By ‘Pegs’
FOLLOWERS of the Seymour stable of David ‘Butch’ Bourne have had a windfall in the past few weeks with Curly Burgin.
At a Moonee Valley night meeting last month, the five-year-old gelded son of Lucas Cranach and Capacitor got up at $31 and at the same venue last Friday night the gelding came from the rear of the field to score at $21.
Apprentice Lewis German patiently needled Curly Burgin through the field to get up and take out the $60,000 PTA Landscapes Handicap over 2040 metres.
The gelding defeated Pentire’s Spirit, $31, by three quarers of a length, with Hard Squeeze, $12, a long neck away third.
Bourne said the application of blinkers prior to his first valley win was the answer to the improved form.
“We’ll keep the gelding going as we better make hay while the sun shines,” he said.
“There’s a nice ‘70’ (Benchmark) on New Year’s Day for him for his next start.”
Curly Burgin was a $11,000 purchase at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern weanling sale by Bourne for himself and stable clients, who include Seymour Football Netball Club president and Seymour Racing Club vice president Gerard O’Sullivan, and wife Sandra.
The gelding has now won four races with two minor placings from his 16 starts, earning $113,390 in prizemoney.
Back-to-back wins
Earlier in the day at bet365 Yarra Valley, Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson gave Chestnut Thunder, $14, a quick back-up and was successful in the 1950-metre Mathew ‘Gator’ Plummer BM58 Handicap.
Having been successful at Wangaratta six days earlier, the eight-year-old Testafiable gelding, ridden by claiming apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, showed plenty of fight in holding on to defeat High Done, $6, by a half head, with Anything But, $31, a further one-and-three-quarter lengths away third.
“It was a very gutsy win. He dug deep,” Thompson said.
“He only had the saddle on once for the week but he’s done super around the stables this whole preparation.”
Chestnut Thunder has now won four races at his past eight starts.
Career-wise in his 30 starts he has greeted the judge on five occasions with six minor placings.
Benalla winner for Dyer
The following day at Benalla, Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer saddled up In Bel’s Shadow, $8, for an all-the-way win in the bet365 Maiden Plate over 2046 metres.
In driving rain, Hannah Le Blanc handled conditions beautifully to hold on and defeat Write To Rossa, $6, by two-and-a-half lengths, with the Seymour-trained Egyptian Wonder, a $2.35 favourite, a further three quarters of a length away third.
The five-year-old Bel Esprit mare was a $42,000 purchase by Dyer at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for himself and several stable clients.
In Bel’s Shadow had one minor placing prior to her win from 19 starts.
Osborne out of luck
With district trainers failing to greet the judge at bet365 Park Kyneton’s eight-race card on Thursday, local trainer George Osborne had a frustrating day, saddling up three second placings.
Mick Sell also had to be content with a second placing saddling up Magnum Bullet, $7.50, for a long-neck defeat in the Miranda Park BM58 Handicap.
Highlight of the meeting was the riding treble by the in-form Damien Thornton.
