The Bridge Weekly - Harris trains another 4 winner
Beautiful conditions welcomed us for 11 races up the Bridge.
Race 1 saw one of our newest trainers in SA, Ed Kowalewski claim his first winner, with his exciting pup, Cold Esky. After a couple of unlucky runs to kick off his career, this beautiful fawn boy landed on the arm and never looked like losing, winning in a nice 22.63. This dog has plenty of ability and I am sure he will give Ed plenty of thrills over the course of 2021. Well done Ed! The promising Allinga Grin picked up another victory in race 2, the black bitch led in a quick 5.02 early split and held on to win from a fast finishing Danyo’s Shanks. Allinga Grin is becoming pretty reliable early and she looks to have found some very nice form. Trainer Paul Bodsworth made the trek down to Murray Bridge with his handy dog Charlie Brother, who won first up in SA at Gawler. After opening $2 overnight, he was smashed into $1.40, with this race looking a very suitable task for him. He jumped well and found the front, however got wayward on the turn which provided some nervous moments to favourite backers. But he regathered himself and showed his class late to win in 22.39. Given his run, I would suggest he hadn’t seen the track, adding plenty of merit to the overall time. Race 4 was a very messy race, Shanlyn Haven started second favourite even though she had drawn horribly in box 1, given her desire to be wide on the track. It was an even line early before Skylar Jen found the front and looked home, until the very strong Victa Norman landed on her back. Norman sailed on past to land a 3 length win over the unsuitable 395m trip.
Sudden Force was smashed in betting for the 5th race of the day. The dog was first up in SA for Lauren Harris and no doubt here for the cup. He has been a very good dog in Victoria and after opening $4, he was backed all the way into $1.80. He very quickly showed why, reeling off a 4.98 first split before holding a comfortable margin to beat the quality bitch Fantastic Shell, winning in 22.09. A super run first up and he will have a great time here in SA. Race 6 was a super hot grade 2/3/4. Danyo’s Wylie started favourite, however it was the kennel mate Force To Excel who led and won, with a terrific 4.98-22.12 run. The rough outsider of the field was Jack’s Knight and he was outstanding in his return to Murray Bridge, nearly beating Force To Excel. Race 7 was one of the steadier races for the day however it resulted in an entertaining finish. Cash Storm led and held the inside with Ton Eighty on her outside. These two put a margin on the rest of the field. Cash Storm looked to be going the better as they turned for home but got the wobbles late and this allowed Ton Eighty to get his nostril in front right on the line. Race 8 was a grade 4/5 over the 455m trip and a few of these dogs looked to be having a hit out before the cup heats this week. Max Dynamo started a dominant favourite and gave nothing else a chance, winning by 3 lengths. His 7.99-25.35 says he will be very competitive this week and a live chance to make the final.
We finally got to see Hot Rocks step out over more ground in the 9th of the day. The fawn dog had forever been running on over the shorter trips and his step up to the 455m journey looked ideal. Hot Rocks managed to lead this field in an 8.06 early split which is pretty sharp for him, and then he made it in a one act affair winning in 25.38. I would suggest we will see him in the heats this week, he probably lacks the class and a bit of early speed to match it with the best, but with a bit of luck, he’s shown he can run time. Golly Gumdrops started a strong favourite in the 10th. She jumped well in a 5.08 early split but, unfortunately for her, Ebby Cruiser and Crown Simba both went 5.07, and the three of them took each other out of their race approaching the turn. This opened up the highway for Motor City Fury who said thankyou very much and landed a comfortable 2 length win. In the last we saw a match race on paper between Max Hombre and Aston Franc. Whilst neither dog led, class and confidence shone through as Max Hombre worked around the field and then under the leader to hit the front and put the race away. A strong 22.35 run, which saw trainer Lauren Harris nab 4 winners for the card… which is becoming a weekly occurrence. Her team has been flying at Murray Bridge and she is having a lot of success at her home track. She will have a very strong team for next week's heats. Great job Lauren!
Dog to follow: Jack’s Knight - I think a few would have seen his run, but it was so impressive. He had been struggling at Angle Park, coming back from a couple of months off. He showed a drastic change in form and I think coming back to the one turn track certainly helped him, given his past injury issues. He went 5.05-22.19 which is a terrific run and arguably could have beaten the winner. Hopefully sticks to the 395 trip again this week and can lob a tame grade 4/5 race with other dogs chasing the cup.
Racing next Friday (5/3/21)
Daish Irrigation and Fodder Murray Bridge Cup Heats - 455m