Ashlee Griffiths Trains A Tuesday Double
Tuesday (Straight track)
Ashlee Griffiths had a big Tuesday at the straight with two flying winners over the 300m trip. The airborne Cash On Delivery was first and he went into his grade 5 event with some electric form behind him. As a result of that he started one of the hottest favourites in the country for the day and he certainly lived up to that. From box three he flew out in a 4.33 first split and led easily, before totally ripping the field apart and winning by a big four lengths in a best of the day 16.50. The other winner for Ashlee was Springview Force who also started a hot favourite for his grade 6 race. He had box six to deal with and when he came out poorly, things looked a bit awkward. His turn of foot was able to get him out of trouble though, as he made the most of some clear air midrace and really dropped the others, demolishing the rest in 16.73. A top day out for Ashlee as she has her team starting to pick up nicely.
Vern Anderson was another trainer to pick up two winners on the card. First up was the maiden in the form of Vetiver (Hooked On Scotch x Come On Emmaline), who broke through at start five on Tuesday. He had box eight in a small field of five and when the boxes opened, he left cleanly and received plenty of room in the middle of the track. He was challenged midrace and looked out of it, but thanks to things getting a bit messy in front, he was able to capitalise and keep his mind on the job. It was a long wait for Vern until Koepka went around, but it was definitely worth it as the white and blue dog produced a strong effort to win in 17.01, making it a top day for Vern!
It was just a few weeks ago that Bulsara gave Tanya Bialek her first winner as a trainer and he was able to win again on Tuesday with a strong effort from box eight. After jumping well, he moved down to the middle of the track and found an early lead. He was challenged midrace but proved too hard to catch, getting the job done by half a length in 16.95.
Dog to follow: Allinga Ollie - Been lightly raced in recent times has the now four and half year old, but his effort on Tuesday was clearly his best yet for a while and maybe a sign that he is somewhere near his best form. He had every chance to win but ran second behind an uncatchable Cash On Delivery. Allinga Ollie still ran 16.79 himself which was more than handy. If he keeps improving then he will win again soon.
Friday (1-Turn)
On a warm Friday morning, it didn’t take long for things to heat up on the track with On The Spirits (Whiskey Riot x On The Rize) setting it alight in race 1, with a scorching 22.25 victory in the maiden of the day. After getting a start from two, she started a red hot favourite for her first race since December and it didn’t take long to see why. She very quickly fired to an early lead and busted them up midrace. Coming into the straight she had an enormous lead and was never in any danger, with the end result being a 7 length win in a near best of the day time. Pretty impressive for a bitch having her second career start, with her story made even more remarkable by the fact she injured a hock last year before her first start!
Razzle Darryl has been a model of consistency since joining the care of Paul Rehman and he was able to continue his winning form by taking out the 4/5 grade final over the 395m trip. It was a good field that was brought together with Razzle Darryl drawing low in box two. He looked in a world of bother as he left the boxes slowly and was near the rear of the field. Some smarts, tenacity and chase saw him use the rail well and start to make good ground around the turn. As they came up the straight he kept railing and took over, before putting them away and winning brilliantly in 22.31.
Vadim Roz is certainly not a frequent Murray Bridge visitor but he came up with Machismo and left a happy man, when the black dog got the job done from box one over the 455m journey. Machismo started favourite for the event but his followers would have been quite nervous after he missed the start badly. Going into the turn, he still spotted the leaders 5 lengths but was starting to work through his gears. It was quite the go up the home straight, but Machismo was able to charge late and hit the lead just at the right time, winning in 25.79. A good win and maybe we will see him line up in the Cup heats next week.
Dog to follow: Hukanui Lady - Getting older but gee she’s racing well at the moment. Ran a great second from box four in the final behind Razzle Darryl and if she can find herself back in a masters race in the next couple of weeks, then she would take a stack of beating.