Board grabs double in big week of action at The Bridge
Sunday (One-Turn)
Greg Board will be departing South Australia in a couple of weeks but picked up a farewell present of sorts with a training double on Sunday afternoon.
Spring Honour returned after a short freshen up and it appeared to do him a world of good, overcoming a tardy start to win strongly over the 395m trip. Despite the slow start, he was afforded plenty of room and it didn’t take him long to move up to the lead. In the home straight he powered away for an excellent 22.31 win.
It wasn’t until the last of the night when Spring Cocktail caused an upset in the fast class race over 395m. She came out quickly from box six and went to an early lead. Around the turn, she looked vulnerable but she kept responding, before going on to win impressively in 22.21
I don’t think the Oswald Chegia trained Fantastic Felix has ever found the lead straight after leaving the boxes, but sure enough that’s what happened on Sunday over the 455m distance. From box five in the grade 6 field, he stepped cleanly and led in a handy 8.16 first split.
Once in front, he was never going to be beaten, given how strong he Is home and he really powered away in the straight, before winning by a comfortable three lengths in 25.62 which was the best of the night.
Dog to follow: Big Earner - He’s very close to breaking through for his maiden win. Been trying hard in defeat in recent starts and has some track sense which is always handy. Ran a close second on Sunday and he will win one soon.
Tuesday (Straight track)
On a pleasant winter afternoon at The Bridge, the Harry Trengove trained Sky Stone returned to his sensational best, with a brilliant best of the day victory over the 300m trip. From box eight, he came out sweetly to find an early lead, before being outpaced mid-race. Despite this, he came back and toughed it out, before winning by a nose in a sharp 16.55.
Steve Coates is doing a good job with his youngster Orson Dale, who recorded his second career win, with his first also coming up the straight. Starting a red-hot favourite from box eight over the 300m distance, he came out nicely and stayed up the track, which meant that he had plenty of room to work with. He was doing things well and mid-race he burnt off the others, before coasting home for a comprehensive win in 16.84.
It would have brought a smile to quite a few when the big 43kg boy, Yarramundi Garth, collected win number 2 at start 40! Over the 300m distance, he drew box eight, which was quite suitable for him, however he was a bit tardy early and settled just off the lead. He strided out well mid-race and was closing in on the leaders, before going past them in a flash late and winning in 17.01. He has certainly returned well from a spell and that win was a very deserving one!
Dog to follow: Bad Seed - Nice type that returned from a spell on Tuesday. After jumping well, he was ultimately beaten by the kennel mate Bourne Nicko, but in good time. Bad Seed found the line well and if he can build off that first up run then it won’t take long for him to find his way back into the winners list.