Winners spread as the Cup looms closer
The past week at the Bridge…
Tuesday (Straight Track)
Adrien Chevalier unleashed a first starter in the form of Magic Ebb’s (Aston Kimetto x Zipping Olga), which is out of one of his former chasers Zipping Olga. She got the wobbles late in the market for the first race of the day, but showed plenty of pace out of the boxes. The whip was out for the last 50m as she got weary late, with a fast finishing Victa Oreo launching, but Magic Ebb’s held on in what would have been a very satisfying victory for Adrien and connections.
We saw the return of Two Jabs in the ninth race of the day, with the fawn dog stepping out over the 350m trip, which was a sign that he was ready to go first up. It was a strong field but he was able to use box 1 to perfection. He stepped well and then mustered hard, before hanging on with a stirring effort to clock a winning 19.17 victory. \ A great effort from both the hound and trainer!
Up There Billy continued his ripping form, winning in a BOD 16.68 over the 300m trip and defeating an in-form Hot Rocks. He stepped well with a 4.40 first split, before scorching midrace and burning away from the field. The two length victory made it four wins from his last five, and also netted a quinella for Jack Trengove.
Dog to follow: Nockatunga - He’s been going terrific lately but box draws have been his enemy, drawing wide and crashing towards the rail which has resulted in him losing plenty in the run. His run on Tuesday was again terrific, and now draws box 1 in the final on Tuesday. He’s going to be worth a bet in that.
Friday (1-Turn)
The Mount Gambier torpedo (Minnie Banjo) made her way to the Bridge for race two on Friday. She lobbed in a winnable grade 6, but she was forced to use some race craft early when she didn’t step too well. After working to second mid race, she was able to rail through and get past Masked By Design, winning in 22.45 and continuing the amazing run that Minnie Banjo is having right now.
Photo: Minnie Banjo continues to punish her competition
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
It was a day out for the Mount Gambier visitors Dave Peckham and Tracie Price. Dave was able to land a double with Aston Noah winning beautifully from box 8, before Aston Value stepped out for the first time under the care of Dave, winning the last in very impressive fashion. Earlier, Tracie had landed a race to race double with Minnie Banjo and Victory Chase, with Victory Chase somehow able to run down Man Absconded over the 395m trip.
I’m not sure how many punters out there would have taken the $1.20 on offer about Zipping Nebraska, but for those that did, I think they would have had a few heart palpitations with 100m to go on Friday. It was a 680m race and given Zipping Nebraska had just come out of Group 1 heats, she was rightfully installed a hot favourite. You would have been begging for a refund up the back straight when she had found herself 8 lengths off the leader with a mountain of work to do. To the credit of Nebraska, she just kept coming and in the last 50, she was able to get mobile and proved her superiority, to win by a length with a visually stunning victory.
We saw a Finiss Flash that we haven’t quite seen for a while, when he won his race in terrific fashion. It was a red hot grade 6 455m race, and with Finiss Flash drawing box 5, his job looked too hard. Right Way led the field comfortably with Finiss Flash driving through the field to land on it’s back. Around the turn he swept around and took over, before powering on for a BOD 25.45 win. Hopefully that’s a confidence booster that seems him go on to win a few more now.
Dog to follow: Spring Ammo - He returned after a couple months off on Friday and when he drew an unsuitable box 1 over the short trip, he looked an easy lay as an odds on favourite. He jumped okay before getting squeezed up on the turn and it looked race over as he lost a few lengths. However, in a super chasing effort, he got to the outside and powered down the outside, to win by a neck in 22.69. A terrific return and clearly he’s come back in good order. I won’t be surprised if he’s having a crack at the Cup in a couple of weeks.