By David Gilbert
WAS it a flash-in-the pan performance or has the South East unearthed another above average galloper?
That is what the racing public was left to ponder after the lightly raced Picaroon won the feature race at Morphettville last Friday.
The Michael O’Leary trained mare looked all class with a whirlwind finish from a near impossible position to take out the $102,250 BM 76 final of the Alcopop series over 1600 metres.
And, what a brilliant ride by local apprentice Jacob Opperman to claim the major prize in the final few bounds.
In a race of good quality gallopers, Picaroon only qualified for the final with her impressive win in heat eight of the series at Penola on December 3.
Backed from $16 in early markets to start an $8 chance, Picaroon’s chances of winning last Friday looked slim half way up the straight as the mare was mid field and behind a wall of horses.
“She travelled over very well in the heat and never turned a hair,” a delighted O’Leary stated in regards to the 38 degree temperature.
“After she ran second in Adelaide in mid November, I decided to run her in the heat at Penola which she had to win to qualify for the final.”
Her form going into the final obviously did not impress the form expert in The Advertiser on Friday who summed up Picaroon’s chances with the comment “not fancied”.
If anyone has any doubts about the ability of young Opperman as a jockey, then just have a look at the replay of the race.
The 18-year-old, who also had the winning ride on Picaroon at Penola, showed initiative and nerves of steel at Morphettville to weave a passage between horses to claim the major prize.
“I’m very proud of Jacob and he’s a bloody good kid, and I wasn’t afraid to put a non-claiming apprentice on the mare in Adelaide,” O’Leary added.
“To win a race with prize money such as that is equivalent to winning five races around here.”
O’Leary has never been a trainer to over-race his horses and he is applying the same philosophy with Picaroon who was having only her fourth run this campaign.
“I’ll be very easy on her for a few days and give her a month off before looking at some fillies and mares races during the Adelaide carnival in the autumn.”
NEW VACCINATION RULING
LAST week, Racing SA issued a media release regarding a new ruling in regards to approved Covid-19 vaccination.
From Monday, December 20, all industry participants aged 16 and over who enter a South Australian thoroughbred racing venue must provide proof that they have had at least their first dose of the vaccine.
Everyone who enters a racing venue must be fully vaccinated by 20 January, 2022.
Licensed participants had to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination to Racing SA stewards by December 20.
It is the responsibility of trainers to ensure all of their staff who are attending racing venues are vaccinated and they have supplied relevant proof of vaccination.
TAB APPROVED FOR RSL
THERE has been a whisper around town that the RSL in Sturt Street may soon be providing TAB, Sky Channel and Fox facilities for patrons.
“Yes, that is correct and it (the TAB) has been approved,” RSL bistro and bar manager Mark Lane told The Border Watch earlier this week.
“It’s all systems go but it may be another month or two before it all comes to fruition.”
That will be pleasing news for the older generation who are still lamenting the closure of the West Gambier TAB back in June.
With its spacious set up and lots of seating which is lacking in several pubTABS around the city, Lane is hoping to attract a new type of clientele to the RSL.
There was good news for drinkers, punters and social goers in the Millicent/Tantanoola area with the Tant Tiger hotel reopening its doors last Friday.
It had been closed for some time and there were some concerns as to whether the TAB and pokies would be up and going when it reopened, and it is pleasing to report positive news on both counts.
DRURY STABLE IN FORM
DECEMBER has been an excellent month for the David Drury stable here at the Greenwald Paceway.
Drury drove and trained a double at the meeting here on December 3 and had more success last Friday night.
He drove the first two winners (Sweet American and Noosa Beach) on a night where three of the four favourites were successful.
Smart Play ($1.95-$2.30) led all the way for the Howard family (Graeme the trainer and Brent the driver) in the NR 40 pace to give Graeme his 10th winner of the 2020-21 season.
he two favoured runners, My Purple Beach and Milliondollar Kiss, had the final race to themselves from the 500 metres and it was the first starter My Purple Beach from the Barry Finnis stable who proved a tad too strong.
Trainer Steve Fennell took one runner to Terang on Sunday for the perfect result.
Steele was aiming for a hat-trick of wins and seemed good value from the pole position in the NR 52-55 pace.
Despite drifting in betting, Steele ($2.10-$2.40) always looked the goods and led all the way to give driver Jason Lee the first leg of a winning double.
FAMILY DAY AT NARACOORTE
LOCAL racing over Christmas is on Monday’s public holiday (December 27) at Naracoorte.
A total of 94 nominations were received for the seven-race program which is the club’s annual family day fixture.
“We are pleased with the support from owners and trainers and we are hopeful of a good crowd as the forecast is for mild weather and there will be plenty of entertainment for the children,” Naracoorte racing club president Glen Hamlyn stated.
Since the Victorian border reopened, local co-trainers Bob and Kane Post have not let the grass grow under their feet.
They have had runners at plenty of meetings in western Victoria and even travelled as far as Kyneton last week.
It was a successful venture as Zabextra ($12) won the 2837-metre BM 58 handicap with Kate Walters in the saddle.
On Sunday at Horsham the Ricky Bruhn trained Carak staged a big form reversal on his first-up eighth at Penola recently to take out the 1400-metre BM 58 handicap.
In one of the closest finishes ever seen at Horsham where five horses hit the line locked together, Carak ($20) prevailed by the barest of margins for jockey Melissa Julius.
COMING UP
Sunday, December 26: Nhill races (cup meeting; all welcome).
Monday, December 27: Naracoorte races (family fun day; all welcome; proof of one vaccination required).
