Bedrock Fred Back To His Best
Tuesday (Straight Track)
On a pleasant Tuesday afternoon at the Bridge it was the John Sargent-trained Echo Finder (Orson Allen x Kisses For Cloda) who broke through for his maiden victory in the first race of the day. After being well supported on debut and running second, he lined up from box two for his second career start. He left the boxes fairly but found himself with room to move and made the most of it, powering along the rail to find a small lead midrace. It was a close finish in the end, but Echo Finder held on in 17.33.
Nathan Goodenough had another double up the straight track, with Easily Amused and Taylor Toves both winning impressively. Things weren't looking good for Easily Amused early when he fell out of the boxes over the 300m trip, but some race smarts allowed him to settle in clear air on the rail. It took a while but in the end, he overpowered them and won well in 16.96. Taylor Toves was nothing short of electrifying with his best of the day 16.47 domination over the short trip. From box seven he came out running and went to a clear lead early, which was the last time his rivals saw him. He absolutely waltzed away before winning by a super comfortable five lengths.
The John Mundy-trained Steel Skies has been a slowly improving type and on Tuesday he landed his third career win at start ten. He had box four over the short trip and it was a close go early, with an even line out and all chasers trying to get to the lead. It took until halfway, but Steel Skies started to barge his way through to the front, before getting to the lead and running away for a strong 17.09 victory.
Dog to follow: Tennessee Jacks - Showed great speed over the 350m trip to lead his grade 6 for a long way. He was eventually run down by the strong Wishing You but ran a really nice second in 19.58. If he maintains those box manners then he will be winning again shortly.
Friday (One-turn)
Cherylee Barber had a terrific day at the Bridge on Friday, with a winning double for the afternoon. Aleasha’s Pride (Fabregas x Springvale Vixen) lined up for her second career start after debuting the week prior and she showed some good improvement. From box six in the small field over the 395m trip, she settled near the rear and a few lengths off the leader. After working her way to a prominent spot midrace, she was able to loom as a big danger in the home straight. Sure enough, she levelled up in the straight and took over, winning well in 23.17. The former star that is Bedrock Fred returned to the winners list with a terrific effort over the 680m trip. It was his first go back over the journey in quite some time and when he left the boxes he was outpaced early but settled with clear air in second. It only took him until the home turn to catch the leader and once in front, he powered away for a good 39.15 win. A good day for Cherylee and the team and fantastic to see Bedrock Fred back to his best.
The Bartholomew team of Elysia and Lee enjoyed a successful trip down from the Mount, picking up two winners between them. Devilish Child was first up after making a very promising start to her career, with the white and black bitch drawing box two for her first Murray Bridge start. She wasn’t the quickest to leave the boxes but showed good muster to work her way to the front early. She held the lead to the turn and despite looking a bit green, balanced up again as they hit the straight. The 28kg bitch proved too good in the end, holding on in 23.01. Victor Alfred was next and he had box eight for the 395m event. Despite being slowly away, he handled the wide draw perfectly and slowly built up his revs. Around the bend, he hit the front and despite going quite wide in the home straight, he was far too good and won in a quick 22.44. Certainly, a couple of nice types of these two and I suspect they will be coming back to the Bridge in the near future.
Rob Harnas has been doing a super job of managing Keen Rocket, with the lightly raced dog picking up another victory on Friday. Moving up to the 455m trip after his good 395m win last week, he drew well with box two for this week's effort. With his early speed, he jumped straight to the front and was looking good in the lead. Turning for home he had a healthy lead and simply proved far too good in the end, running away for a dominant 25.56 win.
Dog to follow: See My Future - The nice young type who was excellent at her first Murray Bridge start. After some unlucky runs at Angle Park, she lined up for a crack at the Bridge. Drawing box five, she settled a fair bit off Keen Rocket, but never shirked the task and in the home straight she started to take some good ground off him. She went down by a couple of lengths in a handy 25.73. It was a strong run and if she ever gets to the 530m trip then she’s going to take plenty of beating over it.