David Lewis
PORTLAND training team Nicole Stanley and Neville Lenehan enjoyed a successful day at Tara Raceway last Sunday after De La Cruz and Applejack Strait opened their winning accounts and Shot Of Brandy impressed in her first win over 512 metres.
De La Cruz, lining up for his sixth race start in the Trackside Meats Maiden Stake (305 metres), found early trouble from box four but once getting to the outside stormed home for a neck win over Rough Boy Gus in 18.14 seconds.
In fact, his position in running in the home straight even had the race caller remarking that so close to the outside fence had De La Cruz been that he probably could have gone to the canteen.
By Bernardo, he’s out of Boomer Hargen, a well-bred two-race Mount Gambier winner for Lenehan.
She’s by Barcia Bale x Punk Rock Lass and is also a litter sister to Pamela Rocks who has produced eight winners this year at Tara Raceway for Kerry Hawker and Captain Abbott.
Applejack Strait, still chasing her first win after 18 starts, defied the odds in the Carlin and Gazzard Maiden Stake (400 m) when railing through down the back before running out a two-length winner over kennelmate Over Olive in 23.66 seconds.
A $41 chance, Applejack Strait is a daughter of Zambora Brockie and Lektra Brandy who won the 2019 Mount Gambier Anniversary Cup (512 m) for Lenehan.
Later in the day, Shot Of Brandy brought up a litter double when finishing strongly in the Commercial Hotel Stake (512 m) and defeating Gallon Of Yap by 4¼ lengths in a personal best time of 29.94 seconds.
From a personal point of view, last Sunday was Lenehan’s best day at the track since June 12, 2022 when he landed a treble at Tara Raceway with Master Shameem, Mrs. Cameron and Hostile Raven.
“The past week has actually been pretty good for the Lektra Brandy litter with Scrubber also winning
at the Thursday meeting,” Lenehan said.
“There are also two more Lektra Brandy litters to follow – by Hooked On Scotch and Shima Shine.
“So we are now looking forward to seeing how they shape up.”
