Dunn enjoys day out with Gawler treble as Turner controls Classic heats
Wednesday
It was a big afternoon at Gawler on Wednesday for Tamica Dunn who landed her first career treble as a trainer. Spring Brooke broke through early on the card, with an upset victory over the 400m trip. From box five, she jumped well but had to ride a bump and show some toughness to get to the lead early. In front, she was pressured the entire way but kept finding to win in 23.12.
The old timer that is Tomato Tears, later won over the same distance from a tricky box six draw. He jumped well to settle in second, before his strength showed late as he powered to the front, before clearing away in a slick 22.87.
Manuka Boy later completed the treble with a gutsy win, fending off challengers to his outside most of the race and winning in 23.13. Tamica’s partner, Michael Stewart, also had a winner with Rico’s Flame winning in a fast 22.69, making it a brilliant day for the duo.
Three heats of the Gawler Classic over 400m were run on Wednesday with Don Turner taking out two of them, whilst Princess Imogen won the other heat for Ben Rawlings.
Who Knows Reg was the first of the for Turner with the white and black dog making the most of a suitable box eight draw. He jumped well and quickly mustered around the outside taking the lead down the back straight. Around the home turn, he found a three-length lead and was doing it quite well, before winning in a slick 22.74.
The highly promising Who Knows Darren then got the job done as a raging hot favourite. It was as painless a victory as you would ever see, as he led from box two, before extending the margin down the back. He was never in any danger and simply dominated, winning by 12 lengths in a best of the day 22.64.
Debbie Stuppos picked up a Gawler winner with Beauty You returning to her best, putting together a classy performance. From box five over the 400m distance, she stepped sweetly and found herself in the lead early. With the lead extending to two lengths as they approached the home turn, she was looking good. The margin didn’t change from there as she got home well to win in a quick 22.73.
Sunday
A wonderful evening at Gawler got underway with the talented Bedrock Will making a return to the winners list, after putting together a couple of solid performances following a short spell.
From box one over the 643m distance, he was expected to win and started a red hot favourite. A good beginning allowed him to find the lead early, but mid-race he was overtaken and looked in a bit of bother. Despite this, he peeled to the outside and got into stride again before charging over the top in the straight and winning in 37.89.
Graeme Stirling brought a small team to the track on Sunday but landed a double for the evening, thanks to a couple of terrific efforts from his chasers. Burning Fee produced a big upset in a small field of four overturning a hot favourite in Steel Skies. From the inside draw, Burning Fee found the lead early whilst also using plenty of the track and down the back straight, he looked vulnerable after moving up the track before winning by a length in 31.17.
Maestro Luke then proved dominant in the next race, leading all the way over the 400m distance, in a very slick 22.67 to cap a great night for Stirling!