Murray Bridge Wrap - 19/07/2020
Sunday night saw another 10 race card and although there were no feature races or any finals there were some smart dogs running…..and running good times! Outside of the two maiden heats the slowest time over the 395 metres was 22:46!!
Race 1 was a heat in a maiden series and another of the Barcia Bale x Irish Keepsake litter, Star Jiggs, finally cracked his duck. He’s been close a couple of times but last night was his night. He showed a fair bit of ticker up the long home straight and drew away in the end. Interesting fun fact: His name is STAR Jiggs and his kennel name is Cooper, his sister is BORN Jiggs and her kennel name is Gaga. Someone was a fan of the movie A Star is Born!!
We’ll jump to race 4 next and just before the runners were loaded, race caller Mark Mathews was running through the field and let go with this little dinger “great conditions for racing tonight and not as cold as it usually gets”. This was met by ironic laughter from the chubby cameraman on the track who didn’t have a heater at his feet. Mark was heard shortly thereafter retracting his earlier comment in between his own giggles! But the racing was hot for race 4 and Black Kruger, who was narrowly beaten last week, went one better and got the nod after leading most of the way. Emerley Zero was gallant in defeat never giving up but Black Kruger was just a touch too strong and won in the best of the night time of 22:22. Richie Benaud would have loved it!!
Said race caller did have a big opinion of Allinga Chloe in race 5, gave her a fair wrap, and all but tipped her before the lids went up. Allinga Chloe must have heard the spiel and was packed full of confidence. She led the entire race and looked like a $1.50 favourite, not a 15/1 longshot. Having said that if the race was 397m and not 395m she would have run second with He’s All Ours motoring home late to just miss.
The race of the night was the last – race 10. It was the slowest of the 395 metres at 22:46 which is still a cracking time but it was the finish that was the kicker. It was tighter than the lycra bike pants a middle and man wears to ride his $10,000 pushbike to the café for a skinny soy latte!!
Slick Fernando and Frodo Baggins were locked in a duel the entire straight. Frodo Baggins looked to have the upper hand, and being a tragic Lord of the Rings fan, I would have been happy to see him when, but Slick Fernando, who for some reason I’ve pictured as John Travolta from Grease, said we’re not in the Shire anymore Frodo pegged back the gap and as they hit the line it was close. Mark the race caller, has gone with a dead heat in his call and he’s turned out to be right on the money again. The judge looked at the photo for a long time, I think the track lights had been turned off when the result came in, but the two couldn’t be separated and it was a dead heat. Exciting stuff!
Training honours were also a draw in the end with NEXT Racing, the Rasmussens and Troy Murray all landing double on the night.
The final word goes to the recently relocated trainer Rebecca Romyn, who on Wednesday said “The weather at Murray Bridge is really nice isn’t it?” and last night revised her statement to “It really does get pretty cold here doesn’t it!”
Anyway, that was Murray Bridge for the 19th July 2020, and that was my story!
