LIAM DURKIN
HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
WILD weather which lashed Traralgon last week did not deter Derby Day at Glenview Park.
The Latrobe Valley Racing Club event saw seven races held on Saturday, in what is hoped will be the final time race goers will be unable to attend meetings in person.
Expert trainer Peter Moody dominated the meeting, securing three winners, while this year’s Moe Cup winning jockey Patrick Moloney steered home the same number of victors – two of which were for Moody.
The wind gusts from Friday played havoc in the hours before the first race, as up to 600 metres of rail had to be cleared from the track.
The Moody/Moloney combination got their first win of the day on the board in the
Latrobe Valley Express 3YO Maiden Plate over 1100m, with Dubai Nights strolling through to win by more than two lengths.
It was more of the same for the duo in the Gippsland Motor Group Maiden Plate (1430m), as Sudann won by three lengths from Samedi with Moloney again on board.
Another local news service followed The Express in sponsoring a race, with the WIN Network Gippsland Maiden Plate (1900m) seeing Be Alert do it easy by 3 1/2 lengths for the Cranbourne based Cindy Alderson. Trafalgar jockey Jason Maskiell rode Raid The Bar to second in this race for Bundalaguah trainer Sharyn Trolove.
The RACV Solar 58 Handicap (1900m) saw Moloney make it a riding treble on board the $3.70 favourite Saving.
A close finish in the Latrobe City Council 58 Handicap (1430m) was won by Clinched for Sale trainer Angela Bence – the first of her career.
The four-year-old gelding came home strong after sitting 10th with 400m to run to take the prize.
Moody got his third winner for the day in the Vale Lindsay Cameron BM64 Handicap (1100m), as the heavily-supported Dance to Dubai ($1.50fav) won by a length from Eagle Spirit.
Arguably the best finish was saved for last race in the Cleaners World Traralgon 58 Handicap
(1100m), which saw less than 0.3 of a length separate the top three finishers.
Bailarin ($10) narrowly edged out local hope Commanding Witness ($15) for Moe trainers Paul and Tracey Templeton.
Latrobe Valley Racing Club chairperson Frank Bezzina said the event went well considering the weather leading in, and wished to thank all who supported the club.
“It was a really good day,” he said.
“The weather was up and down with patchy rain, but the track was magnificent – the best it has ever looked. All the top trainers were really happy with it. We had no problems getting sponsorship this year. It helps because, apart from our track manager, we are all just volunteers.”
The club will now turn its attention to Traralgon Cup Day, with Bezzina saying it was full steam ahead until the event on Sunday, November 28.
“There is lots of interest, the dining room is already booked out,” he said.
“We’re on the up, our facility has been upgraded in the dining room so we’re looking forward to the cup.”
