Tamica Dunn Doubles Up On Wednesday
Wednesday
It was quite a performance from the Angela Modra trained Sutton Trigger (Fernando Bale x Abbie’s Girl) that started off the Wednesday card at the Gawler, with the black dog capping off a brilliant return to racing to break his maiden. Having had his most recent start 14 months ago, back in January in 2022, it was going to be some effort to win first up, which of course it proved to be. He had box four for the corner start, but when the boxes opened he was quite slow to get going. Despite the long lay off, he showed some field smarts and kept railing through on the back straight, before looming as a big danger when they turned for home. In the home straight he booted through to the front and ran away, winning by 3 lengths in 23.23. A top effort from both trainer and chaser! Angela also made it a double when Sutton Sandy made light work of box seven for her masters event, leading all the way in a slick 22.85.
Tamica Dunn had a good afternoon at Gawler, training two winners on the program. The old boy, Tomato Tears, showed that he is still more than capable when he won his 400m masters event in impressive style. After being slowly away from a wide box eight, he was stuck very deep down the back straight and doing plenty of work. Despite doing it tough, he still made good ground and as they went into the turn, he loomed as a big chance running second. His strength proved a bit much, as he went past the leader and ran away in 23.26. Yasmin Belle then returned to the 531m distance and relished it, putting in quite a comprehensive effort. From box six, she came out well and despite receiving a check into the first turn, she still led comfortably and from the front she never looked in any danger. She held a big margin the entire race and in 31.23, a good effort and great day for Tamica!
One of the races of the day looked like the match race on paper between Oh Louise and Agent Four and it proved to be a ripping race, with the Tim Richards trained Oh Louise proving too good on the day. It was a good go early, with Oh Louise sitting in third up the back. Some good fortune with a small jam up in front allowed her to get a bit closer as they approached the home turn, before just proving far too strong when they turned for home, running away to win well in 22.93.
Friday
Renata Maruszcyk had a fantastic afternoon at Gawler on Friday, picking up two winners from her small team. The promising Run On Rusty looked well placed in his Juvenile race over the 400m trip and whilst he is very strong, he showed that he has early pace too when he fired to the front with 8.84 first split. He was always going to be hard to catch from in front and that proved to be true, as he won by six lengths in 22.95. Chilli On Ice completed the double when the white and blue bitch proved too speedy, winning very nicely with a 22.87 all the way effort.
Another trainer to get a double for the day was Mike Wittholz, who won back to back races. Cold Pursuit went back to the 400m journey and it proved no worries for the strong black dog. He was in some trouble early when he found himself a few lengths off the lead and behind some chasers, but was able to keep railing through. It wasn’t until he got to the turn where he looked half a chance and by time they hit the home straight, he was powering all over the leader. It was race over then as he stormed through along the rail and won well in 22.81. The flying Universal Value completed the double, when he overcame a mountain of bad luck to win in thrilling fashion over the short trip. He was slow away from the boxes but got some clear air and built up the revs down the back straight. He was looking as if he was going to go straight past the leading group but ran up their backsides and lost momentum. He was still good enough to rebalance and charge late, picking up the leader in the last stride to win in 22.82 - A top effort!
Michael Giniotis has had a fair old run for the last few months and has only recently taken Springvale Bray into his care, with the strong chaser getting himself onto the winners list on Friday. He looked well placed in a maiden/grade 6 event over the 643m trip and it showed. From box two he came out well and it didn’t take long for him to work his way to the lead. His pace and strength proved far too much for the others to handle as he just kept running, before breaking the others apart late and winning easily in a hot 37.70. On the strength of that run he will lap up the 730m distance at Angle Park when he gets there!