By David Gilbert
THE Easter bunny called early for Bordertown trainer Darryl Dodson last weekend.
It came in the shape of two metropolitan winners – and $93,475 in prize money – on Saturday, in the space of 45 minutes at Oakbank in the Adelaide hills.
Dodson only took the two runners to Oakbank, a happy hunting ground for the stable in the past, and both produced the goods with regular stable jockey Kayla Crowther in the saddle.
He looks to have unearthed a handy type in Apache Gunship, one of the outsiders in the $107,250 race for three-year-olds over 1400 metres.
The youngster has really come of age in the past six weeks, winning his maiden at Strathalbyn on February 21 and then saluting at his next start in a 0-58 handicap at Swan Hill on March 17.
Despite those successive wins, bookmakers dismissed his chances at Oakbank and as much as $21 was bet about Apache Gunship before starting as a $13 chance.
Oakbank is a tricky track and some horses do not handle the downhill run from the 600-metre mark to the top of the straight at the 300 metres.
That was the case for Apache Gunship as, after sitting second, he lost his place in the run down the hill and appeared to have ruined his winning chances.
Not so, as the three-year-old balanced up and finished powerfully for Crowther to win by half a length.
“It didn’t appear to be a strong race on paper and the $100,000 prize money was too good to ignore,” Dodson said.
“It has been a bit of a battle with him, especially the mental sides of things, but we seem to have worked him out as his past three runs have shown.”
Stablemate, Badonkidonk, winner of the Bordertown cup last December, found winning form at this third run this campaign to win heat five of the country cup over 1900 metres.
From mid-field, Crowther elected to head to the outside fence in the home straight and it worked wonders when Badonkidonk ($4-$2.70 fav.) stormed home to win by a length.
“I’ve had some success over the years at Oakbank, especially in races such as the country cup,” Dodson added.
COUNTRY CUPS QUEEN
UP and coming apprentice Rochelle Milnes is making a habit of winning country cups at present.
Milnes won the Strathalbyn cup in early February aboard Second To Nun and followed up with success on I Need A Drink in the Port Lincoln cup last month.
Now she has added the Penola cup to her resume following a stirring victory on the favourite Prine Joffa last Sunday.
What a ride it was by the youngster, showing nerves of steel well beyond her years when the race was there to be won.
Her endeavours to squeeze Prince Joffa through a narrow gap between runners near the 200-metre mark was the difference between winning and losing as the winning margin was only a nose.
However, there was more drama to follow when Sairyn Fawke, the jockey on the runner up Bolt By, lodged a protest alleging interference all the way up the home straight.
After a very short hearing, stewards dismissed the protest but that did not sit well with Jordan Frew, the trainer of Bolt By.
He let fly with some inappropriate language as he left the steward’s room and is now poorer for the experience after stewards imposed a $500 fine.
On a 33 degree day with little or no breeze, it was probably more appropriate to be at the beach, however the Penola club were rewarded with an excellent cup day crowd, swelled by a lot of visitors in the region for Easter.
BACK TO HIS BEST
MOUNT Gambier trainer Richard Wilson was all smiles at Penola after the 1700-metre 0-56 handicap.
With good reason too, as it saw the return to form of Eagles Forever at the gelding’s third run this preparation.
The six-year-old’s previous win was at metropolitan level at Gawler on December 17, 2022 and his two runs this time in work were unplaced efforts, the latest at Swan Hill where he ran last after leading.
“I took him to Swan Hill and he pulled up with a real bad back,” Wilson stated.
“It is a long way up there and the road is not that good.
“He is one dimensional and I thought this was the race for him, and we may perhaps head to town for his next run.”
A noted leader, Eagles Forever defied a betting drift ($5.50-$7) and never gave his rivals a look in after going straight to the front for Jessica Easton.
It was a Mount Gambier trifecta with Interfering ($21) and Moorak Miss ($26) filling the placings.
The past two runs by Moorak Miss have been exceptional, and her last 200 metres at Penola was eye catching to say the least.
South East trainers with restricted licences took out the first two races at Penola.
Millicent trainer Krystal Trembath had her first winner for more than two years (Brobak at Naracoorte on December 27, 2021) when Don’t Matta Me, unplaced at four previous starts, won the 1400-metre maiden plate.
Don’t Matta Me ($9.50-$13) led all the way to give jockey Dominic Tourneur his 11th winner in the Limestone Coast this season to briefly go to the top of the ladder.
Sharma Princess ($5.50-4 fav.) gave Bordertown trainer Lindsay Cadzow his second winner for the month of March with an all the way win in the 2100-metre maiden plate.
Jockey Jacob Opperman regained the lead for the jockey’s premiership with a perfectly rated ride on Chiq Magnet for Pomonal trainer Andrew Robbin in the final event.
With plenty of pace up front, Opperman bided his time to have one last crack at the leaders and Chic Magnet prevailed in a four way finish, pipping the well backed Any Luck ($15-$10).
Bobbin has now trained seven winners this season in the Limestone Coast and is in equal second spot with Sue Murphy, three wins behind Wayne Walters.
YOU NEVER KNOW
LOCAL harness trainer David Drury headed to Stawell on Good Friday with two runners which, according to the betting, had little or no chance of succeeding.
His trotter Earl Patrick ($17) ran the best race of his career when second in the opening event and Drury went one better in the maiden pace half an hour later.
Despite three recent placings here at Mount Gambier this year, La Pierre was an $81 chance and was driven to perfection by Drury in the one-one sit to end up in front where it mattered most.
Being a visitor for the Stawell Gift last weekend, I could have easily stayed an extra hour or so at the trots.
A relaxed atmosphere prevailed with the one man band performing out the front on the patio, playing the music of my era (Roy Orbison, Rolling Stones, Abba etc.) as the sun set over the Grampians.
COMING UP
SUNDAY, April 14: Bordertown gallops, Mount Gambier cup for the greyhounds (afternoon) and Mount Gambier trots (evening).
