Halkidiki Scorches In Maiden Victory
Wednesday
Lexi Lou (Moreria x Springvale Hope) broke her maiden on Wednesday, with her second start since joining the care of Steven Coates. Having previously shown glimpses of ability, she put things together to land a really good win. From box eight over the 400m journey, she jumped okay but was quickly stuck wide which allowed the leader to pinch quite a margin on the field. That didn’t faze the black bitch as she stuck to her guns and worked her way to second. It took all of the 400m, but she stuck to the rail and stormed home to pick the leader up right on the line and win in 23.07. A great little effort and I suspect Steven will be winning a couple more with her.
Generally the Wednesday meetings are a bit quieter but things sprung to life when the Jack Williams trained Emerley Apollo started his 400m event like he had a jetpack on, running an unbelievable 8.46 to the first split. The race was well and truly over by then, as he had set up a monster break midrace. He went on to win in a fast 22.64, which was made even more impressive by the fact he was first up for 6 months! A top effort from Jack to have him ready first up and if Emerley Apollo maintains that sort of early speed then he won’t be getting led too often!
Clint Trengove had a nice afternoon with a double on the card. The old boy in Zipping Loxley maintained his consistent form when he made the most of box one over the 531m trip. It was a handy enough field and he was able to jump well to find the early lead. The race looked over when he had set up a five-length lead up the back straight and despite getting a bit weary late, he had done enough and held on in 30.93.
Sunday
On a reasonably pleasant Sunday afternoon, it was the Ben Rawlings-trained Halkidiki (Magical Bale x Kisses For Chloe) who set things alight, with a flying maiden victory. After a luckless debut victory, the black dog drew box one for his second career start and started favourite as a result. He left the boxes nicely and after pushing his way to the lead early, he was looking good out in front. Midrace he simply dropped his rivals and booted home, winning by a monstrous 10 lengths in a ripping 22.48, which was only a length off the best of the night. Fair to say he has got a future! Ben also made it two for the night when the old boy in Mr. Ticket showed some strength and smarts to barge his way through to a 22.93 victory over the 400m trip.
Halkidiki was an impressive maiden winner for trainer Ben Rawlings.
It’s not every day you see a $101 winner land at the dogs but that’s what we saw when Finniss Eagle got up for his trainer Ed Kowalewski. Backing up from a fall a few days earlier and a couple of good dogs in the race, it did look hard for Finniss Eagle, but things were looking up when he left the boxes well and landed in second hitting the first turn. He was outpaced midrace, but picked up again coming into the home turn, before looking a real chance at the top of the straight. He stuck to the rail and put in a big surge late, to get up just at the right time and win by a nose in 31.14. Not only did he win at $101 odds, but it was also his first win since October, so certainly a timely return to the winner's list!
Ray Barkla may have found himself a nice little purchase with Zeal Express, who had his first start for Ray since relocating from New South Wales. The white and black dog had box eight over the 400m journey for his first South Australian start and things weren't looking great when he was slow into stride and a few lengths off the early leader. With room to move, he started to get wound up down the back straight and close in on the leader. It took a while and all of the home straight, but he finally hit the lead in the shadows of the post and won in 22.92 for what was quite a strong performance. Certainly a nice first up victory!