2019 Leigh Rogers Final - Review
The third running of the Leigh Rogers Grade 6 Feature final was conducted tonight at Angle Park in strong windy conditions with Coorong Lucy for Cameron Butcher making it six wins in a row when she led throughout in brilliant fashion to claim the $7,995 first prize.
Some of the most exciting young chasers in the State lined up in tonight’s final after four terrific heats were conducted last week. Coorong Lucy was backed into equal favouritism with Little Earner for Tony Rasmussen shooting for her seventh win in a row as the start was affected. Coorong Lucy began sweetly from the 2 box to lead while Little Earner began well but seemed to clip another runner early in the event from box 5 and then was dragged down from behind at the winning post on the first occasion. From out wide Conner Peruzzi for Yvonne Maxwell showed his brilliant acceleration to race up near the lead from box 8 and as they left the front straight tried to get up on the inside of Coorong Lucy before checking off heels.
Entering the back straight and Coorong Lucy was full of running in the lead with Conner Peruzzi just over a length away and giving chase. About 6 lengths back to Emerley Zero for Judi Hurley which ran to third while Little Earner tried to recover into fourth. Off the back straight and the margins were unchanged as Coorong Lucy was in full flight however she would have to handle a very strong head wind in the home straight. As the daughter of Worm Burner and Molly Be Nimble turned for home she was in no danger and powered to the line for a strong win running a sizzling 29.77 for the 515m journey with brilliant splits of 4.38 and 16.88. She raced away from Conner Peruzzi by just over 5 lengths who ran another bold race with another 6 lengths back to Emerley Zero which just held onto third from a flying Springvale Issy for Gavin Harris which came from last in the early stages.
Coorong Lucy’s record now stands at 9 wins and 4 placing’s from just 14 starts and career prizemoney just over $23,000.
GRSA introduced this race onto the feature race calendar two years ago in recognition of former long time Food and Beverage Manager, Leigh Rogers, who lost his battle with a rare form of cancer three years ago. Leigh’s wife Rachel was on hand to present the winning trophy along with family, friends and work colleagues in support of Leigh with many travelling long distances to share tonight’s event.