TOM HAYES
HORSERACING
By TOM HAYES MOE Racing Club has taken hosting privileges of two Sale meets, the first of which took place on Sunday, January 15. The Sunday Races eight-race meet was scheduled to run in Sale, if it wasn’t for unfinished draining upgrades currently going on at Greenwattle. Nonetheless, locals were spread throughout the races on the day, and a few of them found themselves fighting for victories. The Race 1 S&S Equipment Hire Maiden Plate over 2050 metres contained two locals; Redskin Jimmy for Sale’s Troy and John Kilgower, and Jarology for Sale’s Cliff Murray. The two competed on either end of the pack, as Redskin Jimmy became once again, ever-so-close to his first victory. As usual, Redskin Jimmy took the pace of the race, leading for the majority of it, in doing so he had Shootthelightsout for company as they travelled around the back straight. Jarology was holding pace with the midfield, before dropping out around the 600m. As they turned the final bend, Redskin Jimmy was charging toward the line, holding the lead until the very last moment, when he was overtaken by Sweet Liaison for Nick Harnett. Sweet Liaison took the lead at the 100m and won by just over a length to Redskin Jimmy who has now placed in five of his last six starts. No locals were involved in Race 2’s Ladbroke It! 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m), but a highly entertaining race was led from start to finish by Gold Revolver for Gai Waterhouse. Gold Revolver held his lead by nearly two lengths as they rounded the final bend, once on the home straight he looked comfortable to take his maiden win. Gold Revolver held on from a fast finishing King’s Chamber and Irish Crickets, who were just over half a length behind. The three-year-old gelding has placed in every race or jump out start since coming back to the track in November, 2022, following a 21-week spell. The Race 3 Bottlemart Moe Maiden Plate (1100m) was filled with locals, five to be exact; Cop That for Sale’s Kerry Farrugia, Dempster for Sale’s Susie Wells, Peewee Blitz for Sale’s Marion Shears, Texas Dan for Sale’s Garry Douch and Catching Clouds for Paul and Tracey Templeton of Moe. Despite half the field being trained locally, none were rewarded with a win, nor a place, as they all finished from fifth to 10th. None were good enough to trouble the $1.60 favourite, Silkstar for Mick Price, who led from start to finish and coasted to win by around five lengths. Catching Clouds and Dempster held decent pace until the 400m, before falling off toward the back of the pack. The Race 4 Ian Grants Caravans Maiden Plate (1600m) was taken out by a fast finishing Fam Gorman for Kevin Corstens. My Girl Lacey for Moe’s Tim Hughes held the pace for majority of the race, before falling to the back of the pack at the 200m. Lunar Frost for Sale’s Rebecca Kelly was also just off-pace, but just like her local counterpart, she was swallowed by the field before finishing sixth. Fam Gorman charged from ninth at the 800m and fifth at the 400m, before closing in on Gronkowski, who held a three length lead on the home straight, to win by a length. A local took out the Race 5 Moe Optical Fillies & Mares BM64 Handicap (1600m), Red Stiletto for Moe’s Templeton’s. The five-year-old mare held strong from the front, opening an early three-length gap to fellow local, Barossa Kiss for Moe’s Catherine Martindale. At the 1200m mark, all three locals sat in first to third, as Fiftyonestates for Moe’s Lenny Xuereb found herself in third. At the 400m mark, Red Stiletto held firm, as the favourite, No Secret, began to make her move on the leader. But it was all Red Stiletto, who climbed to a three-and-a-half length lead to take the second win of her career. Barossa Kids also stayed close, finishing third, while Fiftyonestars dropped to last from the five starters. Another local placed during the Race 6 Club Eastwood Launch Fri 27th Jan BM64 Handicap (1000m), High Risk for Sharyn Trolove of Sale. High Risk was slow out of the gate, but swiftly made up the distance to join the pack in no time. Midnight Charm, Beefeaters and Avid General exploded clear from the pack, by around four lengths at the 600m. As they came around the bend, the once stretched pack now became compacted, as the rear joined the pace makers. Both Midnight Charm and Beefeaters were eventually outrun by the likes of Avid General for Jody Thompson, who was first to the line, playing $13 to win. High Risk came home in third, just over two lengths behind the leader, as six of the eight starters finished within four lengths. Moonlight Rustler for Sale’s Bill Wood rounded out the pack, finishing last of all runners without troubling anyone in the meantime. The Race 7 INXsive Moe Racing Club Fri 17th March BM64 Handicap (1200m) was won by Tan Tat Magic for Gavin Bedggood, by over a length. Despite a slow start, Red On Red for Moe’s John Pascoe, climbed from the back of the pack to the front and set the pace as they rounded the final bend. Until then Red On Red held the lead, but once they entered the main straight, Tan Tat Magic forced herself to the front, going up the inside. She held steady to win by over a length to The Brill Building, while locals Red On Red and Delightful Journey for Moe’s Christine Sexton sorted themselves toward the rear. The final race of the meet, the Race 8 Local Cups & Community Raceday 19th Feb BM58 Handicap (1600m), hosted a comparatively larger field, amassing 12 runners. Half of those 12 were locals, which were High Done for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton, Little Brother and One Man Band for Moe’s Darryl Blackshaw, Ripplebrook for Sale’s Trolove, Gimme A Buzz for Moe’s Hughes and Stay A While for Mick Templeton of Moe. Despite being so much local talent, the field was dominated by the rest, as High Done was the only runner of local significance, finishing second behind Commodus for Mark Sues, who won by three lengths. High Done and Stay A While held the pace around the first bend and past the 1000m mark. At the 600m mark, Commodus began to break into the leaders, passing Stay A While who was comparatively slower. Commodus took the lead as they rounded the final bend, before stretching out comfortably. Even jockey Craig Newitt was comfortable, as he was seen looking at the big screen and the crowd as they crossed the line. Moe Racing Club will host another meet on Tuesday, January 24, once again transferred from Sale.
