So Be It returns with a flying BOD victory
Tuesday (Straight Track)
On a handy Tuesday card, we saw the return of trainer Bozko Stamenkovic after a few months without any starters. He only brought two dogs down, but that’s all he needed, with both winning in terrific fashion. So Be It came back for just his second career start, a year after his incredible debut win up the straight. He was $1.15 favourite to win from box two and he justified those odds with great ease. After leading in a flying 4.32 first split, he stormed away from the others to win in a hot 16.55 (BOD), which is a good effort after that long away! Champagne Lei was the other winner for Bosko, as she had her first start in four months. It was a dominant performance from the black bitch, she stepped beautifully from box two and was never troubled, winning in 16.83. Well done to Bosko and Christine on a good return!
Sharyn Gray enjoyed her day up the straight, picking up a double. Astrodome was the first winner, breaking his maiden from box one. It was just his second start after a handy run the week before. On Tuesday, he came out poorly, but was able to keep sticking on midrace. With a bit of fortune approaching the straight, he was able to get himself in front and win in a thriller. Destini Spitfire made it two for Sharyn as she continued her good form. It was a competitive grade 6 over the longer trip, with Destini Spitfire having to contend with a notoriously tricky box eight. She came out well and after pushing her way towards the rail, was able to get herself in front. Approaching the finish line, it was a tight pack of three chasers trying to get their nose in front, but Destini Spitfire was a bit too good, getting the job done by a nose!
Another trainer who picked up two winners on Tuesday was Ross Smith, who continued his good form. Garside was the first winner, clocking up his fourth career win. He had box eight in a heat of the 300m grade 6 series, using it perfectly. He came out well and led very comfortably, before breaking up the others midrace. He ended up winning by 3 lengths in a super slick 16.62, which compares very well with the run of So Be It. Katoni then won the next race for Ross, in another heat of the series. He jumped well from box four and stayed in the middle of the track, he was challenged mid race but was just too good, winning in 16.92. A good day for Ross!
Dog to follow: Colden Express - He ran really well in defeat on Tuesday, only just getting piped by Bullying. After leading with a quick first split, he was challenged midrace by the imposing Bullying, however kicked back after getting headed which was encouraging to see. Colden Express only went down a head in quick time. Happy to be with him next time he comes to the straight.
Sunday (1-Turn)
We were treated with some nice weather for the Sunday meeting at the Bridge, with plenty of good dogs on show. Young Jack Trengove picked up another two winners to go with the two he had on Tuesday up the straight. Redeem A Prize took out the mixed final over the 530m trip, with a powerful effort from box three. She jumped okay and with a bit of luck from the draw, found herself just off the leaders. Down the back straight she let rip with a terrific move, railing underneath the leader and hitting the front. It was race over from there as she won by 3 lengths in 30.07. Jack had to wait til the last race but Bullying put in a big performance to run down Indy Van Cool in a thriller. From box eight, he came out fairly but mustered well to get around the others and find himself in second as they hit the turn. Up the home straight, the leader looked to be going well but Bullying had started to put in the big strides, before nailing the leader on the line and getting up in 22.46.
Stranger Tides was a terrific winner for Bill Wudarczyk over the 455m trip. After a big win the week before, the brindle dog lined up in a hot 455m open class race on Sunday. A good beginning saw him offset a sticky box four, finding himself in front by a length around the turn. He wasn’t for catching in the end, proving way too good and winning in a very handy 25.54. The win made it two in a row for Stranger Tides and hopefully the start of a few more for Billy!
Victa Buzz was electric in her BON win over the 395m trip, scorching around in 22.06. It was a solid five dog field for the 395m open class race, but the early speed that Victa Buzz showed proved way too much for the others. The brindle bitch fired out in a 4.92 first split, quickly putting a margin on the others as they hit the turn. She was never troubled from there as she won with ease by two lengths. The Rasmussen team also picked up another winner with Canya Thunder winning nicely in the race prior.
Dog to follow: Terrific Tyla - First up for a couple of months on Sunday and she ran a beauty from box five over the 455m trip. Her first split of 7.98 which is quite slick, saw her find the front but the much stronger Lektra Teddy landed right behind her. It always looked like she would get run down and she did, but her effort was really good, sticking it out tough and only getting beaten by a length. A really good first up run and she will be winning soon.