TOM HAYES
HORSERACING
By TOM HAYES FOLLOWING months of deliberation, the Sale Turf Club was back in operation with the Sale Quality Kids Day Out on Sunday (February 5). The nine-race meet was presented to a Soft 5 track, following days of downpour, but the days’ weather was an improvement as the track progressed to a Good 4 after Race 3. The Race 1 Ladbrokes Punter Assist Maiden Plate ran over 1103 metres was won by Tiz Enuf for Flemington’s Anthony and Sam Freedman. The short-priced favourite was quick to find the front from the jump, leading the entire race. As it looked like other horses may make their move, Tiz Enuf found another gear to kick ahead and win by two lengths. Race 2’s Lords Cleaning Service Maiden Plate (1003m) was expertly won by Belvago for Cranbourne’s Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock. Just like the previous race, Belvago took the lead from the jump and never gave it up. While other horses fought on the final straight, it allowed him to stay steadily in front, winning by just over a length. Dempster for Sale’s Susie Wells was the best of the local runners finishing in fifth, while Just Ralph for Sale’s Bill Wood came eighth. The Race 3 Cabinet Connections Maiden Plate (1203m) was won by Campania Volpe for Cranbourne’s Adrian McGregor. The favourite, Rampant Lion, held the pace of the race past the 1000m mark, while the eventual winner, paying $16, was second last. With about 200m to go, Campania Volpe finally burst toward the front, taking the lead at the final moment to win by a neck. Race 4’s Bennett Electrical Maiden Plate (1203m) was won by another Cranbourne local, Contanti for Michael Kent. Catching Clouds for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton took an early lead, stretching out to nearly three lengths. At the 100m mark, both Star Honour and Contanti became the front runners, both more than five lengths ahead of third. Contanti held on to win by just under a length, while Atomoscar for Moe’s Catherina Martindale came third by a nose. Night Eruption for Sale’s Paul Worthington was the next best local runner, coming eighth, meaning the remaining four local runners filtered between ninth and 14th. The Race 5 Macwaste Group Maiden Plate (1407m) was won by Hanibal Hero for Heath Hill’s Brendan McCarthy. Local debutant, Snowgun for Cliff Murray, ran particularly well holding the pace, yet fell off toward the end of the race. Hanibal Hero raced just off pace behind the front runners, allowing himself to pounce on the straight. He held on to win by half a length to Distorted Mission, who also finished fast. The best of the locals was Classic Story for Sale’s Heather Stephens, who was a nose away from third, finishing fourth while paying $151. Noortoomany for Sale’s Rebecca Kelly finished strongly in fifth while the other three locals crossed the line in 10th position or lower. Race 6’s Simic Betta Home Living Sale Handicap BM58 (1407, was the final race of the meet with no locals, yet provided a thriller. Following a photo finish, it was found that Reo for Cranbourne’s Richard Laming won by a nose to the favourite, Diddley Squat. Diddley Squat held firm at the front of the pack, before beginning to sprint after the final bend. Reo joined Diddley Squat and the two went stride for stride up until the line providing a grandstand finish. The Race 7 Viatek Handicap BM58 (1103m) was comfortably taken out by Zion for Flemington’s Nick Ryan. I’m Cheeky for Sale’s Bill Wood was the pacesetter over the course of the race, leading up until the 200m mark, before falling to the rear and finishing 10th. Street Swagger for Sale’s Troy Kilgower did the opposite, sitting at the rear of the pack before making a late forward lunge, finishing seventh. Zion began to overtake the leading pack in the final 400m, jetting ahead with 200m to go, before winning by over two lengths. Race 8’s John Elliman Real Estate Sale Quality Handicap BM78 (1203m), was another comfortable win, this time it was Jungle Jim for Flemington’s Michael Moroney. Jungle Jim had the best jump of the lot, allowing him to take an early lead, joined by Najem Suhail, the pair had five lengths on the rest. Just as they prepared to take on the final straight, Jungle Jim proved why he was the favourite, stepping three lengths clear to take out a comfortable victory. A Penny Spent for Sale’s Stephens ran at the front of the midfield but as she turned around the final bend, she began to lose positions, finishing eighth. For the final race of the day – the Race 9 Ladbroke It! Handicap BM58 (1724m), six of the 12 runners in the field were local, upgrading the chance of a winner at last. A local winner was finally victorious after nine races in Sale, when High Done for Moe’s Templeton’s won by a head. Just like a lot of previous runners on the day, High Done had a great start from the barrier, leading the field around the course. Alongside High Done in the early stages was fellow Moe-trained horse, Acey Deucy, the two going two lengths clear of the pack at the 800m mark. As they turned onto the main straight, Acey Deucy started to drop, while Albanian Eagle launched her attack, coming alongside High Done. But High Done repelled the attack, keeping his lead, holding on by a head to win. High Done has finally achieved reward for his efforts, after improving as of late; toward the end of 2022, he couldn’t find the front, but within the last month or two, he has found form with two placings. The next best-placed local horse was Not A Problem for Moe’s Allison Bennett, who climbed to seventh after settling at the rear. Sale Turf Club will host its next event – Wednesday Racing – on February 22, while the next local meet is in Moe today (Wednesday, February 8) as the Moe Racing Club holds a transferred meet from Ballarat.
