Training doubles highlight Gawler action
Despite wet conditions on Sunday, there were several impressive performances at Gawler including training doubles for Bronwyn Welsh and Ben Rawlings.
Welsh made another successful trip down from Mildura, picking up two winners for the evening with her mighty promising Rustic Kruger the first of the two.
Overcoming trouble from box six, he was able to put together an outstanding performance to win in 22.88. He was a bit slow to go early and as a result found himself a tad worse than midfield and in a bit of bother. From there, he showed some smarts and really started to power through his gears before catching the leader and had to switch off heels, which almost cost him the race, but he was simply too good.
A couple of races later it was time for Kruger Dawn to strut her stuff in an even grade 6 field over the 400m distance. From box eight, she came out quickly and worked over to the lead with a quick 8.67 first split before extending the lead down the back straight and strolling away, before winning in 22.86.
Rawlings had yet another training double, with both of his winning chasers running flying times.
Chair Man stepped back up to the 643m distance off the back of an excellent first up win the week prior. From box two, he came out quickly and went straight to the lead. You would have been forgiven for thinking that it was race over from there, but he had a big challenge late in the race from Discrepancy, who really motored late, but ran out of time as Chair Man held on in a slick 37.60.
Agent Nineteen returned to Gawler after a red-hot city win last start and although he had box seven for the 531m start, it did not worry him at all. A flying 3.17 first split saw him lead comfortably and by time he got to the back split, he had set up a race winning margin. The result was a dominant three-length win in an airborne 30.59.
Kim Johnstone would have been very proud when her chaser Irene, caused an upset win over the 400m journey. A quick start from box seven saw her work over early to the lead. Around the turn, she looked in trouble as she was challenged, but she just kept on kicking, eventually winning by half a length in 22.87, landing a gritty win.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, Damien Smith had a great afternoon at Gawler with a couple of impressive winners to take home a training double.
From box one, it was able to stay on the rail and hold off the field winning by a nose in a time of 22.97 before Potch made it two winners for Smith shortly after. She has always shown glimpses of ability throughout her career but on Wednesday she really put things together. A quick start from box two over the short trip allowed her to find the lead and quickly extended the lead mid-race running away for a sharp 22.65 victory.
Off The Cuff is really enjoying his time under the care of new trainer Hayley-Lee Chapman, with the blue dog putting everything together over the 400m distance, to clock a best of the day win. A safe beginning saw him muster up to the lead early before winning by six lengths in a best of the day time of 22.64.