Punters fill up on a glorious Friday afternoon
A stunning Friday afternoon at the Bridge greeted us for a terrific meeting. An interesting maiden kicked off proceedings with Pippa’s Charm starting favourite in an open affair. Miss Nala led the race clearly and was going pretty strong until the home straight. Miss Nala was then very quickly overtaken by Maybe Wrong (Knocka Norris x Lock Freddie), with the big fawn dog sailing up on the inside and landing a strong win. Flying Scimitar was smoked in the second of the day, with the fawn dog starting a hot favourite off the back of an impressive Angle Park trial. Flying Scimitar (Barcia Bale x Springvale Byrne) had to use all his attributes to hold the lead and rail in a hotly contested tussle early, but he did with a degree of arrogance. After that he put the field away with ease in a rip roaring 22.29 victory. Only 5 starts from this litter but boy are they showing some promise, and there's more to come from some of the unraced lot! She’s A Hotshot started an odds on favourite in the third and rightly so given her terrific form so far in her career. A complete show of dominance ensured with the bitch putting the field away with ease, clocking a flying 5.02-22.07 (BOD) gallop. Nice things ahead for her. The fourth was an even grade 6 for the 395m and the punters launched late, with Cosmic Kid $4 into $2 in the last 5 minutes of betting. The black dog was last away with Finniss Blossom showing her customary toe. A bit of luck mid race for the favourite saw him balance up outside of Finiss Blossom turning for home and he was able to just pick her up, landing a solid 22.38 win.
Photo: A fit looking Flying Scimitar wins with ease on debut
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
Race 5 was over the 455m and it was a tricky race, with Coorong Dasher starting favourite from the wide box. They left pretty evenly but Love And Rain used box 1 perfectly to hunt through and hold the lead, before putting away Coorong Dasher who battled hard with her. A strong 25.50 win in what was an impressive. Love And Rain broke through last start for a very overdue win and now has made it two on the trot, bitches in form is a wonderful thing! Race 6 and another solid race, with a well supported Barcia Khan starting even money off the red. Barcia Khan left well and used the red to lead, before Diggin’ For Gold and Midnight Bandit posed the question mid race, but Barcia Khan fought them off and dug deep to land a ripping win. Race 7 was a beauty with a match race in the market between Major Major and Coorong Cash. The market told a telling tale late, with Major Major crunched from $3.50 into an even money favourite. Coorong Cash was able to lead from the outside and certainly made Major Major work, but it was class that prevailed with Major Major railing through and landing a cracking 2 length win in 25.22. Very good to see him back and firing. Race 8 was tough! A full field over the 395m with some quality types engaged. Again we saw another huge move late in the market, with Weblec Blade smashed, starting a pronounced favourite with punters backing in his love for box 1. What followed was a scripted display, Allinga Grin led from box 4 and held out some of the quicker dogs involved. Weblec Blade said thankyou darling! And railed underneath with the airport that Allinga Grin left for him. Allinga Grin didn’t shirk the task whatsoever but Weblec Blade was a bit too good and took the prize in 22.27.
Race 9 was back to the 395m trip for a grade 6 and the well boxed Lana Roads looked a good thing. Fluerieu Flyer had a fair bit of market support throughout the day and started a close second favourite. Fluerieu found the lead pretty easily and was going okay, but Lana Roads levelled up very quickly and took over, putting the race to bed. She made it a treble for Troy Murray, made even more impressive as he only had the 5 dogs engaged. Race 10 was a time graded race and it was very even. Cawbourne Pin capitalised on the class drop and found the front, before landing a very easy victory in 22.56. Race 11 and the champ that is Aston Hayato was able to strut his stuff. He was a multi anchor for many and did the good deed, going all the way in 4.94-22.19. The last of the day was a fascinating 530m grade 6, with the enigma that is Tanner Max, starting an odds on favourite. Don’t Tell Lies for the Harris camp was able to find the lead with an 11.97 first split. She looked gone for all money the entire race with some good dogs behind her in Deadly Mamba and Goose Step but she just kept kicking! Don’t Tell Lies landed the gritty win, she’s a bit one paced but she’s as tough as nails.
Dog to follow: Finniss Blossom - No superstar but I have enjoyed her gradual improvement over the last few weeks. Her box manners are becoming more reliable which is crucial and I think she can jag a win very shortly. Where she gets to is unknown but she is from a litter with plenty of ability.