Star reinswomen lead the way

TWO of Australia's most popular reinswomen completed Cup doubles yesterday.

Victoria's champion Kerryn Manning dominated the Pacers' and Trotters' features in Boort, while inspirational South Australian, Dani Hill, achieved the same feat in Port Pirie.

Manning set the scene by guiding Sir Eros to a tough win against his squaregaiting foes before winning a controversial pacing event with Lincoln River.

Beginning well from the front row, Sir Eros occupied the 'death seat' before scoring by a head from Tripod, with Berriesandcherries a metre-and-a-half away third.

Trained by Danny O'Brien, Sir Eros rated 2:06.5 for the 2612-metre stand to break a 22-month drought from the winners' circle.

"He over raced a bit and did all the work, so I was a little worried about that," Manning said. "But he kept soldiering on.

"He didn't want to let them past him and it was good to see him back in winning form."

Manning was then second past the post with Lincoln River but successfully protested against Collective Works.

Stewards not only upheld Manning's protest, they disqualified Collective Works and adjourned an inquiry.

"It's a bit of a funny feeling winning a race that way," Manning said. "It took a while for the decision to come through, but it was nice to get the win."

Prepared by Manning, Lincoln River notched his first win since last May.

"He was a nice young horse and I had a reasonable opinion of him," Manning said. "He's had some issues and spent a fair bit of time out."

Over the border, Hill was triumphant with Regal Attire in the Kadina Trotters' Cup before reining Belleza Nera to glory in the pacing division.

A member of the Ryan Hryhorec stable, Regal Attire overcame a 20-metre mark to score first-up from a spell in what is the gelding's fifth country cups success.

Having his second start for David Harding since arriving from Western Australia, Belleza Nera accounted for Lord Zarias and Springfield Affair in 1:58.4 over 2530 metres.