Romyn dominates with 4 winners from her 5 starters
Race 1 and you needed to be a magician to pick this with three first starters from three separate camps involved. Springvale Maddi (Barcia Bale x Springvale Bryne) jumped super and led the field, approaching the turn she copped a bit of heat but was able to fight off the challenge and push on to land a great 26.02 victory on debut. This is the next litter after the super (Fabregas x Springvale Bryne) litter which included some jets like Thunder On, Springvale Shine & Springvale Slick. This bitch is in good hands with the Barbers and looks to have a future. The flying Victa Buzz started favourite in the second from an unfavourable box 4 draw. It was a complete one act affair as Buzz was able to lead all the way, clocking splits of 7.99 - 25.50. She has handled the rise in class lately with elegance and dominance! Just going terrific and will find herself tackling the open grades very shortly. Race 3 and a ripping grade 5 over the 455m trip. Gemtree Maximus was able to lead in a terrific 7.96 first split and then put Aston Hayato to the sword! Which is no easy feat. He sailed on by and led all the way in 25.43. The brindle rocket seems to be saving his best for Murray Bridge and no doubt he will be prominent come Murray Bridge cup time early next year. Race 4 was our highly anticipated national distance final with Fantastic Radley starting a deserved odds on favourite. It was young Bedrock Fred that found the front after the fave bombed the start. Mid-race, Fantastic Radley went kaboom! Finding the lead with ease. He put a gap in the field and put the race to bed before they turned for home. Radley went on to win and be crowned our distance champion. A terrific run and a race call to match from Timmy Edwards. Well done to Ozzie and the owners, outstanding effort.
Photo: Springvale Maddi makes a winning start to her career
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
Race 5 and Meet Joe Black start an odds on fave over the 530m, with the Rasmussen team having half the field to take on the shorty. Meet Joe Black was able to find the front very quickly and put the race to bed. He went around in 30.01, Bec Romyn (his trainer) must love this dog, turns up every week and runs a cracker, he's not even 2 and half years old. Race 6 was our major race of the night in the National sprint final. In an even market, Danyo’s Charlie just started favourite. It was a messy race early and Rushes was able to capitalize and get around the field, leading most of the way to claim the SA sprint championship for 2021. He clocked a ripping 29.78. A great training effort from Lisa Rasmussen to keep him up for so long. Danyo’s Charlie was probably a certainty beat in the race and one to follow moving forward. Race 7 was the first of the grade 6 heats of the 455m and the rocket that is Aston Olenna started an unbackable favourite. The promising Victa Haydyn was also well backed off the 8 box. After a slightly tardy beginning, Aston Olenna put the jetpack on and went bang, putting a space on the field in a matter of strides. None of the other dogs even looked likely apart from Tidelands who got close late. Aston Olenna recorded an all the way victory with splits of 7.91-25.63. A very deserved winner for the Dave Peckham camp which has been covering a stack of kilometres lately to race at the bridge. Victa Reid started odds on in the 8th over the 455m and rightfully so off his favourite box. The inform Zinfandel Oompa flew out and led comfortably, dealing with some serious heat mid-race from Shim Cam. She kicked clear around the turn but Victa Reid saw daylight and was able to pick up a head of steam, to just nab Oompa on the line in 25.64.
Race 9 and another super shorty in Shavano, starting a $1.40 favourite. It was as cruisy as they get for favourite backers as Shavano led all the way with ease in a dominant display. He went around in a cracking 25.43. Safe Drop started an easing favourite in the 10th over the 455m in a competitive grade 6 race. Victa Maggie led out from box 8 in 8.09, setting up a seemingly race winning lead midrace. That was until Toby West got mobile and loomed as a threat in the straight, before taking over and landing a top victory. Another winner for trainer Adam Manton as he continues his great form. The speedy Terrific Keith started favourite in the 11th of the night over the 530m. He led and clocked a quick 11.79 first split in the process. Keith was going good mid race and looked to have created a race winning lead, but it wasn’t to be. In the home straight Vontae Mack and Line Seeker came hard, with Line Seeker getting the bob and landing a super victory. Fantastic Victor was very heavily backed in the last from a suitable box 8. He wasn’t able to lead, with Ransom’s Pride taking those honours. It was a tussle around the turn and in the straight, with Victor coming at Ransom’s, but to no avail, with Ransom’s Pride holding on in 25.58. He made it four from five for the Romyn camp on the night which is seriously hot at the moment. 21 winners from her last 50 starters is just off the charts and given the large number of dogs they have, it’s even more impressive.
Dog to follow: Steal The Prize - The blinkers man, fair to say he’s only had one poor run since resuming with the blinkers. The effort Thursday night to get within a couple lengths of a seasoned FFA dog, at just his 11th start was excellent. He was last away but whipped around and went straight past some high quality hounds. Still has some grades to win so I suspect he lobs in a grade 6 over the 530m Thursday night. Will be very interesting to see where he is in 3 months time.
Best Bet (Monday night) - Show Me Bucks (Race 5 - Box #2) - Not easy to win a maiden and then your grade 6 but this dog can. They jumped out of gum trees to back him at his first start, which said he had ability but he looked as green as grass in the run. Improved exponentially second up and got the cash. Time wasn’t record breaking but the manner of the win was very pleasing, pushing through a gap and running away late. Has a great draw tomorrow with 3 x wide runners drawn next to him. Should be nice odds and I reckon he has a pretty good chance.