PUNTERS who supported Soul Fire, the in-form runner in the feature race at Naracoorte on Sunday, did plenty of sweating before collecting from the Jenny Gow-Whyte trained performer.
Backed to the exclusion of any other runner, Soul Fire ($2.30-$1.80) gave favourite punters a real scare before he prevailed in the closest finish of the day.
The nine-year-old gelding did it the tough way too, with the steadier of 59 kilograms, circling the field from last to be the widest runner on the home turn.
In a stirring finish which had racegoers divided as to the result, Soul Fire won his fifth race from only 18 starts by the barest possible margin – a nose.
Soul Fire and Any Given Glass went stride-for-stride over the final 50 metres after the pair put paid to the chances of the leader Prime Suspect (third).
Placings at Geelong and Morphettville last month made Soul Fire the logical favourite, with the Sue Jaensch trained pair of Any Given Glass and Cavalry Gold the only other runners under $10.
Norwegian born apprentice Anna Jordsjio was the only person to have multiple success at Naracoorte, with a winning double early in the day.
It was the first race meeting in the South East since July 1 following the abandonment of four meetings, but crowd figures were poor.
Having a South East meeting clash with a nearby western Victorian meeting, in this case Casterton, is not a recipe for success in any way, shape or form and there were six horses scratched on race
morning from Naracoorte to race at Casterton instead.
The Naracoorte racing club donated the total takings from the gate and bar for the day towards the farmer’s drought relief.
Winners came from as far afield as Adelaide and Port Fairy and only two South East trainers had success on the day.
RANK OUTSIDER
THERE is a racing theory punters should back the outsider in a small field.
That certainly applied in the 1800-metre maiden plate when Lady Nyora ($26-$41), unplaced at five previous career runs, upset her more fancied rivals.
Jordsjo always had the Lindsay Cadzow (Bordertown) trained Lady Nyora pressurising the red hot favourite Poetic Diva in the lead, so much so that Poetic Diva was well and truly beaten by the top of the straight.
It was left to Bodidley, given the run of the race behind the leading pair, to vainly give chase.
Jordsjo then completed her double on the unfancied Melbourne Hero in the 1000-metre maiden for Stawell trainer John Rowe.
For much of the straight, it seemed a plunge on the Warrnambool visitor October Jewel ($8-$4.20) was going to come off after the mare led comfortably at the 200 metre mark.
Tiring legs saw her swamped as Melbourne Hero, another not to have run a place in five starts, grabbed the spoils ahead of the fast-finishing Casino Magic ($10-$18).
The favourite Toffee Bell also received solid support ($5.50-$3.50) before finishing a close fourth.
NEW ARRIVAL
EXPECT to see jockey Sairyn Fawke ride plenty of winners this season in the Limestone Coast.
Fawke is moving to Naracoorte this week to further his career as a freelance jockey.
Trainer Sue Jaensch, who will have first call on his services, said “he is not getting as many chances in Adelaide as he would like and he will live out at Cadgee Park (her stables) because he currently does not have a driver’s licence”.
The Filipino born rider was successful for Jaensch last Wednesday at Strathalbyn on Gigglon and the pair combined to win Sunday’s 1430 metre maiden.
Fawke certainly earned his winning riding fee on Bronski ($2-$2.45 fav.), as the gelding never looked a winning hope until close to the post.
The five year old was mid field, then wide and under the whip at the top of the straight where the leader Woodcroft appeared to have a winning lead.
Perseverance from Fawke saw Bronski respond to win in a photograph finish.
Punters figured there were limited winning hopes in the final event where the winner Amber Alert ($4.40-$5.50) started third favourite.
Amber Alert is trained at Murray Bridge by Jordan Frew and had good recent form on the provincial circuit around Adelaide.
Delightful Scoop had good backing ($10-$7.50) and had the run of the race before wilting to finish ninth, while the favourite Pewter ($4-$3.30) did not finish it off in the straight after being handy at the 400 metres.
VETERAN STILL HAS PLENTY OF ZIP
OGUNDE might be 10 years of age, but he still possesses whips of speed as he has done all throughout his career.
The Ryan Balfour trained gelding won his fourth race at Naracoorte (from nine runs) by running his rivals ragged once again.
The fact he was dropping back from city grade saw him backed from $9 into $6.50, while the favourite Pandeia also had good support ($3-$2.35) and was a disappointing fourth.
Betting fluctuations did not give punters any reason to be enthusiastic about Party Set winning the 1200 metre class two.
The six-year-old mare was resuming from a six-week break for comeback jockey Claudia Lions.
After being off the scene for a considerable period, Lions rode a winner recently at Port Augusta and she controlled the race out in front on Party Set ($4.80-$7).
The placegetters Ready For Action ($5.50-$3.50) and Deeks ($14-$7) were the best backed runners, while Mista Knowitall (fourth) was an easing favourite ($2-$3).
PERFECT RIDE
IT is no wonder Port Fairy trainer Ron Daniel does not mind the long trip to Naracoorte.
His seven-year-old gelding Chu Chu Charlie performs well there, with two wins from four starts following Sunday’s victory in the 2000 metre BM 64 handicap.
A perfect Dominic Tourneur ride had Chu Chu Charlie idling along in third spot, seemingly going half pace and he had the race as far as 500 metres from home.
Racing will hopefully return to Penola on Sunday week when local racing will again clash with a nearby Victorian venue, namely Coleraine cup day.
Ride of the day: Dominic Tournuer (Chu Chu Charlie)
Black bookers: Cavalry Gold, Queen’s Palace.
Trial winner: It’s Chief (Helen Burns).
