Johnstone caps big week with double at The Bridge
Johnstone Scores A Friday Double At The Bridge
Tuesday Meeting (Straight track)
Jack Trengove continued the excellent form that his kennel is having scoring a double at the straight track meeting.
Allinga Alan was the first as he overcame box six over the 300m trip. He was the last away out of the boxes and with a bit of work to do early but was afforded room to find his form. After building through his gears mid-race, the black dog started to power on as they were halfway up before looming as a winning threat at the 100m mark. With a big late push, he went to the lead and put the race away, getting up in a decent 16.84 time. This litter is certainly showing some ability!
It’s Jackie was the other winner for Jack, with the black bitch making the most of box one from the 350m distance. It was an even start for It’s Jackie and the rest of the field, with no clear leader early. After getting some room to move, she started to move up to the middle of the track and fight for the lead. With 100m left to go, she had set up a clear lead and was doing things well, eventually running away for a strong 19.21 win.
Cherylee Barber doesn’t usually have dogs racing up the straight, but she enjoyed a successful trip up on Tuesday with Zinfandel Cooper winning the first of the day impressively. Using box one to advantage and showing he has enough speed for the 300m trip, the brindle dog stepped nicely when the boxes opened, but was crossed early and behind a couple of chasers. Mid-race, he peeled to the middle of the track and attempted to make his run there but found some trouble when doing so. Despite this, he kept on charging and it was a fantastic battle to the line with him and No Idea, but in the end Zinfandel Cooper was just a shade too good, winning by the barest of margins in 16.92.
Friday Meeting
Kim Johnstone had a good trip to the Bridge on Friday, scoring a double for the card. Glorious Bella lined up in a much-preferred box one over the 395m trip to get things started and it was a flying start from the white and brindle bitch, who timed the start perfectly and led the others by a couple of lengths off the mat. Heading into the turn, she was starting to be challenged, but found a response and then clicked up a gear at the top of the straight. After that point, she held a clear margin the whole way home and won super impressively, running a hot 22.25.
Urana Lightning was the other winner for Kim, with the white and black dog using a wide box six draw over the 395m trip well. After a slightly tardy start, he quickly revved up on the outside and charged to the front, getting to the lead before they hit the turn. From that point, it was light work as he held a comfortable margin the whole way home and won in 22.36.
Cameron Butcher has a strong team of chasers at the moment, and he scored another training treble on Friday.
Parrakie (Aston Rupee x Coorong Lucy) took out the first of the day, winning from box eight over the short trip. At start four, she was a bit slow to go but used the wide draw perfectly and stayed out of trouble. Despite covering a lot of extra ground, she continued to make good ground. At the top of the straight, she balanced up and really stretched out, quickly getting to the leaders and running away late in good fashion, winning in 22.77.
Mallee Storm was at his absolute best, taking out race two over the 395m distance. From box four, his win was as simple as it gets, firing straight to the front and dominating the entire way around. A big four length win ensued, and he ran the best of the day, clocking a flying 22.18.
Kilkerran completed the trio of winners for Butcher, beating a small field over the 455m trip. After stepping nicely, she booted through to the lead early and from that point she never looked in trouble. She travelled sweetly the entire race and won by a couple of lengths in a quick 25.66. A great day for Cam and his dogs are proving hard to beat wherever they line up!