Tim Richards trifectas the Gawler Future Stars
Wednesday
The Don Turner trained Range Out (Out Of Range x Crimson Sally) got the Wednesday card underway, with an impressive debut performance which saw him win his maiden in comprehensive fashion. From box seven and wearing the reserve rug, he was really well supported in betting which suggested that he had some ability, which he certainly went on to show! He came out nicely and worked hard to get to the front, before proving far too good as he powered along on the arm. The fawn dog stopped the clock at 22.99, which is certainly quite handy for maiden grade. You would think that he will be winning a few more in the future.
Sutton Prince put together a star display, when he absolutely flew around the 400m trip. It was a competitive Open grade field, with Sutton Prince drawing kindly in box two. Starting a red-hot favourite, the race was over pretty early when Sutton Prince jumped straight to the front and from there it became a procession as he waltzed along. He was never in any danger as he ended up winning in a red hot 22.44, which was clearly the best of the day. That was win 19 from 45 starts, he’s been a pretty good dog!
Ray Barkla had a good day out with a training double for the afternoon. Tyrion Lannister was the first, with the black dog scoring just his second career win, after breaking his maiden in May last year! After getting a call up and starting with the reserve rug on from box two, he jumped nicely and went straight to the front. The big 35kg dog travelled sweetly from there and was never in any danger, as he won in a tidy 23.05. Zeal Express later made it two from two since coming to South Australia. After winning well last start from box eight, he had box one this time and handled it just as well. He came out running to lead easily and from there it was a pretty painless watch for his followers, as he strolled away to win by 6 lengths in 22.85.
Sunday
One of the highlights from the Easter Sunday meeting was the final of the Gawler Future Stars for 2023, a race that brought together some really promising young chasers. Coorong Cam started favourite for the event from a great box one draw, but it was the kennelmate in Time After Time who proved to be too good in the end. Trained by Tim Richards, the black bitch came out running and got herself to an early lead as they went into the first turn. She was travelling well, but as they went up the back straight the challengers closed and it got really close. With a bit of luck underneath, she was able to kick again and hold the lead, before being challenged again into the home straight. In the end, Time After Time held on in a thriller, ahead of Oh Louise and Coorong Cam, with Tim Richards training the trifecta, not a bad effort!
Bosko Stamenkovic continued the good run that his kennel is having with a training double. The inform Wishing You was first up and had to put in a big performance to claim victory. Things were not looking good early when she was jammed up as they went into the turn, before finding herself midfield and with plenty to do up the back straight. Some fortune on the turn for home allowed her to rail through to second, before striking the lead in the home straight and winning in 23.13. The rocket that is So Be It, lined up for his first Gawler start the next race and with box one, he looked a good thing. A safe start allowed him to get on the arm early and he never looked like getting caught, as he was just far too good, winning in a pretty handy 22.89.
Karen Wittholz also claimed a double for the evening with a couple of her chasers going particularly well. My Mum’s Value was the first to go and he was rewarded for some consistent form previously. It was a red-hot Easter Sprint field over the 531m trip and from box eight the job looked quite hard for My Mum’s Value. Things were looking much better when he crossed over early and got to the lead, with a couple of the favourites behind in some trouble. Down the back he had set up a huge lead, with the race essentially over. The result was a comfortable 3 length win in a best of the night 30.73. Legendary Value rounded out the evening and made it two for Karen with a sharp 23.01 victory over the 400m trip. From box seven, the race and win was set up thanks to a sizzling 8.55 first split which saw her set up a big lead and prove too hard to reel in, as she won in 23.01.
