Emma Turnbull continued her recent outstanding form with a treble at last Wednesday’s Group One Feeds Paceway meeting, putting her just one win behind premiership leader Mat Rue.
Two of her winners – Raging Rhuben NZ and Premium Angus – were from the in-form stable of her mother Wendy, and she scored a repeat win with the promising De Santa Anna, for Hartley trainer Steve Conroy.
Raging Rhuben ($12.40) has raced consistently this season, but his last win was twelve months ago, at the same track, and a lovely front-running drive from Turnbull brought about a change in fortune for the Bettors gelding.
“I wasn’t confident that he could lead from five, but once he did, and then got a nice soft first quarter, I thought he’d be hard to run down. Some of his recent runs have been up in grade from this, so it was well-deserved, and not a surprise,” was Emma’s summation.
The win of Premium Angus ($5.20), in a second division for this C0-C1 class, was in contrasting style, the winner making a strong run from the second half of the field, surging to the lead in the straight and then surviving the challenge from No Recompense, which looked likely to run past it until the pair locked wheels about 50 metres from the post.
Stewards determined that Premium Angus had shifted out, at the same time as No Recompense had run in, and left the result – a half-head margin in favour of Premium Angus – unchanged.
De Santa Anna looked very well graded in a C2-backed Encouragement Stakes, and started a raging $1.20 favourite, but the win was hard-earned, over rivals that put it to him throughout.
Turnbull allowed the Santanna Blue Chip gelding to settle from his outside draw, but when she moved around the field soon after, he was forced to work very hard to find the front. After steady sectionals in the middle stages, the speed went on again over the last lap, with Puffnstuff eye-balling the leader, who found plenty on straightening to come clear of that horse, with Heavenly Tooth working clear to grab second spot.
It was the sixth win, and third from seven starts this season, for the four-year-old, purchased from the Alabar draft at the Bathurst Gold Crown Sale back in 2013.
Leading junior driver Jack Trainor was in demand with trainers, picking up five drives at the meeting, and he had the perfect start with a double in the first two races.
Zirconia ($20.50, for Canowindra trainer Ken Rue in the opening C1-C2 sprint) was fortunate to just miss an early scrimmage which put paid to favourite Hells Confession, travelling mid-field before unleashing a big sprint to put the race beyond doubt at the top of the straight.
Allnight Kiss, which started alongside Zirconia on the second line, wasn’t quite so lucky, copping the backwash when Hells Confession fell, and it was declared a non-runner. Backers of the favourite were hoping for the same declaration, but alas, their money stayed in.
The second race was a more orderly affair, Trainor leading throughout with Party Starter ($4.40, for Dennis Picker), which set a very fast lead time and still found something in reserve after looking vulnerable at the top of the straight. The last half in 58.9 completed a smart 1:58.3 mile rate for the 2260 metres distance.
Picker completed a training double when he steered Onlykidding NZ ($2.60 favourite) to an impressive win in the C3-C5 class fourth race, the Pacific Fella mare remaining unbeaten in three starts this season after returning from a winter campaign in Queensland.
“We had a lot of trouble with her early on, and couldn’t quite get on top of it, but everything’s good now, and she’s putting together a nice record,” reflected her young trainer-driver after the win.
Winless at two and three, she’s won 10 from 19 starts at four and five, so he’s spot on the mark with that assessment.
Other winners at the meeting were:
Miracle Smile ($5.30, Brad Hewitt in a 3C0-3C1 sprint), not just a win on debut, but a runaway one at that, the Grinfromeartoear youngster coming from last at the straight entrance, with a closing half of 56.1 seconds for the leaders – easily the most impressive winner of the night;
Redbank Blaze ($1.30 favourite, Paul Kahlefeldt / Mat Rue), in the season’s first 2YO race, the Rocknroll Hanover half-brother to Sheezallattitude and Bamako Mali justifying his rating by leading throughout, and rating a comfortable 1:59.1, ahead of Ruth, Rosemary and a chasing Shannon posse;
Red Hot Jerry ($28.30, Casey Williams/ Toby Vautin, in C0 grade), camped on the leader’s back throughout, and sprinting sharply for the five-year-old’s maiden victory, and the first win on the new track for popular reinswoman Casey Williams.
The first juvenile race is an indication that we’re heading into the “serious” part of the racing calendar, as is the change from Wednesday to other nights. Friday week sees the final of the Soldiers Saddle series, a good warm-up for the fantastic Carnival of Cups meeting, featuring the $50,000 Group Two Shirley Turnbull Memorial, on Boxing Night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
