Harris lands a Sunday Treble
Tuesday (Straight track)
John Mundy got the ball rolling on Tuesday when his chaser Leo’s Blessing (Sennachie x Blessed In Black) won the first race of the day. Lining up for career start number five from box four, he jumped nicely and found himself near the front early. It was a tight battle up front, but as they got to the line it was Leo’s Blessing who proved a bit too good, winning by a length in 17.27.
The Rasmussen team dominated on Tuesday, with Lisa and Tony combining for five winners for the day. John Dutton (19.33) and Hot Sky (19.27) were the first two, with both chasers winning really well and running great times over the 350m trip. Victa Tony was next and he was just a different class for his grade 6 field, winning easily in 16.69 over the 300m trip. It’s Your Shout (16.94) and Jalapeno Jewel (16.85) finished off the day, with good wins over the 300m. Fair to say that the Rasmussen kennel is in super form at the moment with many of the dogs racing in good touch.
Gary Pidgeon has been a regular visitor to the straight track in recent weeks and picked up some reward for effort when he picked up first and second in race nine on Tuesday. In an even field, Last Iceberg, for Gary, was slowly into stride from box one and in need of a bit of luck. The white and black dog made a good midrace move and was chasing really hard, with the kennel mate in Billy’s The Best out in front. Approaching the line, Last Iceberg went to the lead and took the win in 17.12, ahead of Billy’s The Best. A result that Gary would have been rapt with him I’m sure!
Dog to follow: Daniel Sun - Has had a few starts since resuming and seems to be going well enough, despite racing without luck. He had box one on Tuesday over the short trip and was slowly away, but made some nice ground in behind late. A solid run and if he gets the right field in the coming weeks then he will be a hope.
Sunday (One-turn)
Lauren Harris dominated the Sunday night card taking home three winners. The ever-consistent Diesel Runner was the first one onto the winners list with the dark brindle dog taking out another fast class race. It was a small field of four, but Diesel Runner proved a tad too speedy and won narrowly in a best of the night 22.23. Paw Some Storm was next up for Lauren and she finally showed her true ability on a one turn track. From box two over the 395m distance, she came out well and mustered to the lead. Once there she was just a bit too quick and got away late, winning by a few lengths in a sharp 22.34. San Lorenzo produced the biggest upset of the night to make it three, when he ran down Fantastic Radley over the 680m trip for his first ‘distance’ victory. He pressured Fantastic Radley the entire trip and despite sitting wide, he was just too strong late and won in a solid 39.15.
Adam Mackereth made the drive up from Mount Gambier with just the one dog and it proved to be a worthwhile trip, with Two Fifty Three getting up by the barest of margins. In an even full field, Two Fifty Three had box seven to contend with but thanks to a fast beginning she was able to offset it easily and find the lead. Around the turn she was doing it nicely, but in the straight she looked vulnerable. The finish line rapidly approached and with the head down, Two Fifty Three held on, winning by a head in 22.75. It certainly would have been a much nicer drive home after that!
Verve To Excel landed an elusive first win in South Australia for Paul Rehmann, with the brindle dog making the most of box one over the 395m journey. When the boxes opened, he showed as much speed as he had before, which set things up early. Before the turn, Verve To Excel had set up a nice buffer and looked home, which proved to be true as he was simply uncatchable out in front. The end result was a three length victory in a solid 22.50.
Dog to follow: Loving The Cash - Has been a great bitch for Tony Hinrichsen and again on Sunday she ran another fantastic race at big odds. She led for a long way over the 530m trip before getting run down in good time. Her last three starts have actually been terrific so she is definitely going well!