Could Be King reigns supreme in Gawler Produce
Sunday
On a terrific evening at Gawler, the highlight of the night was the final of the Gawler Produce series for 2023. It was the Ben Rawlings trained Could Be King who took out the race with a strong performance to claim one of the feature events on the Gawler racing calendar.
From box seven, he was last away early but a bit of fortune on the first turn allowed him to balance up in third as they went down the back straight. After finding himself just a few lengths off Coorong Cam down the back, he looked incredibly ominous and took over around the home turn, before running away in 30.81.
Coorong Cam for Tim Richards held on for second, ahead of Victa Monty for Tony Rasmussen who rounded out the placings. It was only in January that Could Be King took out the Gawler Maiden feature and he’s now continuing that terrific early success.
Rawlings also had another two winners which gave him a treble for the night, with a couple of homebred chasers in the form of Help Me Rhonda and Agent Four both winning impressively, which capped off a stellar night for the Rawlings team.
Oakvale Outlaw has started off his career in faultless fashion for Nicole Price, making it a perfect two from two on Sunday after proving a mile too good from box one over the 400m trip. After a terrific debut win the week prior, he came out flying, leading easily with a sizzling 8.50 first split.
The grade 6 field was never going to get near him after he came out that well, as he held his early margin the entire way around, before stopping the clock at a very handy 22.66.
Velocity Tahnie later continued her excellent form, giving Price a double for the night. From box seven over the 400m start, she came out fast and crossed over easily, setting up a four-length lead down the back straight before strolling home in a best of the night 22.50
Tony Rasmussen took out two of the other feature on the night.
Victa Kerle was somewhat of an outsider in the Produce Consolation over 531m, after she drew box eight. A good beginning and a bit of luck on the first turn saw her closer than normal as they went down the back straight.
Victa Kerle and Pockets Watson declared it race on from the back straight as they went toe for toe in an enthralling battle, however in the home straight, Victa Kerle proved too strong, winning in 30.92.
The Mike Wittholz Masters Series over the 400m was run for the first time, with the final going the way of Victa Mikey, who showed all of his class to overcome box seven.
A handy beginning saw him land in third spot down the back straight, before moving up strongly before the turn. Around the home turn, he ran away for a high quality 22.75 victory which was the 20th in his career.
Wednesday
Don Turner enjoyed a successful Wednesday at Gawler, netting a training double, with one of those winners being a quinella.
Who Knows Darren lined up for his debut over the 400m start and drew beautifully with box one. The big 35kg dog came out well, before holding the lead on the rail and shooting away for a massive mid-race lead.
Out so far in front, he was never in any danger as he held on for a terrific three-length win in 23.00, with the kennelmate, Information, running into second.
A few races later, Range Out returned to Gawler following a Broken hill victory, and he drew box seven over the 400m start. A slick beginning saw him lead easily with a 8.72 first split and he was doing it well down the back. As the race went on, the lead extended with Range Out running home strongly to win by a monster six lengths, in a best of the day 22.74!
Kim Johnstone has been doing a good job with Mrs. Watson, who landed another victory from box six on Wednesday. From the 400m distance, she came out poorly and was last going into the back straight.
A terrific surge of speed up the back allowed her to get within a few lengths of the leader, before maintaining her run into the home straight. At the top of the straight, she hit the lead, before surging away for an outstanding 23.09 win.