Big training nights headline Super Sunday at The Bridge
Tuesday Meeting (Straight Track)
It was another good day weather wise at our weekly straight track meeting and things started to heat up with the 2024 Weblec Ace and Mepunga Blazer at Stud Murray Bridge Straight Track Cup just around the corner.
Some quality animals stepped out for the meeting and their is arguably none better than Daytona, who is a Victorian based dog that is trained by the Van Der Maat team. He arrived for a look at the track and lined up in a strong grade 4/5 race over the 300m and he certainly impressed. Bringing in some brilliant Healesville form, he was expected to win and started favourite as a result, but things turned a bit ugly early as he jumped last and settled a few lengths off the leader. The black dog took a few strides to wind up, but once he did he absolutely flew through the gears and it didn’t take long at all for him to hit a gap and take the lead. Once in front, he waltzed away and landed a dominant two length win in 16.84, which was the best of the day on an afternoon with many times a bit slower than normal. If he can improve those box manners, he’s going to be a powerhouse in the Cup series.
Paul Rehmann landed himself a winner for the afternoon with Miracle To Excel returning to the winners list for the first time since November. Despite clearly battling some niggling injuries, the son of Good Odds Harada lined up for his sixth start this year and what a fruitful one it proved to be. From box seven over the 300m sprint trip, he was a bit slow to go in the grade 6 field and balanced up in an awkward position. Halfway up, he was still a few lengths off the lead and trying to get down to the rail, without much luck. Towards the end of the race, persistence paid off and he bustled his way to the front and began to charge home, before hitting the lead just in time, landing an impressive win. Hopefully that was a good confidence booster!
Sunday Meeting
Tracie Price had a monster night on Sunday, taking home five winners in an excellent training display. In a somewhat unique feature for four of the winners, they all came one after the other in races 7,8,9,10 after Wild Milly won earlier on the card.
It was Wild Star who got the quartet going in race 7 when overcoming a slow start out of the 455m boxes for her grade 6 event. She didn’t look much of a chance after 100m as she was stuck wide in amongst the pack, but really worked into her gears as they hit the turn. After having some luck in front, she made the most of it and hit the lead, before running away for a nice 26.00 victory. Myall Mate was next and he had box three over the same distance. His win was quite strong as he found the front, but was very quickly challenged by Federal Fernando and was seemingly gone. Despite the pressure, he kept on finding and ran away in 25.61.
Wild Banker continued the winning run for Price, taking out the fast class event for the night over the 455m trip. From box six, he burst out of the boxes and rushed to the early lead, before getting away by a couple of lengths. He was never in any danger and went on to win in a fast, best of the night 25.52. Aston Butters had the last say for Price, when he lined up from box one over the 395m distance. A slow start had him on the back foot early, but he was able to stick on the rail and slowly make ground. Around the turn, he took his chance and much like his Port Adelaide namesake, showed a turn of speed to break away from the others and pinch a break. It turned out to be a winning break as he won in 22.58, capping off a brilliant night for Price!
Another trainer to have a big night was Cameron Butcher, who continued his terrific run with another three winners on Sunday. The fabulously bred Yumali (Aston Rupee x Coorong Lucy) stepped out to the race track for the first time and it proved to be a successful venture, with the black bitch winning very impressively from box seven over the sprint trip. Yumali stepped quickly from the boxes and quickly worked her way to the lead heading into the turn. Despite peeling wide in the home straight, she held a margin and was never really challenged, going on to win in a slick 22.59.
Tilley Swamp, who is out of Coorong Lucy’s second litter (by Barcia Bale), then lined up from box six in the next race, again over the 395m trip and she also put together a smart performance. After leaving the boxes well, she didn’t take long to burn through her gears and find the front, before pinching a two length break around the turn. In the straight, Tilley Swamp extended the lead and won by a widening four lengths in a best of the night 22.30.
Her sister Elwompe then completed the trio for Butcher, with a strong victory from box five. After jumping slowly from the short trip, she was in some trouble as she found herself a few lengths off the lead and with a bit of work to do. Around the turn, she made a strong move and hooked wide around the turn and really started to challenge. She had the task ahead of her trying to run down Woodside Star, but with the momentum up, she got cracking and just in time, she got the head in front and won in 22.45. A good night out for Butcher and his team!