Murray Bridge gets ready for big week of action
Damien Smith Duo Drop Jaws Up the Straight
Friday Meeting
On a sunny Friday afternoon at The Bridge, we had a couple of trainers score doubles for the afternoon. One of which was Graham Smith, with his star chaser putting together one of the performances of the day to win from the 455m boxes.
In a grade six series heat, he jumped nicely from the wide draw, which he does enjoy and was able to settle a few lengths off the lead. Heading into the turn, he was caught deep and doing plenty of work, but despite this he was making ground on the leader. With a brilliant sweeping move around the turn, he was able to burn up to the lead and take over, before running away in the straight for a ripping 25.69 win.
Woodside Star was the other winner for Graham with the black dog putting together a best of the day performance over the 395m trip. From box eight, he was a tad slow to go after the boxes opened, but it didn’t take him long at all to pick up and go through his gears. Using the wide draw perfectly, he flew down the outside and took over heading into the turn. He was never in trouble from that point and ran away for a slick 22.23 effort, capping off a great day for Graham!
Clint Trengove also collected a winning double for the day, with the inform Plodding Along making it two straight wins to get the day going for Clint. After a breakthrough victory the week before, the white and black dog lined up from box eight over the short trip. In the small field, he found himself a clear third early and a few lengths off the leader. Moving around the turn, he was making slow ground but still had plenty to do, but as they came down the straight, he really began to lengthen stride. It was a big finish from Plodding, but he roared home over the top and won in a good 22.63.
Lady Apex later completed the double, taking out the last race of the day in slick fashion. Over the 395m distance, the super speedy bitch sprung the lids and went straight to the lead early. After navigating some pressure and getting a couple of lengths clear around the turn, she looked in charge. Towards the end, the stronger dogs were coming hard at her, but she had done enough and held on to win by a length in 22.76.
Wednesday Meeting (Straight track)
On a Wednesday timeslot to accommodate the Gawler Show and the Nationals, we had 12 strong races up the Murray Bridge Straight.
Arguably South Australia’s most promising young greyhound in Mallee Beauty produced a jaw dropping performance in the afternoon, to knock her grade 6 over the 300m trip out the way. Following a breathtaking debut performance around the circle, she lined up as an unbackable favourite in the race. From box five, it took all of three strides for the stunning white and brindle bitch to put the race away, as she shot out to a clear lead after leaving the boxes. At no point in the race did her rivals even look like getting near her, as she stormed away for one of the most comprehensive wins you will see up the straight, winning by a widening six lengths in a mind boggling 16.17, just two lengths off the track record and a clear best of the day time! An amazing start to her career and she is one seriously exciting pup.
Her trainer, Damien Smith, already on cloud nine after her win, landed a training double with the sister Culburra, also winning in super impressive time. She had the exact same scenario, box five over the 300m trip and she won in a similar manner, storming to the lead early and booting clear for a four length win in 16.27. A terrific day for Damien and you can certainly keep following these two chasers in the near future.
Craig Jaensch has got himself a couple of straight track experts, with the ‘Beast’ brothers both coming together to land strong victories on the card. Beast Cut Loose stepped out in a grade 4/5 over the 300m trip. From box three, the wide running black dog found some early trouble in the race when he wanted to move wide and quickly found himself in an awkward spot amongst runners. Despite this, he held his ground and waited for a run to open up on the outside of the track. Halfway up, he worked himself into clean air and quickly made his move, charging to the lead and putting up a couple of lengths. It was light work for him late as he won impressively in 16.65.
His brother Street Beast then won a couple of races later from box eight over the 350m trip. It was a small field for the grade 6 event and Street Beast made the most of this, jumping straight to the lead and moving to the middle of the track. After getting to a clear lead midrace, he did things pretty comfortably and won with ease, running 19.16 and capping off a good afternoon for Craig.
Another terrific week of racing and all eyes now turn to the Nationals Final on Saturday morning.