26 February 2018 | Graham Fischer
Trainer Shane Young has become the ‘King of South Australian Claimers’ and on Saturday landed his second straight Angle Vale Hardware & Fodder Multicultural Claiming Cup (1800m) at Globe Derby Park.
Young had three runners in the action-packed final and finished with the race quinella with Ona Rocky Beach beating Maywyns Zephyr while Majestic Lustre finished fifth.
Last year, the trainer won the race with Power Of Attorney, which also contested this year’s race for trainer-driver Gina Bell.
Unfortunately, Bell was tipped out with about 300 metres to go and was run over by two following runners. She suffered a broken ankle and bruising and is expected to be sidelined for about two months.
Because he was coming from an awkward draw of eight, Ona Rocky Beach started the $3.50 favourite but would have run much shorter had he drawn better.
Brilliantly driven by concession reinsman Michael Harding, Ona Rocky Beach scored a three metre win from Maywyns Zephyr ($4.80) with Centonic ($4.20), nine metres away third.
Young and Harding formed a plan to get the nine-year-old off the inside as soon as possible at gate release by hanging back at the start and coming straight off into the running line.
As expected, there was a good battle for the early lead with Holme On The River, from gate three, holding out Power Of Attorney which drew five. Machtwister, from gate six, was caught three wide and the trio kept the early place on for about 300 metres.
No sooner had Machtwister conceded and drop back, then Ken Rogers came forward from midfield with Majestic Lustre and assumed control with just over a lap to go.
As he settled in the lead, Harding came three wide from second last with Ona Rocky Beach, while Jayden Brewin, on Maywyns Zephyr, elected to trail his stablemate forward.
Ona Rocky Beach had too much pace and sprinted strongly down the back to claim the lead off the back and keep going to win comfortably.
Maywyns Zephyr might have been outsprinted by the winner but kept coming to take second while Centonic ran well again to take third.
Young purchased Ona Rocky Beach from Victoria midway through last year.
“He had issues, but I took the gamble with him and while he might be a race-to-race proposition is currently going well,” Young said.
“There is no doubt he has the ability and with my training routine he seems to be enjoying life at the minute.
“It was a great result, but I was a little disappointed with Majestic Lustre. When he found the front, I thought he would be hard to beat, and was surprised her faded to fifth, but it was only his second run from a good break.”
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