Long drought from winners’ circle broken

HOBBY trainer Jim Kypirtidis broke a long drought from the winners’ circle thanks to Midnight Avenger’s upset victory in Bendigo.

Having her 13^th start, Midnight Avenger scored at $17 with Michael Bellman in the cart.

Travelling two-back along the pegs, the filly finished stoutly to score by a metre-and-a-half from Should Beabarca.

The odds-on favourite, Good Heart, was a half-neck away third in 2:04 over 2150 metres.

“It’s the perfect Christmas present,” Kypirtidis said. “Along with getting my first win in a quite a while, she’s broken her maiden and collects her Vicbred bonus as well.

“Pretty good result for a Christmas Eve!”

Bred and owned by Kypirtidis, the two-year is by Kvintet Avenger from Rainbowinparadise, which was also trained by Kypirtidis.

In fact, Rainbowinparadise provided Kypirtidis with his previous success when she was triumphant in Geelong on January 9, 2014.

“It’s been nearly eight years since I got a win, so I’m certainly enjoying this one,” Kypirtidis said. “Harness racing is a passion and it’s moments like these that keep you going.”

With no major plans in mind for Midnight Avenger, Kypirtidis hopes she can simply add another win or two to her tally.

“With any luck she can do it again in the not too distant future,” Kypirtidis said. “Hopefully I don’t have to wait seven years until one of her foals wins!”