Todd McCarthy has long been noted for his ability to get horses off the gate quickly, and in his recent visits to Group One Feeds Paceway, he’s put that to good use by handing up to take advantage of Bathurst’s sprint lane. Two of his three winners at last Wednesday’s all-sprint meeting, both for in-form trainer Ashlee Grives, came in this manner.
Limitation NZ ($15.10, in C2-C4 grade) got up in the last stride of a very busy finish, over Mattjestic Star and leader Inception NZ, with favourite Cruisinonthe Big Ern, which eventually finished fourth, also labelled the winner at one stage in the straight.
It was just the third career win, in 74 starts, but the second in succession, for the Live Or Die daughter who has reached a new peak of form at age seven.
“I was happy to hand up on her, and take my chances. On the home bend I was hopeful, rather than confident, which was pretty much the same feeling I had about the photo finish,” McCarthy commented when his number came up.
The combination scored their second win of the night in the final event, for three-year-olds, when Summer Money ($4.00) showed a brilliant turn of foot to scoot along the sprint lane for an impressive win over Taylah Studleigh, which had death-seated throughout. It was a maiden win for the well named Million Dollar Cam youngster, at his ninth start, but indicative of further success in coming starts.
Todd’s third winner, for Sydney trainer Wayne Dimech in a C3 conditioned class, was Merrywood Duke, and after enjoying a one-one trail throughout, the $2.30 favourite outsprinted Abbey Cullen and leader Puffnstuff, with a smart last half of 56.5 responsible for the 1:55.7 mile rate.
This was mid-range in the night’s speed catalogue, with three sub- 1:55 runs, a further three below 1:58.0, and a 1:58.4 victory – which would have drawn rave reviews on the old Bathurst track – the slowest of the meeting.
Emma Turnbull, one of the contenders for Bathurst driving honours this season, took out the fastest and the slowest, with De Santa Anna and Skirmish.
De Santa Anna ($3.30, for Steve Conroy) staged a thrilling battle the entire length of the home straight with favourite Mister Jogalong in the C1 opening race, with just a neck separating them at the finish and the chasing pack some thirty metres astern.
The mile rate of 1:54.8 set the standard for the night, as did the 27.5 final quarter. The performance of both the winner and runner-up drew plenty of praise from seasoned observers. Both four year olds are top class, and the future clashes between them as they work through the grades will be awaited with real anticipation.
Skirmish NZ ($2.60 favourite, Peter Bullock) might have rated the slowest time but, ironically, his win from inside the second line in a C0 class, was as tough and meritorious as any at the meeting.
Emma Turnbull was intent on getting him away from the markers as soon as she was able, and he was forced to work hard around the field to the death seat, during a first half in 59 seconds. He applied plenty of pressure to leader Time To Share Lombo down the back, forged to the front on the bend and showed true grit in fighting off his challengers for the win, his fourth in five starts.
Other winners at the meeting included:
Star Singer ($8.20) , in the second of the C1 events, Nathan Hurst earning a ” drive of the night ” award for his mid-race sprint which took his opponents by surprise, and himself to the lead, and eventual victory;
So Kool Harry ($12.40, Steve/ Nathan Turnbull), enjoying a nice trail behind race favourite Yayas Hot Spot before pulling out a big sprint to take out the fast class, with a last half in 56.8 , and edging ever closer to the coveted $200,000 in earnings;
Sonny Studleigh ($4.10, Leigh/ Jake Davis) , working clear into a three-wide trail up the back, and finishing off strongly to win a C0 grade, to remain the “cream of the crop” for the dairy farmers from Browns Creek.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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