Hopefuls get set for Cup at The Bridge
Price Sets His Eyes On Murray Bridge Cup
Tuesday Meeting
Ron Schadow continued his good run at the Murray Bridge Straight on Tuesday, with another training double, thanks to his ‘Victa’ team. Victa Chrissy (Flying Ricciardo x Victa Polly) lined up as a red hot favourite in the first of the day, with punters undeterred by her drawing box five. After leaving the boxes last, she very quickly accelerated through her gears and barged her way to the front after just 100m. Once she was in the front, the others were left in her tracks, as she ran away for a very handy 17.01 victory. Later in race 8, Ron took out the quinella with Victa Monty and Victa Mick nearly coming together for a dead heat. Over the 350m distance, both chasers were a bit slow to go, but navigated themselves a clear path up the straight. Igt was a tight tussle the entire way up, with Victa Monty looking home until the last few strides where Victa Mick put in the big bounds, but Victa Monty held on by a nose in 19.61, for what was a terrific race.
Tony Nobes also landed a double for the afternoon, after taking out back to back races early in the day. Give Me Room was first and he lined up in a juvenile race over the 300m trip. From box four, he came out well and found the early lead. With an unimpeded run, he kept on running the others along and whilst he didn’t put them away, he did hold a clear margin the entire way up, before going on to win in a handy 17.09. Something Gold then lined up from box eight in the next race over 300m and his win wasn’t so clear cut. After leaving the boxes fairly, he was crossed and had some work to do. It was only in the last part of the race that the fawn bitch really powered on, as she took the lead and won in 17.18.
Sunday Meeting
Things started to heat up at Murray Bridge with our Sunday program, a card which was loaded with high quality races as quite a few chasers had their final hit outs before the cup heats next Monday,
Tracie Price had a big evening, taking out a treble, with some of his younger chasers really impressing. Wilder was the first as he got up early on the card, in a grade 6 over the 395m distance. From box five, he was slow to go, but his brilliant acceleration allowed him to find the front and set up a few lengths around the turn. The race was all but over at that point, as he went on to win in 22.60. The highly promising Wild Banker was next and he showed that he is a genuine hope going into the cup heats next week. Again from box five, over the 455m trip, he got out to a fast start which saw him go straight to the front and in what was a really strong field, he just never gave them a chance, highballing along in front and eventually winning in a best of the night 25.53. The ever consistent Current Model then took out the fast class event over the short trip, overcoming a slow start from box four in the process. After the slow start, he very quickly went through his gears and went to the lead around the turn, before holding on and getting the job done in 22.55. A great night for Tracie and no doubt he will have a strong hand to play in the heats.
Victorian trainer Matthew Lanigan has set his sights on the cup, as he generally does and he brought a few chasers over for a look at Murray Bridge before next week. The 13 hour round trip was made worthwhile with a double for the evening, which was started by Fast Headache, who was previously trained in South Australia and her win Sunday took her record at Murray Bridge to 3 wins from 4 starts. From box five over the 455m trip, she had to work quite hard early to get herself down to the rail, but once there she was able to find some clear air. It was a tight tussle late, but she held on for a nice 25.86 victory. The very good Divine Nature then lined up over the same distance, this time from box three, with things looking a bit awkward for him after he jumped a bit slowly. After settling a few lengths off the lead going into the turn, he really turned it on and pushed his way under the leaders at the top of the straight. Once he hit the lead it was only going to be one result, as he got the job done in 25.61. No doubt he will be a big player in the heats.
One of the feel good stories of the night was Fantastic Maggie, who did a mighty job to return from a serious back leg injury to win over the 395m trip. Generally a hard injury to come back from, she had two months off before returning and showed that it hasn’t affected her! From box three, she came out running and found the front early. She stayed up the track as the others came at her hard and at the top of the straight, there was a lineup of five trying to get their heads in front! As the line approached, Fantastic Maggie was just a bit too good, as she