13 July 2021 | Ken Casellas
The wonderful combination of trainer Nathan Turvey and driver Emily Suvaljko is continuing to flourish, and the partnership was to the fore again at Gloucester Park on Sunday night when the 20-year-old Suvaljko drove a masterly race to land $18.30 chance Blue Blazer to a thrilling last-stride victory over $3 fancy Gambit.
Blue Blazer started out wide at barrier seven and Suvaljko restrained the New Zealand-bred six-year-old to the rear. The Auckland Reactor gelding was still in last place in the field of ten 370m from home before Suvaljko switched him four wide and he flew home to win by a head.
This was Blue Blazer’s third win from his past five starts, and the combination has struck gold in the past couple of months with Rakasinc winning at his final two WA appearances before being sold to America, Rockin Rufus winning twice from three starts, Captains Beachbabe winning at four of his past eight starts, No Republic winning twice from three starts, and Spy Major and Mini Mine Yet each recording wins — a total of 15 wins from 26 drives.
Suvaljko followed her success with Blue Blazer with a treble at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon when she scored with $23 chance Velvet Shadow, $1.85 favourite Lamour Dottie and $18 chance Captains Beachbabe in the $30,000 Daintys Daughter Country Classic.
Captains Beachbabe raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning by a nose from Rumour Has It after earlier in the program Suvaljko had shown great skill to land Velvet Shadow and Lamour Dottie last-to-first winners.
Velvet Shadow, a three-year-old gelding trained by Peter Tilbrook, charged home from last in a field of nine to beat Sonic Chip by a length, and Lamour Dottie, a three-year-old filly trained by Dennis Roche, finished powerfully from last in a field of 11 at the 800m to snatch a last-stride win from Ocean Eve.
Photo Credit: Hamilton Content Creators
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
