TOM HAYES
HORSE RACING
By TOM HAYES FRIENDS and family flocked in their numbers to the Moe Racing Club for the Local Cups & Community Race Day on Sunday. A seven-race meet was prepared for the couple of hundred people in attendance, and the track was graded a Good 4 throughout the day. The racing might not have been the biggest concern; perhaps finding shade was, as the crowd was treated to a perfect summer’s day in the final weeks of the season. People were eager to watch the Race 1 Moe Refrigeration Churchill Cup Maiden Highweight over 1600 metres, and they didn’t have to wait long to witness a local winner, when Bullock Island for Sale’s Kevin Milham was first to cross the line. The four-year-old gelding proved to be more suited to a longer distance, after being raced on the shorter 1200m races previously, placing ninth and 11th. Bullock Island jumped best from the pack to take an early lead, stretching to nearly three lengths, closely followed by Shooting Bricks. As they rounded the bend, Bullock Island and Shooting Bricks steamed well clear of the rest, but the lead didn’t change as Bullock Island reached the line first, just over two lengths clear. Holy Mongolian for Sale’s Adam Hanley came home in fifth, while A Beautiful Noise for Bairnsdale’s Malcolm Leys finished eighth and Rusty Nail for Moe’s Ian Jones was last to cross the line. Race 2’s John Kerr Real Estate Trafalgar Cup 0-58 Highweight (2400m), was a close finish, won by Tasuma for Robbie Laing. Tasuma came home strong in the final 400m, having to find a path past three horses. Once he turned at the bend, it was quite literally a sprint to the finish line – one that he’d win, pipping He’s Run Away by a head at the line. Only a further half a length behind was Asternishing, who could’ve been the winner if there was another 100m. Sassoon for Sale’s Rebecca Kelly was close to the front in the early stages, but slowed up at the important stages, finishing eighth. The Race 3 Merchant Butchers Newborough Cup 3YO Maiden (1200m) was taken out by Peter Moody’s Swiss Babe. She swiftly found the lead not long after the jump, before leading the pack for the entire race. Swiss Babe made it look easy in just her third race, beating the favourite, Checkendon, by nearly two lengths. Milham was unable to pick up another winner in this race, as his Ballet Boy finished 10th. Race 4’s Morwell Bowling Club Morwell Cup 4YO Maiden (1200m) saw the first favourite winner of the day, Dirty Mind for Anthony Freedman. Dempster for Sale’s Susie Wells led early, but in Dempster-fashion, fell off pretty quickly. Dirty Mind ran behind the pacemakers, running three-wide at the 400m in an attempt to get a clean line on the straight. Dirty Mind quickly found ground, going stride for stride with Frostwood before kicking clear, reaching the line first by one and a half lengths. Listen for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton came fifth, Noortoomany for Kelly finished ninth, while Dempster came last. The Race 5 Natures Cargo Yarragon Cup 0-58 Handicap (1200m) was narrowly won by No New Tricks for Alan Kennan. No New Tricks settled in the pack before finding the front after going three-wide at the bend. From there he looked as if he couldn’t be beaten. A Late charge was forced by One Man Band for Moe’s Darryl Blackshaw, coming from ninth at the 400m mark. Like Asternishing in Race 2, One Man Band would’ve been a good chance to win if there was another 100m or so. But, No New Tricks found the line first by half a length to One Man Band, sealing the fifth win of his career. Beautrooper for Sale’s Troy Kilgower finished sixth, after leading for majority of the race. Race 6’s LV Drafting Yallourn North Cup 0-58 Handicap (1000m) saw another local winner, when I’m Cheeky for Sale’s Bill Wood won by a nose. Only a head separated the front three runners, needing a photo finish to decide the places. It was eventually found that two locals were in the top three. I’m Cheeky was first to the line by a nose to Revolutionist, who was a nose in front of Another Engagement for Moe’s Catherine Martindale. Delivery Man for Kelly finished fifth, just under three lengths away, after he stayed in the same position for most of the race. The final race of the day, the Race 7 Ladbrokes Warragul Cup 0-58 Handicap (1600m), provided a grandstand two-horse race to complete proceedings. Eevavessance was the early leader, but like most that draw ahead quickly, soon found herself behind everyone. Onehundred Percent took the lead from Eevavessance, stretching to a quick two-length lead, headed for home. But, Diamanda for Michael Binney was not done with yet, clawing back the lead and taking it for herself, first to the line by a head. Langworthy for Moe’s Allison Bennett completed the first three, three lengths behind the leading two. Highland Blaze for Bairnsdale’s Jackson Pallot came seventh, Piccolo Fiore for Hanley was eighth, Bishop Rock for Wells came 10th, Panagsama for Sale’s Paul Worthington finished 11th and Acey Deucy for Moe’s Charlie Gafa was 12th. The Moe Racing Club’s next meet is planned to go ahead on ANZAC Day (Tuesday, April 25), for the Hip Pocket & Cool Group ANZAC Day Race Day. The next local meet is at the Sale Turf Club today (February 22), with an eight-race card scheduled for Wednesday racing.
