That sporting cliché “football is a game of two halves” might well have been applied to last Wednesday’s meeting at Group One Feeds Paceway. Apart from a few caps proclaiming club loyalties, there was no footy involved, but the “two halves” reference certainly applied. Favourites, each from separate stables, won the first five races on the card, while Frisbys – Chris and his son Anthony – dominated the second half of the meeting, with a treble in races six to eight, and none of them sent out as the punters’ elect.
Spare The Price ($5.80) kicked off their treble in a C0-C2 Mares sprint, sitting in the death throughout, to outstay the sprint-laner Stellagrey and leader Limitation. The mile rate of 1:58.8 was actually the slowest of the meeting, but Anthony Frisby indicated that a very tough headwind up the back straight added a second or two to the time, and mile rate.
It was the second successive win for the beautifully-bred Bettors Delight mare, purchased as a broodmare prospect from the late Tony Price, for what was, even at the time, a bargain price. Plenty of meaning in that name, then.
“When she turned up, she still had a set of shoes on, so we decided to give her another try,” explained Chris Frisby, “but she went pretty hopeless, breaking all the time and lugging really badly.
“Josh came to the same conclusion when he had a go with her, but Grant Dixon mentioned that horses like her often reacted well to bloomers” – broader, supportive hopples – “and when we tried her in them, she improved straight away, and kept on improving to where she’s at now.”
Those shoes that Spare The Price turned up in, might just prove to be the most valuable set that Chris Frisby has used, or sold, in his long career as a trainer and equestrian supplier!
In the following race, a C5+ sprint, Uncle Lile ($6.60) reached the lead at the bell, en route to a 27.8 second quarter that had Anthony Frisby thinking “I’ve cooked him!” With the third quarter put by in 28.4 (for a middle half of 56.2), it was understandable that Uncle Lile would tire slightly, but a dour struggle with Satellite Ace down the straight produced a final quarter of 29.4, for a 1:54.0 mile rate.
It was the second fastest mile run in the first year on the new track – the anniversary celebrated with a “birthday” cake for patrons earlier in the night – and not far off El Fuego’s 1:53.3 record. It was win number 26 for Uncle Lile, now just one winning cheque away from reaching the coveted $200,000 in stakes earnings. He’s been a consistent performer every year since he began racing at two.
Uncle John ($3.10) completed the treble in race eight, a 2260 metres C0, spearing straight to the lead and increasing the tempo just a little each quarter, to easily hold off peg runners Sonny Studleigh and Tulhurst Ace, for an overall mile rate of 1:58.4, more than respectable for that class over the longer trip. This was the first treble for Anthony Frisby, who can savour the memory as he takes an enforced three-week “holiday” – a different memory for each week of his break?
Chris Frisby, who attributes his excellent results in the last year or so to a decision to work his horses a little easier, has previously achieved a training treble, at a feature meeting at Orange, with Mellant, Triumph Chip and his best horse Dinki Di.
Mammals Flash ($1.70 favourite, Bernie Hewitt) kick-started the run of favourites in the opening C1 sprint, sitting outside the lead then forging to the front at the 700 metres point, before handing up the lead halfway down the running then grabbing it back close to the line. It was a gritty effort and an enthralling race.
Mister Jogalong ($1.40 favourite, Mick/Kurt Lew) was far too strong for a good field in a Menangle Country series C1 heat, leading throughout and throwing in a 55.7 closing half which gave his rivals no chance. That’s now eight wins from 14 starts, and the Life Sign four-year-old might soon be recognized in his own right, and not just as Karloo Mick’s little brother.
Bon Accord Gal NZ ( $2.30 favourite,David/Brad Hewitt), was equally dominant in the C3-C4 Country Series sprint, controlling the race and lowering the night’s speed badge to 1:54.3, with a last half in 56.3, to remain unbeaten this time in.
Izzy Watt ($2.20 favourite, Mat Rue) led early before handing up, and using the sprint lane successfully, in a C2-C4 sprint, to record his fourth win in five starts this term. He took a while to muster speed once he got to the lane, but his trainer-driver has it down to a fine art now, and has more success this way than any other driver.
Merrylands Miss ($2.40 favourite, Kerryann Turner/Robbie Morris) got a nice three-wide tag into the race approaching the turn, and finished off with a blistering sprint in a C0-C2 Mares sprint, to give Matt Waters and Willy McCormack the thrill of winning with their first-ever starter, after the recent purchase of the mare.
We don’t see much barracking at the races nowadays, but these owners and their group of supporters, including Matt’s mum Karen (who spotted the horse on the net) and her sister-in-law Marianne Butler, reminded everyone that there’s nothing like that winning feeling!
Bernie Hewitt book-ended the meeting, in a 2260 metres C0, with Better With Bourbon NZ ($11.80), after enjoying a nice run three-fence before working clear turning in and sprinting well to collar leader Lombo Medlyn Miss.
Full marks to track curator Tony Hagney and his staff, for an excellent racing surface which produced five wins between 1:54 and 1:56, and raised plenty of speculation about just how fast the top-class horses might run on the track in coming months.
Perhaps there’s a marketing/sponsorship opportunity, for a sprint race that will draw these horses to Bathurst, to do their thing?
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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