Harnas enjoys good week at The Bridge
Rawlings Collects Three Winners Up The Straight
Friday Meeting
On a pleasant afternoon for our one-turn meeting, Rob Harnas collected a pair of winners, making it a worthwhile drive up for the Lewiston based trainer.
Slim Rusty stepped out in a Grade 5 over the 395m trip and started a strong favourite off the back of his consistent recent form. From box one, he stepped quickly and went to the lead as they went into the bend. He held a couple of lengths margin around the turn, but did go wide at the top of the straight which opened up an opportunity for the fast finishing Spring Ignite. Slim Rusty did look in some trouble as they approached the line, but he was able to fight back and kick away, winning nicely in 22.62. Later in the day, it was Sudoku Nala who rounded off the card and the double for Rob, also winning from box one over the short trip. The fawn bitch was a bit slow to go and had to settle a few lengths off the lead. Despite the slightly sluggish start, she really powered up to the leaders around the turn, before railing underneath and shooting to the lead at the top of the straight. Once in front, she held the margin through to the end, before winning impressively in 22.63.
The super consistent Finniss Ignite scored another win at his favourite track, overcoming a tricky box five draw from the 455m trip. Once the boxes opened, the white and fawn dog stepped a bit quicker than he usually does and settled in a very close second, as they went up the back straight. With plenty of time to build through his gears, he worked to a very ominous spot around the turn, before working around to the front and pouncing away for a clear lead. Given his strength, he was never going to be in any danger and waltzed away, winning well in 25.81, no doubt impressing his trainer Ryan Tugwell. He always runs well on the one-turn track and that win was certainly a reward for recent efforts.
Tuesday meeting
Ben Rawlings’ strong run of things continued lately with another training treble up the straight on Tuesday. Bitter Fury was the first and he started an incredibly short favourite over the 300m trip in a small field of four, but alarm bells started ringing when he stumbled out of the boxes and settled last early. With plenty of room to move, he balanced up and went through his gears strongly, before catching up to the leaders and running to a clear lead with 100m to go. He had the race sewn up from that point and won by two lengths in 17.00. Scarlet overkill was the next and she also lined up over the 300m distance. From box two, she came out quickly and crossed straight to the rail. It was a tight battle up front for the lead, but she had plenty of room to work with and continued to set a good tempo. It wasn’t until the 50m mark that she looked to have the race in her keeping, before she held a length margin through the line and won in a handy 16.84. A few races later, What A Regret lined up in a pretty strong pathways graded race over the same distance and did everything right. From box four, the blue dog shot out to a clear lead early and found a two length margin before the halfway point. That margin didn’t change the entire race, as he set a good speed and never looked in danger, holding the margin to the end and winning in an impressive 16.70, which was also the best of the day.
Tim Ieraci enjoyed a successful day up the straight, with one of his recent additions to the kennel in Sketchy Show Man landing his first South Australian win. Stepping out from box eight in the Grade 6 final over the 300m trip, the black dog stepped quickly, before bustling his way over to the front after 100m. Once he worked to the rail, he travelled strongly and chased hard, extending the margin with 50m to go. It was a comfortable ride to the line as he won by three lengths in a very handy 16.85. No doubt he would have got some confidence from that and he will likely be winning a few more up the straight yet!