Lauren Harris Has a Big Night With Four Winners
Tuesday (Straight track)
On a hot Tuesday up the straight and an early start, we saw a couple of handy efforts from different chasers.
Vern Anderson landed a training double, with Koepka and Beasley both landing victories. Koepka (Hooked On Scotch x Sumo) broke through for a deserving maiden win, which had been a little while coming. From box five over the 300m journey, he jumped well and was allowed plenty of room to work with early. It was an even go most of the race, but experience shone through late as he created a margin and won in 17.06, which is handy enough for a maiden. Beasley then won later in the day and it was quite a good win. From box eight he left the boxes poorly, which often makes it a fair old task to catch up. Her mid race work was excellent and that allowed her to close the margin before proving too strong late and getting up by a head margin in 17.23. A good effort from Vern who doesn’t have many chasers in work.
Magic Ebb’s returned to the winners list for the first time in 9 months, completing a successful return to racing. She won on debut back in March in handy enough time, before having another run and 9 months off. She returned the week prior and ran well, but on Tuesday she was able to go better and land a good win. Coming out of box four, she jumped well and just had her head in front. Strength showed late as she pulled away near the line for a good 17.10 win. Quite a nice training effort from her trainer Adrien Chevalier too!
Tim Irechi was a happy man at the track after his black bitch Suhana got the job done at big odds for her first win in 6 months. She drew box seven over the 300m trip and was given little hope in the market, starting $19 in the even field. A better beginning than normal for her from the boxes allowed her to find an early lead. She was pressured midrace but she just kept finding and fending off the challenger, before winning well in 17.04.
Dog to follow: My Name’s Jock - Thought he ran well enough on Tuesday to keep following. Racing over the 300m trip, he left fairly and took a little while to go through his gears. The last part of his race was quite good and he hit the line super strongly. He’s in again over the 300m trip on Tuesday, but if he stretches out to the 350m trip then I think that will be quite suitable for him.
Sunday (1-Turn)
Lauren Harris was the star of the show on Sunday, with four super impressive winners. Manuka Boy was the first and he stepped out over the 530m trip for the first time. It was an effortless win, as he won super easily, leading all the way in 30.32, before San Lorenzo won the next race over the 530m trip too. His effort was brilliant, from box four against a small field, he looked a certainty and when he led it was all eyes on the clock. The powerful dog did not let the spectators down as he ran a flying 29.73, on a track which was not conducive to quick times on the night. It was three winners in three races when Jazzy Minter took out the fast class race over the short trip, hustling her way to the lead and winning in a quick 22.45. Orejitas completed for the 4fa, when he won from box two over the 455m trip. He led comfortably before being challenged late in the home straight, but he was too good and stopped the clock in 25.80. A pretty good night for Lauren!
Matty Payne unveiled a first starter in the form of Paramount Ace (Aston Dee Bee x Mrs Bubbles) who had box seven to deal with for his first start. The massive 39kg dog was quite slow away over the 395m trip and mid race he was quite a few lengths off the leader. It got a bit messy in front which allowed him to close in, before levelling up to the leader at the start of the straight. He proved a bit too big and powerful and despite the slow winning time, it was impressive from a young dog to handle himself like that with the trouble that occurred. I think he will be winning a few more.
The Marty Doyle trained Makani Girl continued her good form with a win over the 395m trip. It was a strong grade 5 field with plenty of speed engaged but that didn’t bother the fawn bitch as she came out brilliantly, crossing to the rail and finding the lead. From there she did look hard to beat, but Emerley Bruce made a real good go of it trying to chase her down, but he couldn’t with Makani Girl winning in a tidy 22.57.
Dog to follow: Victa Kerle - Got some ability this one, ran over the 455m trip and had to do some work early from the wide draw. She handled herself fine and kept trying the entire race, but was beaten in by a pimple in handy time. Wide draws are certainly going to suit her and she has shown that she is not weak either.