Butcher grabs a one-turn treble - The Bridge Recap
Tuesday Meeting (Straight track)
Tuesday was headlined by the heats of the 2024 Weblec Ace and Mepunga Blazer @ Stud Straight Track Cup with four heats being run over the 350m distance. With plenty of anticipation locally leading into the heats, we did also see a few interstate chasers make their way over targeting the $10,000 to the winner final.
Tracie Price is building an imposing record at Murray Bridge and his recent success continued in the Cup heats, collecting two winners from the four heats. Myall Mate took out heat one, overcoming box seven on route to an impressive victory.
He wasn’t the quickest out of the boxes and found himself a few lengths off the lead early and in a bumping duel. With a couple of sharp customers out in front, it was going to be a tough task to catch them, but he balanced up and by mid-race he was able to get on level terms and moving to the lead on the outside. After getting a length in front, he held the margin and ran through the line strongly for a 19.63 win.
It was two races later that Wild Banker took out the third heat, again from box seven. This win was an easier watch for Price with the black dog going straight to the lead out of the boxes and never getting headed. He was challenged at different moments in the run but responded when he needed to and won in a slick 19.40 making the trip to the Bridge another enjoyable one for Price!
Another trainer that has been having a stellar run at the Murray Bridge track in recent times is Ron Schadow and he took out the other two heats of the Straight Track Cup. The group performing Victa Marli was dominant in heat two, showing her pure class with a hot run from box eight. On show was her customary early speed, as she fired out to an uncontested lead early. With a bit of bumping going on behind her, it was race over very shortly after that, as she stormed away midrace and never looked in trouble. She won by a widening five lengths in a best of the day 19.27 in her first go down the straight track in race conditions since November 2022.
Her sister, Victa Kerle had box six in the last heat and she pulled off a stunning victory, overcoming a severe lack of confidence in the market to win at $81 odds. It was a good start from the brindle bitch and she was immediately given all the room she wanted out in the middle of the track and left alone.
Mid-race, she was doing it well and looked in control, albeit with the challengers approaching. Things started to get frantic as she was pressured with 100m to go and looked to be in strife, but to her credit, she responded appropriately and kicked on to win and ran strongly through the line. Her time was 19.28 which was a top effort given that she was second up. It will be a terrific final on Tuesday and the Schadow duo will certainly have a bit to say in the final.
Friday Meeting
Cameron Butcher had yet another terrific afternoon at The Bridge on Friday picking up a training treble for the meeting. Kilkerran (Aston Rupee x Coorong Lucy) got the card going, with a strong maiden win at start two. From box four over the 395m trip, she jumped well and had to muster hard under outside pressure to get the lead.
Around the bend, she had worked to a clear lead and despite going wide on the turn, she was in complete control. It was a dominant win in the end, as she stormed away to win by three lengths in a slick 22.59.
The sister was the next winner with Yumali putting together a complete performance over the 395m distance. From box five, she jumped straight to the lead and quickly set up a margin on the others as they went around the turn. In the straight, she held a two-length margin and carried it through the line, winning in 22.60.
Tilley Swamp completed the trio, showing all of her class over the 455m trip. From box seven, she started well but had to work hard to get to the front. Around the turn, she had a good lead and was doing things well, but down the straight was starting to tire. It was a nervous finish in the end, but she did enough and won in 25.58 with the improving Tilley Swamp’s record to six wins and six placings from 17 starts.
Tania Foster had a really impressive winner on the day, with her rising star Majestic McLaren dominating over the short trip, which isn’t an ideal distance for him.
Traditionally a strong dog, he was going to need some luck coming out of the 395m trip but did have a small field to contend with which helped.
From box six, he was a tad slow to go but did get lots of room out wide and allowed himself plenty of time to balance up. Heading into the turn, he started to make good ground and very quickly loomed up to the leader, before going straight past at the top of the straight. It was the last they saw of him, as he stormed away for a big win, running a fast 22.25, which was clearly the best of the day. He clearly likes the track, and it will be good to see him over the long trips shortly!