30 March 2021 | Ashleigh Paikos
Winning form for the well-known Pinjarra street kicked off early, with the Tracy Reay trained trotter Tenno Sho claiming success in the $30,000 Group 2 Wake Up with Sunrise on Seven Trotters Sprint on Friday night.
The eight-year-old gelding was having his 131st start in a race, bringing up his 15th victory and earnings of $144,154, when he lined up in one of the features on the card for owner John Jelf, starting at $19 odds. John and Tracy purchased Tenno Sho 12 months ago and he has since gone on to win four races.
“We had three horses in it [the race] and we were hoping to win it with one of them. The start before he [Tenno Sho] had pulled up with heat stress, so Tracy did a huge job to get him up for the race.” Jelf said.
Tenno Sho drew barrier three and reinsman Michael Grantham quickly worked his way to the lead from release point, leading throughout for an easy win in the Group 2 Trotter’s Sprint. Grantham currently sits on an 11 percent winning percentage and 26 percent placing percentage this season. The dual licenced horseman recently had his first metro winner as a thoroughbred trainer and recently mentioned the possibility of a switch in codes.
“I will still be in both regardless of what happens. The gallops have always been in my blood, so I’ve never really left that.” Grantham mentioned.
“I will continue to drive; I love driving and get a lot of thrill out of it, but I may not chase drives like I used to. I’m just going to keep my finger in every pot because it’s racing and anything can happen.” He said.
Paceway’s winning ways continued at Bunbury, with race one going the way of Road Closure and trainer Peter Swain. Trent Wheeler steered the $9.50 shot to victory, giving the lightly raced gelding his third win in just twenty starts.
Based just a few kilometres down the road, Pinjarra based Nathan Turvey scored himself a training and driving win with favourite punters taking the $1.22 fixed odds for Heavens Showgirl.
Grantham scored a feature race double over the weekend, with the 24-year-old teaming up with Busselton based trainer Terry Ferguson to take out the WASBA WA Country Oaks at Bunbury, with smart filly Bettor Beach Belle. Bred, owned and trained by Ferguson, the victory brought her earnings to just over $40k. Ferguson is no stranger to feature race success, with the veteran horseman taking out last year’s Group One WA Oaks with Sports Package.
The fillies stepped it up over the 2569m, with short-priced favourite Just For Love going down narrowly to the fast-finishing Bettor Beach Belle, coming home in 56.7 seconds and mile rating 2:00:6 for the staying trip.
“I thought I could win the race because she has great gate speed, a good draw and she had a couple of runs under her belt, so she was ready. The favourite is obviously a really good horse, but I think I just beat her for speed.”
“I had driven her once before at Gloucester Park and I really liked her, she had a bit of guts about her. She went out for a spell and I was supposed to drive her at her first start back, but I was suspended at the time. After her last start at Narrogin, I stirred Terry up and said, ‘When can I get back on?’ and Saturday night was the night.” Grantham said.
Greg and Skye Bond walked away with training honours on Friday night at Gloucester Park, training four of the ten winners on the night. Team Bond continued to dominate with a training treble at Bunbury on Saturday night. Stable driver Ryan Warwick claimed victory on all seven runners over the two nights. Warwick boasts a 26% winning strike rate and 23% placing strike rate for the season so far.
Kyle Anderson continued the streets winning ways with Cattenom Lass taking out the first race at Kellerberrin, kicking off racing at the Central Wheatbelt.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
