TOM HAYES
HORSE RACING
By TOM HAYES ALL eyes were on the Bairnsdale Racing Club as they held the Patties Foods Bairnsdale Cup at the weekend. An eight-race card was scheduled for the meet, which took place on a Good 4 graded track. Things began strong when the favourite won the Race 1 Tim Bull Member for East Gippsland Maiden Plate over 1600m. The Great Seal for Jason Williams was second-last out of the gate, but swiftly made his way to the front of the pack to lead the race. He controlled the entire race, stretching out to a two-and-a-half length lead, before being caught after the line. Classic Story for Sale’s Heather Stephens was right in the mix, finishing third, while other locals didn’t fare so well. Marble Run for Sale’s Adam Hanley dropped back to eighth, while Sacra for Sale’s Gary Douch dropped to last. It was a hot finish to Race 2’s Bet365 Maiden Plate (1200m), with four horses crossing the line within a length of each other. The clear favourite, Headline Story for Phillip Stokes, ran off-pace before pouncing ahead of the leaders at the 400m mark. Despite this, the rest of the pack stayed close, but he managed to stay in front by a head as he crossed the line. Clydebank Robber for Sale’s Susie Wells and Lonestar Jack for Sale’s Troy Kilgower made up the final two positions in eighth and ninth. The Race 3 Dahlsens Group Maiden Plate (1000m) was won by local, Lochend Umosa for Sale’s Paul Worthington. After coming close on many occasions, the five-year-old mare finally got her first win after 14 starts. She expertly controlled the race from the front, getting her lead to around four lengths before cooling off in the latter stages, clear by just under a length. Concrete Fever for Sale’s Cliff Murray was fifth for almost the entire race, before finishing fifth, while Schueller for Kilgower was steadily in second, but dropped all the way to the rear. Race 4’s Viatek East Gippsland Handicap (1000m) was taken out by Over Boost for Paul Gorman, which included a brilliant fight-back. The five-year-old gelding, who was originally in fifth, went four wide in an attempt to draw even with the leaders, and it worked. With 200m to go, he turned on the afterburners to overtake the leaders and come home with over a length to spare. Just Malcolm for Sale’s Bill Wood finished eighth and Iloveannie for Walkley came 10th after a shocking start. Empressive Enuff for Dean Binaisse was impressive to say the least, when he smashed the field to win by five lengths in the Race 5 TRFM Tesbury Jack Sprint (1200m). While the midfield pack exchanged positions, things were composed up the front for Empressive Enuff, who calmly led the pack. He’d toyed with them for the first 800m or so, as when he hit the bend, he stretched out to a five length led and stormed to the line. Elvaric for Wells climbed from ninth to finish third, while Panagsama came from 10th to finish sixth. It was one to forget for I’m Cheeky for Wood, as a battle for the lead early on, led to coming second-last. Positions changed a lot throughout the back-end of Race 6’s Bulmer Farms Lindenow Cup (2200m), as the well-valued favourite dropped from first to third. I Could Do Better came charging home in the final moments to pinch the lead, after settling in the midfield throughout the race. He created a path for Bell’s Bighouse, who was paying $18, to follow him and come second. Bishop Rock for Wells climbed to seventh, but that was as far as she’d get and Langworthy for Moe’s Allison Bennett could only muster eighth position. Next up, was the long-awaited Race 7 Patties Foods Bairnsdale Cup (1600m), which was incredibly won by local, Delightful Journey for Moe’s Christine Sexton. Delightful Journey was one of the best to jump from the gate, taking an early two-length lead, stretching quickly to four lengths clear. The lead length fluctuated, but Delightful Journey firmly held the lead, controlling the race up until the line to claim an emphatic victory. Delightful Journey was paying $61 on Sportsbet prior to the race, the equal-highest odds for any horse in that field. In doing so, the five-year-old gelding that had just claimed its fifth win, took home nearly $40,000 worth of prize money. Starspangled Baby came second for Craig Blackshaw, Fine Weather for Walkley dropped from the podium to eighth, Red On Red for Moe’s John Pascoe came ninth, while Dahwilly for Bennett seemingly retired from the race. The meet ended fantastically from a local perspective, as Walkley finally got a winner after a struggling day, as Luv A Duck won Race 8’s Club Eastwood Handicap (1600m). It was two horse race in the final moments of the day as Luv A Duck and Tycoon Raff fought tooth and nail for the final win of the day. The two got the best jump from the gates, as they fought for an early lead, simultaneously gaining five lengths on the rest of the field. Luv A Duck was more patient with his approach, saving energy for the end game, which allowed him to pinch the lead by a nose at the line. Paying $18, it was another local roughie who surprised everyone. Ima Dozer for Sexton came fifth and Vibrant Glider for Blackshaw was a nose behind in sixth. The next meet at Bairnsdale is on Monday, May 1 for the Free Race Day Monday Racing.
