Long wait pays dividends - The Bridge Week in Review!
Fantastic Freddy’s Fabulous Return To racing
Friday Meeting
On a nice Friday afternoon meeting at the Bridge, Lewiston based trainer Rob Harnas enjoyed a training double for the card, with Pippa’s Hero the first of the two. From box eight over the 395m trip, the fawn dog stepped nicely and accelerated hard into the first turn, getting over to the lead and quickly setting up a margin. Around the bend the margin blew out and it was race over from there as he stormed away to win by a huge 8 lengths in 22.57. In the next race it was the promising Midnight Sun who won over the same trip. From box four, he left the boxes well but didn’t have the speed to lead and had to settle for third early. He had to show some track sense to hold his spot and he started to make ground as they went into the turn. At the top of the straight, the black dog darted back to the rail and found a narrow lead. It was a terrific battle the entire way home between him and Compton Daisy, but he had the head down at the right time and won by a nose in 22.44. A couple of pretty nice winners for Rob!
Ben Rawlings also enjoyed a successful day at the Bridge, picking up two winners for himself. Red Hot Bandit lined up in a grade 6 over the sprint trip and with box one he started a hot favourite. He jumped well when the boxes opened, but there was plenty of pressure early and he had to work hard to hold his spot on the rail. Around the turn, he pushed through to a clear lead and was looking good out in front. At the top of the straight, the lead extended and he went on to win very easily by a widening 6 lengths in 22.52. In the next race, North Bleachers saluted over the 455m trip, defeating a strong grade 5 field. He was the slowest to go from box four, but quickly moved to the rail and made ground, making the most of a bit of luck in front. At the top of the turn, he moved into an ominous third and with a run opening in front, he moved to second and set his sights on Nangar Teddy. It was a thrilling finish to the end, but North Bleachers just got there at the right time, winning narrowly in 25.97.
Tuesday (Straight track)
10 races were run up the straight on Tuesday and we saw a couple of fast performances, whilst we also treated to a special win from Fantastic Freddy.
Trained by Paul Rehmann, Fantastic Freddy last raced back in December last year, but returned to the racetrack on Tuesday and lined up in a grade 6 over the 300m trip. Whilst he has always had good ability, his long layoff meant that he started as an outsider in the race, but of course he did not know that and he did not let it show! From box four, he came out okay but was immediately wiped out by a couple of chasers and seemingly had no chance after 50m. After eventually finding some clean air to work with, he balanced up and quickly made ground midrace. With a terrific move with 100m to go, he burnt to the lead and looked great in doing so. Towards the end, he got a bit weary but did more than enough and won in 17.18, capping off a brilliant return to racing and a great training effort from Paul to have him ready to go. Based on the strength of that win, he will be winning a few more yet this preparation!
We were treated to a visit from one of Victoria’s premier straight trackers, with the Shane Millsom trained On A Mission coming to the Murray Bridge Straight for the first time in his career. Having run fast times on numerous occasions at Healesville, he started a raging hot favourite in a grade 5 over the 300m trip and it didn’t take long to see why. From box five, he came out terrifically and boomed straight to the lead. He did have a bit of pressure to deal with early, but he was just way too good and stormed away midrace, extending to a race winning lead and proving far too good. He won by 3 lengths in a best of the day 16.58, which was very impressive.