By David Gilbert
MANY were asking the same question after the final race at Glenburnie last Sunday.
“How did they manage to get through the meeting after so much rain?”
Obviously the drainage is now first class as the track received nearly 100mm (four inches) of rain in the 10 days leading up to the meeting, with more showers falling during the afternoon.
In years gone by under similar conditions, it would have been unthinkable for a race meeting to be given the all clear to race at Mount Gambier.
One trainer reckoned it was a “Heavy 15” rating and while the jockeys agreed it was very heavy, there was never any consideration of the meeting being called off.
In fact, the senior jockeys claimed it was one of the safer heavy tracks they have ridden on.
There is not much chance for the track to dry out as the next meeting here at Mount Gambier is only 12 days away on Wednesday, July 5.
MORE MONEY FOR THE KITTY
FOR so long, South Australian racing has been the laughing stock of the other mainland states when it comes to the prize money offered for our races.
The light at the end of the tunnel has appeared following the announcement by the SA government recently that they will increase the return of the betting operations tax from 10 per cent to 20per cent as from July 1.
The extra cash in the kitty will be distributed between the three codes (gallops, pacing and greyhounds) and will result in a much needed increase in prize money.
A few months ago, the highly respected sports commentator and Adelaide based Bruce McAvanney met with our premier and government officials and pleaded they do something to help the ailing racing industry in this state.
Whether it was McAvanney’s intervention that helped ignite the fire to improve the situation is not known, but it certainly did not do any harm.
The result is in contrast to what is happening in Victoria where that bottomless pit of money apparently no longer exists.
As a result of a hefty decline in wagering, Victorian prize money is being cut back, mainly at the top level where, for instance, the All Star Mile race held in the autumn in Melbourne is being pruned back from $5 million to $4 million in prize money.
VICS LED THE WAY
SOME well backed-runners got the chocolates at Glenburnie last Sunday, where four of the seven winners came from Victorian stables.
But the day opened in a very different manner when the first winner, Unthinkable, was totally ignored by punters throughout betting.
One would have thought there must have been something amiss with the three-year-old filly as she blew dramatically from an opening quote of $1.75 out to $3.40.
But, those who stuck by her had the last laugh when Unthinkable strolled home with nearly four lengths to spare to give Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig the first leg of a double for the program.
His double was achieved in even easier fashion when Yeltara ($1.40 fav.) strolled home with six lengths to spare in the 1213-metre maiden plate.
In the saddle was Harry Grace, who also ended the day with a double to bring his total number of winners in the Limestone Coast this season to 15, which saw him leapfrog from fourth to second spot on the premiership ladder.
His chances of winning the title are slim as he is three wins behind Kate Walters with only two meetings left.
It was a day for doubles as Terang trainer Jamie Barry and local mentor Michael O’Leary both had multiple successes.
At six of the past eight Limestone Coast meetings, the combination of trainer Wayne Walters and daughter/jockey Kate Walters have had a winner.
Last Sunday it was courtesy of the much improved Fast ‘N’ Forward who justified strong support ($4.20-$3.10 fav.) in the 2066-metre BM 66 handicap.
Punters rallied for the mare following her second in the recent Millicent cup behind Goliotis, and Kate Walters had reason to be confident a long way from home as the six-year-old performer always travelled like a winner.
Over many years, the Michael O’Leary stable has had plenty of success with its runners on wet tracks.
That continued last Sunday when the stable’s only two runners for the day revelled in the heavy going to give the stable the perfect result.
Stable followers jumped on the bandwagon on both occasions, starting with Four Outlaws ($7-$3) in the 1563-metre BM 62 handicap.
It was a magnificent training feat by O’Leary as the gelding had not raced for almost three months and to win first up in Heavy 10 conditions was no mean feat.
The six-year-old always travelled well behind the leaders and overcame a struggle most of the way up the straight with the favourite Joe’s Giggle to win with plenty to spare.
It was yet another winner for apprentice Jacob Opperman who had a winner at Murray Bridge the previous day aboard Keevs ($7.50) for Mornington trainer Rob Blacker.
Stablemate Action In Cairns had won in similar conditions on Millicent cup day three weeks ago and, despite a big rise in class, was backed from $8 into second favourite at $4.40 in the 1213-metre BM 68 handicap.
A confident Dom Tourneur ride enabled Action In Cairns to win his fourth race from six tries in heavy conditions by staving off a late charge from Detnaw.
Barry and Grace combined in the final event to complete their doubles when Navillus Excel put up a big performance to win the 1413-metre 0-54 handicap.
The six-year-old gelding was second last at the 400 metres and Grace chanced his luck by being one of the very few jockeys on the day to make his run closer to the outside running rail.
It worked a charm as Navillus Excel surged home to grab the spoils just when Benovsky ($7-$4.40) looked to have the race in his keeping.
RICH PICKINGS AT CASTERTON
SUNDAY will see the richest race of the year for the Casterton Racing Club when the $100,000 Two Rivers steeplechase will be run.
Last year, when the race offered the same stakemoney, it was run on Casterton cup day, but was moved to June this year to give the meeting more prominence.
There will be plenty of interest in the race where track specialist Elvison is a nomination and will be trying to win his sixth race from eight attempts over the big hedges.
Two other jumping races (hurdles) and four flat races make up the seven-race card.
Jumps racing in the western district of Victoria is at its peak at present with the Warrnambool club running the rich Laffery hurdle and Thackeray steeplechase the following week.
LATE DOUBLE
WILD winter weather saw last Saturday’s Globe Derby Park harness meeting called off and transferred to Tuesday night.
That did not stop Naracoorte trainer Greg Scholefield continuing his amazing run of success at metropolitan level with another double in the final two races.
Jawsoflincoln ($1.20 fav.) and Hanging Fire ($1.60 fav.), both driven by Gaita Pullicino, had no trouble scoring easy victories in their respective races.
