Students in paradise

THEY may be students, but the young people from the Gippsland Harness Training Centre are proving they know how to produce winning horses.
Such was the case at Cranbourne last week when Warragul trotting mare Drop Of Paradise scored her maiden victory for a large syndicate of owners.
The well-bred five-year-old, prepared by Des Hughes and the students of the GHTC at Warragul, is leased by a syndicate, many on their maiden voyage in harness racing.
A slight mare who doesn’t carry an ounce of fat, Drop Of Paradise is a daughter of the former talented trotting mare Diamond Drop, who won seven races for trainer Keith Semmens. Diamond Drop has produced Drop Of Gin (20 wins) and Drop Us Aline (nine wins) from only two foals to race.
That pedigree reads well long-term for Drop Of Paradise, who was rewarded for consistency. Drop of Paradise has shown steady improvement on the training track and as she gets used to the hustle and bustle of racing. In many ways, the horse has been “a work in progress” for the students since she arrived at the centre.
Well-rated by reinsman Glenn Hunter, Drop of Paradise, 5/1, staged a sterling battle with TAB favourite Dottie Hinson for the length of the straight, prevailing by a narrow margin.
Longwarry pacer Ymbro Toto also scored narrowly at Warragul.
Part-owned by trainer Lee Evison, and long-time stable supporter Danny Ymer, Ymbro Toto had also finished in the minor placings at Warragul a week earlier. This was her second win from 13 starts.
Former local Michael Hughes, who now trains at Melton, was another winner at Cranbourne on Tuesday night with I Look A Lot for local owner Garry Rogers.