Bridge trainers take half
Bridge trainers take half
12 May 2010
On a cold autumn day in front of a good Hoteliers Day crowd, the local trainers came home with half the spoils at Murray Bridge races last Wednesday.
The first event, a two year old maiden scamper over 900metres, was taken out by the Ken Smith owned and Jim Smith trained aptly named Meadows Jim in fine style. This Akhadan gelding is just another winner for this bread and butter sire.
The second saw the start of the local trainers success when the Karen Byrnes gelding and favorite Zaamission held on for a narrow victory. In a deceptive finish Paul Gatt was able to get enough out of his mount to have a nose advantage and notch the first leg of his riding double.
The third was a comfortable win for Mark Minervini’s Madlool and Barry Brook made amends for his second in this event with a victory in the fourth with warm favorite Alquamarne saluting to the cheers of his backers.
Tailem Bend legend Ken Knowles tasted success in the next in the shape of Countess Of Tiba, who once again showed her liking for her home track with an emphatic 3 length win over the 2206 metre event. She can be a “tart” as her trainer labeled her, before the races and tried her hardest to eliminate her opposition before the race in the mounting yard lashing out with both barrels. But come when the barriers opened she had little concerns, careering away at the finish with a 3-length margin.
It seemed that the 12months in the paddock was just what the doctor ordered when Simon Casey’s 4yo mare Eureka Reign won second up from a spell with top hoop Mathew Neilson in control. Owned by a number of local identities, the win even had some of them scratching their heads when on paper the stable mate and well supported Uma Wave seemed to have a better chance. That’s racing.
With a large stable, it is unusual for John Hickmott to pass a meeting without some success and today was no different with the local trainer combing with local jockey Jordan Frew to score in the seventh event with Let Go Johnny by a long neck.
The last went to the Jake Stephens gelding and top-weight Bluepoles by just under a length to finish the ledger between bookies and punters pretty even. Jake has just taken back the training of this horse from Paul Seater and the later would justifiably argue that his polish is still evident, proof being the win of this race.
