David Gilbert
A WORKING holiday to Kangaroo Island for its two-day Cup carnival last week proved a bonanza for Bordertown co-trainers Jimmy and Lisa Dodgson.
The pair were both born on the island and for Jimmy, who lived there for his first 31 years, it was a special win in the feature race.
“It has always been a childhood dream to win the Kangaroo Island cup,“ he said.
That dream came true when the Dodgson trained Hamslette defied a huge betting drift to win Saturday’s $32,000 Kangaroo Island cup over 1800 metres.
Jarrod Lorensini was due to have the ride but was stood down by stewards on race day due to him enjoying the island hospitality too much on Friday night and he was replaced by Hong Kong apprentice Britney Wong.
“I reckon the late change of jockey was the reason for the betting drift ($4.40-$8) as I was confident going into the race,“ Jimmy said.
“We celebrated on Saturday night and it was a great result for the stable as part owner Phillip Stevenson, who lives on the island, also bought her at the Calcutta on Friday night.“
Hamslette was formerly trained by Andrew Noblett in Victoria until the middle of last year and has won three of her past five starts, jumping from BM 60 grade to open company in the space of two months.
“I was going to give her a spell, but she has pulled up so well I will look at giving her another run in a couple of weeks time,“ Jimmy said.
The Dodgsons also had success on the first day of the carnival (Thursday) when Big Option, ridden by Jarrod Lorensini, won the 1215-metre BM 58 handicap.
That gave the five-year-old gelding successive wins after breaking his maiden status at Bordertown 11 days earlier.
LIONHEARTED LOUIE
IT looks as though the lower South East is the home of South Australia’s most promising pacer.
The Alyce Finnis trained Lethal Louie is only the size of a pony but has a huge ticker as seen by his efforts in the past three months.
At Globe Derby Park on Saturday night, Lethal Louie had his second city success with the simplest of victories in the NR 51 pace.
Drawing the outside of the front row proved to be no problem whatsoever as the three-year-old pacer won like his odds suggested he would ($1.30 fav.).
After being in last spot until the start of the final lap, Lethal Louie quickly circled the field for driver Jayson Finnis to have the race in his keeping from the 500-metre mark.
That brought up a quartet of wins for the youngster following two wins here at Mount Gambier and one in Horsham since mid December.
There was also success for the stable at Hamilton last Thursday when True Blue Rose, formerly trained by Barry Finnis, continued her good run of form with the narrowest of wins in the NR 51 pace.
Considering True Blue Rose had won the previous start at Horsham, the mare was at good odds at Hamilton ($19) and an inside run in the straight saw her get the photo from another local, Abstractor.
Kongorong trainer Neil Shepherd is having plenty of fun at present with Classact who won the NR 51-54 pace at Hamilton.
Classact ($4.80) made it two wins from his last three starts in what was a South East trifecta with Sadie Jayne and Yappas Courage filling the placings.
Meanwhile, the cost of Mount Gambier trainer Steve Fennell’s trip to New South Wales were helped somewhat last Monday afternoon when his pacer Doc Harvey ($4.20) won by half a head at Goulburn.
NOW FOR THE GOLD CUP FESTIVITIES
FOLLOWING the two heats of the Mount Gambier Gold Cup run on Tuesday night (won by Silver Mystique and Operative Line), the attention is now well and truly focussed on Gold Cup night next Saturday, March 4.
Those pacers to qualify for the 2590-metre final include local pacers Art Jester, Royal Speech, Springfield Affair, Hanging Fire and Terror The Christian along with the Victorian trained pacers Silver Mystique, Sea Lover, Operative Line, Jilliby Rippa and Charisma King.
The club are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Gold Cup and video replays of the past 10 Cups will be shown as part of the Cup eve Calcutta dinner next Friday night.
It will be conducted this year in the function room of the Mount Gambier community RSL in Sturt Street from 8pm with meals available from 5.30pm.
There will be interviews with drivers and trainers, an anniversary cake as well as presentations of all the award winners from the 2022 local season which concluded on December 31.
LOVED HIS RACING
MOUNT Gambier lost a real racing character with the passing of Henry Beard last week.
Henry was a well-known man about town, always well dressed and died at the age of 78 following a short illness.
Forever a gentleman, his love of socialising with people from all walks of life at some of the city’s watering holes was only equalled by his love of racing, having a small bet and enjoying a West End beer.
Henry was never a big timer and he enjoyed nothing better than relating a racing story from yesteryear, for which he had many due to his magnificent long-term memory whether it be regarding the local scene or at the top level.
But, ask him about the winners of some big races in more recent times and he invariably did not have a clue.
Henry had a brush with fame when well-known television presenter Ray Martin passed through this city some years ago.
While sitting in the front bar of the Commercial Hotel having a couple of quiet Sunday afternoon sherbets, Henry observed a chap sitting along the bar who appeared very similar to Ray Martin.
After a while, it all got too much for Henry and he approached the gentleman, saying, “excuse me sir, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but you look remarkably like Ray Martin.“
“I am Ray Martin,“ came the reply and Henry immediately introduced himself, welcomed Ray to Mount Gambier and the pair proceeded to have a long, amicable conversation.
Ray happened to mention he and his wife were travelling on to Adelaide the following day and they were keen to have a barbeque along the Coorong.
He asked Henry to recommend a butcher shop in Mount Gambier to buy some good quality meat.
Henry was in his element there as he worked at Shelton’s butchers, and Ray duly placed an order with Henry and agreed to call in the following morning to collect the meat.
When Ray arrived at the butcher shop, Henry was down the back working and Ray asked to see him.
“There’s a fella in the shop asking for you and he looks like Ray Martin,“ Henry’s co-worker stated.
“That would be right, Ray said he would call in this morning,“ Henry replied, much to the amazement of his co-worker.
Henry then entered the shop and greeted Ray like a long-lost mate.
“Good of you to call in Ray, I’ve got your meat order here ready for you and I hope you and your wife enjoy the barbeque,“ Henry went on to say.
According to Henry, the stunned look of the other staff and customers in the shop was something to behold.
Henry’s funeral will be conducted tomorrow morning at 10am at the Carinya Gardens cemetery.
