The Bridge Weekly Review
Tuesday (Straight Track)
Off a four-month layoff, Taylor Toves returned to racing with an impressive win in the mixed ¾ race over the 300m journey on Tuesday. Only fairly away from box four, Taylor Toves was quickly able to muster up alongside the early leader So Be It with the pair breaking clear and going neck and neck toward the closing stages.
Eventually, Taylor Toves kicked away just winning by half a length in 16.49 which was improved its career record to 27 wings and 21 placings from 58 career starts.
Paul Fagan grabbed a training double down the straight with a pair of impressive winners.
The first was Aston Bel Air who made it three straight wins in winning a grade 5 300m from box eight. Aston Bel Air was away well and quickly found its way past the early speed and into the lead before pulling away to win by two lengths in 17.01.
Young chaser Spring Sophie completed double, winning its fourth career race from just nine starts with a 17.16 win by holding off the fast-finishing Funk Wagon by a length.
Jane McNicholl also trained a double on the Tuesday card kicking off with Mellow Mead who was able to surge to an early lead from box seven in a grade six 300m race before winning by two lengths in 17.12.
Dark Moonshine made it two winners for McNicholl railing through from a box one draw to win by two lengths in 17.01 which career win number four from seven starts.
Sunday (One-turn)
Sunday’s meeting was a feature event on the Murray Bridge calendar with the Country Summer Oaks and Debry being run with a boosted prize pool thanks to new sponsor Fischer Motors.
After two heats were run of the Oaks and Derby last week, both finals were on the Sunday night card with the wet weather staying away for the duration of the 12-race program.
Race four saw the first feature of the night run, with 2023 Murray Bridge Anniversary Cup run over the 530m journey. While only a four-dog field, it was a high-quality which was taken out by the Adrien Chevalier-trained Man Of Substance.
Let’s Win Coin speared to the early lead but was quickly overtaken by Man Of Substance who opened up a lead around the turn and entering the straight. While the closing pack made ground near the post, Man Of Substance held on to win by half a length in 30.18.
It was career win number 18 from start 85 to go with 37 placings for Man Of Substance who now looks set for The Flame over the 730m trip in the Festival of Fire series.
Race six on the card was the Fischer Motors Summer Oaks, which was taken out by the Liz Chegia-trained Fantastic Ada. Spearing to the early lead with a 7.93 first section. Purified was able to get into second place from box seven with the pair vying for the lead around the turn.
While Fantastic Ada went a bit wide around the turn, she was able to find a kick and win by two and a half lengths in 25.62. Purified finished second for Lauren Harris while Fantastic Helga also for the Chegia team finished in third.
Race eight was the Country Summer Derby which was taken out by the Don Turner trained Know I’m One.
Showing plenty of early speed, Lockaba Rocket and Know I’m One matched it in the early speed battle before Know I’m One was able to find an early advantage with some trouble in behind.
While enjoying a break in the home straight, Know I’m One tired late with Lockaba Rocket closing in but was unable to close the gap with Know I’m One holding on to win in 25.88 ahead of Lockaba Rocket with Murphy McLaren finishing in third place.