Foresaken wins brilliantly after a lengthy break
Wednesday
We had 12 races last Wednesday at Gawler, with the winners spread well. Kim Johnstone was able to pick up a double, with Velocity Teller and Brief both winning well. Velocity Teller was able to make the most of a perfect speed map over the 531m journey, by sticking on the rail and getting a stack of room. She was second in the run behind Psychotic Babe, but was always going to be strong late, and she was. As they turned for home, she went around Psychotic Babe and hit the front, before winning by a length in 31.27. Brief was Kim’s second winner after getting a call up from the reserve bench. She slotted into box two and used it perfectly. Brief led easily in an 8.69 first split before running away and winning in 22.90. Well done to Kim who is having a really good run at the moment.
Junior made it two wins in a row for him and trainer Des Denton, putting in a good performance from box five. It was a good beginning that set up the win for Junior, as he was able to sit outside of the dog underneath, before working to the front. He led by 2 lengths up the back, but was challenged and had to respond, which he did, finding enough to win in a tight finish, running 23.13.
One of the feel good stories from the meeting was most certainly the first up win of Foresaken, who had not raced in 9 months! His trainer Neil Mann has clearly been working hard to get him back to racing and it showed on Wednesday with a really impressive win. He had box one but didn’t come out overly flash, finding himself in third and racing quite tight with pressure to his outside. He then dropped back to fourth, but that was when he clicked up the gears, running through a wall on the turn and looming ominously. He ducked back to the rail in the straight and picked up Aston Hayato, signifying a brilliant return effort and an ever better training performance. The time of 22.95 was also very solid, particularly as he didn’t have much luck in the run.
Friday
We had a super competitive card on Friday and one of the stars of the show was Taylor Toves, who went like a rocket in winning over the 400m trip, for trainer Nathan Goodenough. The fawn dog had been in fantastic form previously, so was rightfully a red hot favourite from box four. He came out beautifully and found an easy lead, which only continued to grow as the race went on. It was a totally dominant 5 length victory, with the clock stopping at a sizzling 22.37, which is as fast as we have seen one go recently. Nathan has certainly got him humming and he will keep winning whilst he’s in this form.
We don’t see Tracie Price at Gawler very often, but the 10 hour round trip paid off for him with two winners, which included the quinella for race 7. Aussie Swiper was the first of the two winners for Tracie, with a fantastic display of strength and smarts from box four over the 643m trip. The blue bitch came out last with plenty of work to do. After sticking to the fence, she got a bit closer up the back straight, before really powering through her gears approaching the home turn. She looked a big danger turning into the home straight and was too good, going past Aston Alpha in 37.70. I suspect she will be back for the Bothing Stayers Cup in a few weeks. Ebby Tock hasn’t been with Tracie for too long, but was sensational in winning the next race. After jumping well from box two, he was able to find the front and a clear lead. He was travelling well the entire race and was never really challenged, winning by 2 lengths in a super strong 30.73. A trip worthwhile for Tracie!
Mike Wittholz also landed a double on Friday and the first winner was Little Franky, who showed some smarts in winning from box one. He jumped okay and found himself in second, whilst staying on the rails. As they hit the turn, Little Franky was able to rail underneath the leader and find the front, proving too good in 23.13. Universal Value then went terrific in her grade 5 over the shorter trip, running a hot 22.56. After a very sound first effort a few weeks prior, she came out brilliantly on Friday, finding the front in an 8.75 first split. She travelled strongly the entire race, winning untroubled by 2 lengths. Clearly she has come back well off her three month break!