David Gilbert
CORPORATE bookmakers were on the back foot when a decent plunge came off at Mount Gambier last year on August 30.
Perfect Costa, trained at Stawell by John Rowe, was backed from as much as $41 to start the $2.50 favourite before winning the 904-metre maiden plate.
Because of the massive betting fluctuations, stewards quizzed Rowe as to the rapid improvement of the mare who had run ninth in a field of 11 at her previous start at Swan Hill (at $41) on August 3.
Rowe explained that Perfect Costa had misplaced the tongue tie and may have choked down at Swan Hill, adding that she had since trialled well at Stawell in the lead up to the Mount Gambier run.
He went on to say that neither he, or anyone connected with the stable, had backed the horse at Mount Gambier.
A swab taken subsequently revealed that Perfect Costa had raced at Mount Gambier with the substance Arsenic at a level of 0.38 mg/L in her urine, which was above the threshold of 0.30 mg/L.
Rowe was duly charged and pleaded guilty to the offence and the outcome was handed down on December 19, 2023.
Stewards had regards for the circumstances of the case, including the likely exposure of Perfect Costa to, and ingestion by the mare of CCA treated wood fencing, with a conviction recorded without penalty.
However, Perfect Costa was disqualified from winning that Mount Gambier race and the mare then went on to win at her next start at Casterton by leading all the way in a 0-58 race on September 10.
The new result for the Mount Gambier race is now: Palace Keys (trained by Patrick Ryan jnr. and ridden by Tom Madden) 1; Nextone (Bob and Kane Post/Dom Tourneur) 2; In Her Sights (Shane and Cassie Oxlade/Kayla Crowther) 3.
BAD START TO NEW YEAR
KATE Walters, the leading jockey in the Limestone Coast last season and a clear leader again this season, did not get the news she wanted to start the new year.
Victorian stewards last Thursday concluded an enquiry involving Walters at the Nhill race meeting on December 26.
Walters had been charged with improper or insulting behaviour to a stipendiary steward following race three when her mount Our Ellie Rose failed to beat a runner home.
Stewards found her guilty of the charge and suspended Walters for three months, meaning she cannot ride until Thursday, April 4.
For a jockey to be banned for three months in racing is substantial, especially for improper and insulting behaviour and one can only surmise the language used was colourful to say the least.
There is speculation that Walters may appeal the severity of the sentence.
FESTIVE SEASON CROWDS
COUNTRY racing clubs always expect good crowds at race meetings over the Christmas and New Year period with the kids on holidays and plenty of tourists on the road.
For the festive season just completed, crowd numbers at western Victorian meetings have been exceptionally high while two of the three meetings in the Limestone Coast received above average patronage.
The only dampener was the poor turn out for Bordertown Cup day in mid December, while Mount Gambier had its best mid week crowd for a long time at the January 3 meeting.
It was promoted as a family day fixture and the gold coin dig and various animals on display (including a small crocodile and snake) proved popular with the kids.
However, our crowds pale into insignificance compared to those over the border.
More than 5,000 people went to the Woodford Cup meeting at Warrnambool on December 31, a bigger attendance than for the much heralded Jericho Cup meeting at the same venue in early December.
Colac and Horsham had two non-cup meetings in December with around 4,000 people at Colac while the crowd at Horsham reportedly was the biggest for the club in some years.
BOOK ENDED THE MEETING
FOR once, there was limited success for Mount Gambier trainers at the January 3 meeting out at Glenburnie.
It was anticipated trainer Wayne Walters may have a day out but he had to be content with the one winner, the odds-on favourite Red Patrol in the opening event over 2066 metres.
The chances for the five-year-old gelding improved dramatically with the race morning scratching of the main danger Scandalous Scarlet, hence the cramped odds ($1.30).
Glenburnie trainer Vanessa Hutchinson started 2024 on a winning note when Dale’s Rocket was well backed ($3-$2.40 fav.) before winning his third career race in the final event, the 1565-metre 0-58 handicap.
When you see people on course who have travelled some distance to see their horse go around, it can often be a good omen.
That was the case for the Peter Hardacre youngster Ovabent in the 1315-metre maiden with owners converging from as far afield as Naracoorte, Melbourne, Yambuk and Port MacDonnell.
Despite a huge betting drift, Ovabent (4.80-$7) never looked like winning until he sprouted wings in the final 200 metres to win to the cheers of the crowd.
That gave Warrnambool jockey Harry Grace a race-to-race double to take riding honours for the day.
“He’s a developing horse and he did it tough today being three wide all the way, and he will be going straight to the paddock,” Hardacre said post race.
ATMOSPHERE APLENTY
IT is easy to see why the Gawler and Barossa Jockey Club are allocated Saturday meetings with metropolitan status these days.
Although I had been to Gawler previously for mid week meetings, last weekend was my first time at the northern track for a Saturday fixture.
The place was absolutely jumping despite constant rain from 10am until 2pm with both the function centre and Wolf Blass pavilion packed.
It seems that Saturday racegoers are tired of going to Morphettville week in and week out, and relish the opportunity of heading out to Gawler.
Those who travelled to the track by train (there is a raceday platform on the Gawler line) were rewarded with free admission.
Even though it was not a special race day, they had a fashion on the field competition which members of two buck shows added plenty of atmosphere to.
CLOSE CALLS
THE judging panel certainly earned their wages at the Greenwald Paceway on Tuesday night.
Especially early in the program when the biggest winning margin in the first four races was half a head
Hamilton trainer Jim Barker might be in his 90’s but he still knows how to train a winner and ended with a double for the night.
Three heats of the Border Cup were conducted and the final will be held as part of the Hamilton Cup meeting this Sunday afternoon.
The quickest heat was won by the Barker trained Doctor Go Joh, with the other two heats going to True Blue Rose (trained by Barry Finnis) and Toodle Pip (Gloria Council).
Local trainers to have success apart from Finnis were David Drury (Maverick Star) and the David Phillips stable with the first starter Star Connection..
