Footluce Fever Takes Out Gawler Breeders Final
Wednesday
We started off the Wednesday program with the Open Maiden Series Final, which was run over the 400m trip. It was an even lot and when the boxes opened their was a good run to the first turn. The speedy Long Gully Gozo (Lachlan Brown x Long Gully Helen) made the most of box one by railing through to lead going into the back straight. The margin extended to three lengths as they went into the home turn and when he entered the home straight, the race looked over as he continued to hold a margin through the line. The winning time of 23.45 was fair, but I like the way he goes about things.
It’s not often that quick times are run on the time graded programs, but Destini Spitfire felt like changing that, with the Sharyn Gray trained chaser running a sizzling time en route to her dominant win over the short trip. From box six in what was an intriguing field, the fawn bitch came out on roller skates, flying to the front and running a hot 8.66 first split. Her early burn was just unmatchable as she got out to a handy lead heading into the home turn. She was never going to be caught from there and won in a best of the day 22.75. With early splits like that, she will be winning stronger races than what she won on Wednesday!
Michelle Moon landed her first winner for the year when the talented Yarramundi Bee got up from box eight in the last race of the day. It was a small field of four for the 400m event and it was a very even go early to the first turn. With a little jamming on the turn, Yarramundi Bee was able to get a fly around and loom as a danger, albeit travelling three deep up the back. She was still trying around the turn before finally getting the better of the inside two chasers and hitting the lead in the home straight, winning by a nose in 22.99 and landing a gutsy win.
Sunday
The final of the Gawler Breeders was the main attraction for the Sunday card and it proved to be a fantastic race. A red hot field was brought together after some quality heats last week, with the speedstar in Victa Marli starting favourite for the race. With a lightning go to the first turn, it was the Ken Trowbridge trained Footluce Fever who came out running and crossed from box six, setting up a handy lead in a matter of strides. Once in front he really ran along and didn’t give the others a chance, going to win comprehensively by 4 lengths. The littermate in Footluce Dreamer also ran third, making it a top night for Ken. This litter has taken some time to show their ability, but with the pace they are blessed with they will be winning a few more races yet.
Flip The Script has only been in South Australia with Neil Mann for three starts and found himself on the winners list on Sunday, with a grinding effort from box one. It’s always a good advantage having a low draw from the 531m start and whilst he wasn’t the fastest away, he was able to rail through to a nice position behind the leader as they left the first turn. It was a bunched field for the majority of the race and when they hit the home turn it was anybody's race to win. Flip The Script was able to keep railing through before taking the lead in the home straight and then winning in 31.08. It was a really good win and all of his three starts have been improved efforts.
The Don Turned trainer Rolling Riot scored his first 531m victory when he got up from box five for his grade 6 race. After running a fantastic second last week, his early pace was able to help him offset box five this week, as he landed in second leaving the first turn. He had to sit a bit deep up the back straight but as they went into the home turn, he made his move. It was all over when he railed under the leader in the home straight and ran away for a 31.13 win. He’s a nice dog and showed some strength and smarts to get the job done, which is always good to see!