Howlett’s stars align

Busselton’s Barry Howlett had a big night at Donaldson Park on Friday night, with reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green in fine form for the stable.

Egerton-Green began the night by guiding Star Of Diamonds home by 3.6m over The Stars Above in the Allwood Stud 3YO Westbred Pace (2100m).

The short-priced favourite kicked away early, with the filly’s tremendous pace too much for the field to handle early.

Gradually, Cody Wallrodt, who was piloting Justin Prentice’s contender The Stars Above, managed to ease his way out of the congestion and take the leader on.

Wallrodt managed to get the filly within a fraction of Egerton-Green’s outside as the field passed the winning post for the bell lap, and speculation swirled as to whether the in-form reinsman would be able to deliver another win for the Prentice stable.

However, Egerton-Green’s experience came to the fore when the race was up for grabs.

With The Stars Above throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Star Of Diamonds heading into the home turn, Egerton-Green simply lowered his eyes, looked towards the winning post, and ensured Howlett’s filly notched up her second career win from 19 starts.

Howlett ended his night with another victory, after mare All The Bells snapped her unplaced streak with a slender victory over Arma Veyron in the Alby Crisp Westbred Mares Pace (2100m).

It was an impressive win, racing three-wide without cover at the bell. Garry Johnson’s faith in seven-year-old Im Riddler also finally paid off on Friday night at Donaldson Park, after the gelding broke through for his first career win in 95 starts.

Driven by Donald Harper, Im Riddler scored by 6.1m over stablemate Ourcarribeancruise in the Thirsty Camel Drive Thru Pace (1609m) and rated 1.58.5.

Harper got him firing early and once he settled into the highly prized inside lane, the gelding displayed an excellent temperament in the lead.

With pre-race fancy Altamatum out of business after he broke gait heading into the bell lap, Ourcarribeancruise provided nuisance value during the closing stages.

But Im Riddler held firm, with the win potentially rebooting his career.