,595. The highlight of her career was her victory in the group 1 APG final for three-year-old fillies at Albion Park in April 2010. Leilani Lombo’s dam Indyanna Lombo won the $60,000 State Sires Series final for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park in May 2002 when she beat Montana Lombo by a nose.
Machlani’s stablemate Withoutthetuh was slightly disappointing in finishing third on Friday night. He raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, and battled on gamely at his second appearance after a spell.
“Withoutthetuh didn’t have much luck tonight, but he is not going as well as he should be,” said Brennan. “He has come back from the paddock quite heavy.”