TOM HAYES
HORSERACING
By TOM HAYES MOE Racing Club was host to a second Sale-transfer, following the Sunday Races on January 15. This time around, the Tuesday Races featured an eight-race meet providing a handful of tightly-contested finishes. The track was graded a Good 4 throughout the day, as good weather was provided – 28 degrees overhead. The Race 1 Ladbrokes Mates Mode Maiden Plate over 1214 metres, was taken out by Skepticism for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young of Cranbourne. Skepticism ran off-pace from the jump, and settled behind the leaders until the 600m mark, when she went three wide to launch her attack. The three-year-old filly burst into the lead on the straight and held on by a neck to win, from Skywriter and Our Warrior. In just her second race, Skepticism was able to register her first victory. Night Eruption for Sale’s Paul Worthington placed third, while Recurrence for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton came fifth and Zoom Torino for Sale’s Troy Kilgower came seventh. Race 2’s S&S Equipment Hire 3YO Maiden Plate (1214m) had no local talent, and was won by the favourite, Cannoli for Mick Price of Cranbourne. Cannoli led for the entire race, and was able to hold off a charging pack that gave it their all on the home straight. The three-year-old filly found the line first by a neck, to Street Elite, who was a neck ahead of New York Scandal. The Race 3 Ladbrokes Punter Assist Maiden Plate (1114m) was won by the debutant, Royal Wazi, for Jerome Hunter. Once again, the winner had a great jump from the gates, holding a steady pace to lead the pack around Moe’s track. Royal Wazi was challenged late by Lochend Umosa for Worthington, but held on by a head to take out the first win of her career. Centrefoldstar for Kilgower ran steadily in the midfield for the entire race, crossing the line in sixth. Race 4’s Club Eastwood Launch Friday 27th January Maiden Plate (1623m), was taken out by Triumphant Miss for the famous Peter Moody. The eventual winner ran at the back of the field, while the ‘roughies’ held the lead. At the 600m mark, the favourite, Star Of Kongo for the Templeton’s, began to make his move from fourth, spreading three-wide to attempt to take the lead. But nothing was stopping the fast-finishing Triumphant Miss from recording her first victory, as she leapt to the line, running over the top of Deal Obtained by a nose. Star Of Kongo came home in fourth, ultimately unable to get past the leaders. The Race 5 RMBL Investments Rising Stars BM58 Handicap (1623m) held just five runners, following the scratching of four horses. It was an unfortunate end for the local runners, Ripplebrook for Sale’s Sharyn Trolove and Red Stiletto for the Templeton’s, both finishing fourth and fifth respectively. It was more disappointing for the favourite, Red Stiletto, following her great start, who was coming off of a win in Moe just a week and a half ago. Frenzy Lune for Greg Hayes pounced to the front at the final bend, before stretching out to a four-length lead when reaching the line. The well-backed second favourite recorded just the third win of her career from 22 starts. Race 6’s INXsive Moe Racing Club Friday 17th March 0-64 Handicap (1212m), was won by Rossman for Mornington’s David Brideoake. Rossman was second-favourite to Moody’s So Greysful, who eventually finished in fourth. The eight-year-old gelding used his experience to charge towards the line and edge past Too Viennese – demoting him to second. Street Swagger for Kilgower came home in fifth, following an early hint that he might show some pace. It was Rossman’s seventh career win from 45 starts, just the 17th place in his entire career. In the Race 7 Ladbrokes Market Control BM58 Handicap (1114m), Busuttin and Young recorded their second win of the day, when Soju Session came home strong. Soju Session started fast, which enabled her to take the lead around the 800m mark, holding on with all of her strength to beat Alpinova to the line by half of a head. The favourite claimed her second victory of her short six-race career, which allows plenty of eyes to be understandably laid on her. Make An Effort for Trolove came home in fifth, following a gutsy attempt to break into the leading pack. Race 8’s Local Cups Raceday 19th February BM58 Handicap (2082m) was filled with local talent; four of the 10 runners were trained in Sale. The race over more than 2000m was won by Mr Blackwood, the well-backed second favourite, for Cindy Alderson of Cranbourne. The Bounty for Sale’s Colin Butcher held steady pace at the front of the pack early on in the race, while the favourite, Bucks for Sale’s Damien Walkley, had a terrible start and had to climb his way back into the race. Dixie Built held strong but was unable to fight the speed of Mr Blackwood who came home strong to win by a length. The Bounty finished third, while Bucks finished fourth from a long way back. Bishop Rock for Sale’s Susie Wells finished eight and Savvy Dan for Sale’s Michelle Murray finished ninth. Moe Racing Club will host its next meet on Sunday, February 19, for the Local Cups & Community Race Day. Yet, the next local event is Tuesday Racing at the Stony Creek Racing Club, on January 31.
