David Gilbert
WITH nearly a third of the racing season completed, there are no standouts as to the 2022/23 premiership winners for jockeys and trainers here in the Limestone Coast.
Last season’s leading trainer Darryl Dodson has only had the one winner so far from the six meetings conducted.
Leading the pack narrowly are Glenburne’s father/son training combination of Bob and Kane Post with five wins, three seconds and a third.
Following a treble at her home town meeting last month, Naracoorte mentor Sue Murphy has leapfrogged into second position (4,4,3), a whisker in front of Mount Gambier’s Wayne Walters (4,1,9).
Murphy has the chance to make further inroads this afternoon with eight horses running at Naracoorte.
Interestingly, Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig, a relatively new face to Limestone Coast racing, sits in fourth spot (3,4,1).
Kayla Crowther, a runaway winner of the jockey’s title last season, is having a battle this season to maintain that supremacy (6,4,5) and is one win ahead of Kate Walters (5,2,2).
The Warrnambool based Harry Grace, who rides mainly for the Dabernig stable, is a further win back (4,5,2).
Last season, Jacob Opperman dominated the apprentice’s premiership ladder but is yet to find himself in the local winner’s stall, however he was absent for over a month when based in Melbourne.
Out in front at present is the Adelaide based Ben Price (4,0,1), clear of Ellis Wong (2,2,4) and Lachlan Overall (2,2,0).
REGAINED WINNING FORM
FOLLOWING a stint in New South Wales where he competed unsuccessfully in three races, the three year old pacer Jawsoflincoln regained winning form in the easiest of fashion at Globe Derby Park on Monday.
That was in the 2022 Sires Produce over 1800 metres where the Greg Scholefield trained youngster led all the way and blitzed his rivals by nearly 50 metres.
Local stables gave good support to the Hamilton harness meeting last Friday but only one came back across the border with a winner.
That came late in the program for trainer/driver David Drury with the former New Zealand pacer Tuxedo Bromac in the NR 51 pace over 2150 metres.
Although he was quoted as a $3.50 chance on race morning in the media, Tuxedo Bromac ended up a $13 chance at starting time.
It is fair to say that Tuxedo Bromac ($13) beat his rivals fair and square, scoring by four metres after a tough run out two and three wide to beat fellow local True Blue Rose.
LATE START FOR NARACOORTE
THERE is no shortage of equine action this weekend in the South East.
Twilight racing is at Naracoorte this afternoon (first race at 2.40pm) with the biggest crowd of the season tipped to be in attendance.
There are 83 horses accepted for the seven races where better bets appear to be Thanasi in the BM 68 handicap and Carak in the final event.
Late Sunday afternoon, the second twilight harness meeting of the season is scheduled for the Greenwald Paceway, however the fields had not been released at the time of going to press.
THE JOYS OF BUS TRAVEL
LAST Saturday was supposed to be Dunkeld race day which normally attracts 10,000 people and bus loads of revellers.
It was abandoned 10 days prior due to waterlogged conditions on the track and in the surrounding car parks.
People who go on social bus trips to sporting events (such as to Dunkeld, Warrnambool races etc.) need to possess immense patience, tolerance, a go-with-the-flow attitude as well as stamina for what can be a long day.
I was in charge of a mini bus load of locals who ventured to Dunkeld many years ago and I informed the crew that the bus would be leaving half an hour after the final race.
My mistake was not stating the venue of which final race, as I presumed everybody would interpret it as the last race at Dunkeld
Everyone but the late John “Mook” McCreanor was back on board and ready to go, and some were getting a little testy waiting for our missing link.
Anyone who knew “Mook” would know his love of racing, golf and socialising, not necessarily in that order.
Search parties were dispatched in different directions to find “Mook”, without success.
I eventually told our driver John O’Connor to head off but, being the patient, understanding person that John is, the departure was put on hold for another few minutes.
“Mook” then appeared and it was not hard to spot him as he was taking as many steps sideways as he was forward.
He stumbled onto the bus, stating that he had “caught up with some wonderful, dear friends from Adelaide” and had spent the day having a picnic under the trees.
Before slumping into his seat, he informed us that his interpretation of “half an hour after the last race” was for the Adelaide meeting, which was over an hour after the final Dunkled race.
Then there was the time a Millicent resident, a punctual, conservative chap, was enticed to go by bus to the Mount Gambier cup.
He wanted to be back in Millicent by a reasonable time and was suitably impressed when told by the organiser that the bus would be back “around 6pm”.
Bus drivers who stop on the return trip for toilet breaks outside licensed premises are only looking for trouble.
After departing Glenburnie. a couple of passengers wanted a toilet stop in Mount Gambier and the bus came to a halt outside of the North Gambier Sportsmen’s Club.
That was a recipe for disaster as nearly everyone ventured inside and, apart from using the toilet, ordered drinks.
An hour later the bus departed and the scenario was repeated at another toilet stop, this time the Tantanoola Tiger hotel and, once again, the bus was emptied.
Eventually the bus rocked and rolled back into Millicent after 9pm and the following time I caught up with the straight laced gentleman, I asked him how he enjoyed the day.
He obviously had not seen the funny side of things and snarled “never again”.
BLACK BOOKERS
BLACK SYRAH: The Belinda O’Loughlin trained galloper punched well above his weight when he jumped up to open company at Terang last Saturday and ran home exceptionally well for third in the Mortlake cup.
PICAROON: At his second run this campaign, the Michael O’Leary trained performer railed through for third at Donald last Sunday and is ready to produce the form which saw him win in Adelaide nearly 12 months ago.
COMING UP
TODAY: Naracoorte twilight races commencing at 2.40pm.
TOMORROW: Annual race meeting for the Penshurst club.
SUNDAY: Twilight harness racing at the Greenwald Paceway.
