Don Turner’s Terrific Three
Wednesday
Don Turner had a massive day at Gawler on Wednesday, with a winning treble on the card. The promising Under Siege was the first of the three, as she added another victory to her career record, winning comprehensively from box one over the 643m journey. She was slowly away from the boxes and back in the traffic early, but was dynamite midrace, quickly working to the front before running away when she got there. The winning time was 37.91 which is quite handy. Faster Than Slow somewhat lived up to his name, breaking his maiden in a drama filled race. From box five, the black dog was last early over the 400m trip and not at all looking a winner. Around the turn a great deal of fortune struck with the leaders getting wayward and he was able to stick to the task and win nicely. Nikita rounded out the winners for Don, showing her true ability as she led all the way over the short trip in a slick 22.78. A fantastic day for Don who does a good job with his chasers.
Ben Rawlings picked up two box one winners, which was part of the incredible dominance shown from ‘box 1’ on the day, with 9 of the 12 winners wearing the red. Aching (Barcia Bale x Alicante Bouchet) was the first for Ben, winning really well on debut. From the good draw, he was able to jump straight onto the arm and never looked like getting caught from there. It was a professional performance as he railed well around the turn and won in 22.96, which is very good for a maiden. Beauty You then broke through for another deserving win two races later, as she made the most of a low draw. After being led initially and landing in second, she was able to get up to the leader before the turn and showed her class as she went straight past before winning in 22.97. I’m Gifted Too then won from box four later in the day, with a flying 22.63 run which was the best of the day. She has really hit her straps in the last couple of runs and is clearly back to her best. That was another three winners for Rawlings who has got the kennel ticking over terrifically.
Nicole Price also picked up another two winners which continued her kennel's good run. Velocity Nikki used box one to get herself straight to the front over the short trip, before zooming away and putting an absolute space on her challengers. She won by 9 lengths in 22.83. Spring Mayfield was well placed after some much tougher runs recently and made the most of her drop back in class and trip. She had box two over the 400m and looked a good thing, but it was a bit shaky early when she was led easily and in amongst the pack as they hit the first turn. Her class shone right through, as she showed strength and courage to keep balance as they jammed up, before getting through her gears up the back straight. It was pretty viewing after that, as she went past the leader and ran away to win in a quick 22.75.
Friday
Go Forward Bruno has been in brilliant form lately and on Friday he went to another level, as he dominated his 531m grade 6. He drew poorly in box six but was able to offset it easily with a terrific beginning. You knew he was on early as he was ferocious in his desire to get down to the fence and find the front. Once in front he did it comfortably, holding a good margin and leading all the way. The time was an excellent 30.61 which was the best of the day. Damien Bates is doing an excellent job with him.
The Kerry Stagg trained Magic Poppet continued his brilliant form, winning again from box eight over the 400m trip. He only jumped fairly from the poor draw, but his terrific turn of foot allowed him to zoom past the early jam up beneath. After sitting third up the back straight, he kept clicking through his gears and loomed up to the leader before the turn. As they turned for home, he took over, railing underneath the leader before winning by 2 lengths in 22.78. That’s now 9 wins from 20 starts for the chaser who only turns two next week!
The last of the day went to the Brenda Oakey trained Dolly Quokka who got the job done from box four. When the boxes opened, she came up super, easily finding the front thanks to a 8.74 first split. Around the turn she looked in strife with a dog quickly coming to her, but in the straight Dolly Quokka kicked again and won well in 22.97. Brenda only has a small team in work but places them really well and has a strike rate to show it.
