David Gilbert
IT was like a belated Christmas present and local trainers welcomed with open arms the opportunity to use the main track at Glenburnie last Tuesday morning for track work.
Forty one horses worked on two designated strips of the course proper, and to the delight of all concerned – especially track manager David Shepherdson – the track passed with flying colours.
“It was the best scenario you could get and they just glided over it,” Shepherdson stated.
“There was no major damage and it was just beautiful.”
Official trials will be conducted at Glenburnie next Friday morning in front of Racing SA officials and, if the expected all clear is given, racing will resume at Glenburnie on Wednesday, February 23.
TOUGH TITAN BACK TO HIS BEST
THE jury was out to decide as to whether the Bordertown trained galloper Territory Titan was going to regain his old winning form this year.
After all, the six year old gelding had not won a race since March last year at Morphettville, and his two runs this campaign had not inspired punters to rally to his cause with unplaced efforts at Bordertown and Murray Bridge during January.
Territory Titan had really put trainer Jimmy Dodgson on the map since the galloper arrived from the Northern Territory in the autumn of 2019.
At his first start for the stable, Territory Titan won his maiden here at Mount Gambier on June 16, 2019 after being backed from 60/1 into 30/1.
Since then, he has won eight races including four in succession in the winter of 2020 ,and one of his best efforts was a fourth in the Listed $150,000 Golden Mile at Bendigo in March, 2021 when he led until the final stages at 40/1.
Last Saturday, the money trail suggested Territory Titan was fit and ready to produce his best in the 1600 metre BM 82 handicap at Morphettville.
Backed from $10 into $5, Territory Titan raced at the girth of the leader – and favourite – Tradewind until the 500 metre mark where he quickly assumed control and went on to win with plenty to spare by nearly two lengths for jockey Anna Jordsjo.
“It’s pleasing that he could return to his old form on a good surface,” Jimmy Dodgson said earlier this week.
“I was a bit worried on Saturday as the first four winners all came from last and he always races up near the lead.
“When he came to us, he had not won a cent in prize money on the dirt tracks in the Northern Territory and now he has won almost $240,000.”
That win gave the new training combination of James and Lisa Dodgson their first city success since joining forces in December.
Already the pair have made their mark on South Australian racing with three winners, two seconds and a third from 10 starters.
Their first runner was Shock Alert, second in the Bordertown cup to Sebonna on December 12, and that horse gave them their first winner, also at Bordertown on January 5. .
“It was always planned that Lisa and I would go into partnership at some stage,” Dodgson added.
“Lisa used to ride track work at Lindsay Park and she does all the track work for our stable.
“We will look at keeping Territory Titan at races over a mile and there is a BM 78 race over that distance in Adelaide on February 12.”
GETTING THE REWARD
TO own a galloper that has won four races from a dozen starts is a good start in anyone’s language.
When three of those wins have been at city level in Adelaide (the other was at Gawler), it makes life even sweeter.
That is the statistics for the Peter Hardacre trained Spin The Reward after he got the chocolates in the 1100 metre BM68 handicap at Morphettville last Saturday.
He is rapidly becoming a first up specialist as his last two victories have been at the start of new campaigns.
Last Saturday, the locally owned sprinter resumed from a two month spell and, as usual, was nearer last than first as the field headed for the judge at the top of the straight.
The money was on the mark too, backed from $3.60 into $2.80 favourite, and the race panned out perfectly for regular rider Ryan Hurdle with plenty of speed up front.
Even so, it was still a hard watch for punters who supported Spin The Reward as the four year old gelding needed the entire Morphettville straight to put his nose in front and score by a long head.
PLENTY FOR EVERYONE
WARM summer conditions should make for the perfect day for the Naracoorte cup meeting on Sunday.
All the hype starts tomorrow night at the Naracoorte racecourse with the calcutta where Sam Hayes will be the guest speaker.
With 180 people booked in, that is more than three times the number at the function in recent years.
Entries are still being taken (0438622271) for both the male and female “Dash for Cash” races as part of Sunday’s entertainment at the course.
The respective winners will receive $300 each, as will the club he/she represents.
While the Coopers marquee is booked out, there are some vacancies in the Punters marquee ($140 per ticket, includes 5 hour drink package and nibbles and live music by Shaun Brown)
The new children’s playground has ticked all the O,H & S requirements and will be in use on Sunday.
Proof of two vaccinations is required for entry to the course.
Sunday’s crowd is capped at 1,000 for the general public, and tickets will be available at the gate providing the full quota has not been pre sold online.
SUCCESS AT THE ROCK
HANGING ROCK (between Kyneton and Woodend) is a long way from Mount Gambier however the Bob and Kane Post stable made a successful trip to the Australia Day meeting there last week.
Olifoet was perfectly placed in the 2400 metre BM 52 handicap, even though the nine year old gelding was backing up for the second time in three days.
The previous Sunday at Penola, Olifoet ran third to Runbro in open company in the Summer cup at Penola and here he was lining up in far lesser class amongst some extremely ordinary opposition.
A patient Lewis German ride enabled Olifoet ($7.50) to swamp his rivals in the final 200 metres and win by two lengths.
COMING UP
Sunday, February 6: Naracoorte gallops (cup day)
Tuesday evening, February 8: Mount Gambier harness racing
Friday morning, February 11: Official race trials at Glenburnie
