Harris, Barber have big weeks at The Bridge
Sunday Meeting
Lauren Harris enjoyed a terrific night at The Bridge for our Sunday evening card, collecting three impressive winners. The first of the three was Daintree Tiger, who put together a terrific display of speed and strength over the 680m trip. In a small field, Daintree Tiger fired out to the lead early and quickly set up a healthy margin down the back straight. His midrace work was elite and the margin extended rapidly as they approached the home turn, with the brindle dog holding a massive margin right through to the end, winning by thirteen lengths in 40.05! Mia Mighty looked a good thing when she lined up a few races later from box eight over the 455m trip. The black bitch started well and led, but did get outpaced down the back and was overtaken in front. With the pressure on and a real good tussle for the front, she fought back at the top of the straight and continued to get through her gears. A win was looking very unlikely as they approached the line, but with a final surge she got the head in front and won by the narrowest of margins in 26.29. Buster Brady capped off the night for Harris, with a strong win over the 530m trip. From box one, he started a hot favourite, but things were looking ordinary early when the kennel mate in Minter Redeem flew out to lead the race easily. With over five lengths to make up down the back straight, Buster Brady got into his work and set out for the lead, making ground before the turn. It was a powerful turn of foot that saw him get underneath the kennel mate around the turn and shoot off out in front, before running away for an impressive 30.42 victory. A thoroughly enjoyed night from Harris and her team no doubt!
Damien Smith has found yet another promising youngster, with the Murray Bridge local enjoying a brilliant run of form over the last few months. Time To Fire (Fernando Bale x Mallee Dreamer) made the most of stepping out in a maiden over the 395m trip at her home track, putting together a strong effort to win. Starting as a clear second favourite, she stepped well and settled in an ominous third early. With the run opening as they went around the turn, she railed underneath the leaders and booted through to the front. Off the back of her strength that she showed on debut at Angle Park, she was never going to get caught, as she won in 22.63, which was just a few lengths off the best of the night. She looks to have a future with this one!
The Barber duo of Cherylee and Stewart capped off a perfect week with their ‘Zinfandel’ duo, with Zinfandel Pardy and Zinfandel Dash both winning up the straight and also on the circle. Zinfandel Dash lined up first up Sunday, stepping out over the 395 trip and she did exactly as her name suggested. From box four, she was given plenty of room to go but she made full use of it within a couple of strides, bursting to a clear lead early. After setting up a couple of lengths around the bend, she was travelling beautifully and she never looked like getting run down at any point in the race, running home strongly to win in 22.67. Zinfandel Pardy had a tougher task from box eight over the 455m distance, given that she is a keen railer, but she handled the task terrifically. After being a bit tardy from the boxes, she landed a few lengths off the lead as they went down the back straight and certainly had some work to do. It wasn’t until around the turn that she really put in the big strides but once she saw the lead, she really pounced, booming around the outside and putting the race away down the home straight. She won in 25.93 and she is certainly racing with a bit of confidence now!