By ‘Pegs’
KILMORE trainer Jody Thompson journeyed to Kerang on the traditional Kerang Cup Day last Saturday with newly acquired Kermalaw, $8, and came home a winner.
In only his second start for the stable, the four-year-old gelded son of Kermadec and Lawmaker got up in a blanket finish to take out the Celebrating Geraldine Chirnside BM58 Handicap over 1400 metres.
The race carried plenty of significance as it honoured a well-known district identity who passed away suddenly in September, with family and friends lining the mounting yard on the gelding’s return to the winner’s stall.
The win was also extra special for the gelding’s rider, apprentice Kiran Quilty, who when residing in Broadford would learn the ropes from the Thompson stable.
Giving Kermalaw a peach of a ride, Quilty seized an opening nearing the winning post to get up by a short half-head to defeat Red Cracker, $7, with the $3.30 favourite Cable De Vega a similar margin away third.
“He got held up and became unbalanced but when he got out, he hit the line well and will get some confidence from that,” Thompson said.
“It was great Kiran could ride a winner for me as she used to come and ride work for me when she was still at school.”
Kermalaw is raced by the Thompson family in partnership with long-time family friends. Former racing.com presenter and Wallan resident Brad Bishop is also in the ownership.
The gelding has now won two races with three minor placings from his 14 starts.
It was a good 60 minutes for the Thompson stable as at Balnarring Picnics they were successful with Main Beach, $17.
The Rewarding For Effort three-year-old gelding was a comfortable winner of Barmah Park Vineyard Trophy race three over 1200 metres.
The gelding was beautifully positioned by promising apprentice Tyson Barton, who settled comfortably, pulling him out wide in the straight to record a nice win.
Main Beach, formerly trained and raced by retired horse brander Tony Carter-Smith, is now raced by Greg Barton, his son Tyson and partner Courtney Talty. The gelding has now won two races from seven starts.
The stable nearly made it three winners for the day as Batahi, $19, was luckless when beaten into second place at Warracknabeal and More Saturdays, $18, found the favourite too good when finishing second earlier on the program.
Keating and Strang combine
Fresh from riding a double at the Birdsville Cup Carnival five days earlier, John Keating rode Couldbefamous, $8, to victory for Seymour trainer Gordon Strang at Kerang on Saturday.
The Lucas Cranach four-year-old gelding was a comfortable winner of The Gannawarra BM52 Handicap over 1800 metres defeating Bassons, $15, by one-and-a-quarter lengths, with the Robert Linnell-trained Seporto, $11, a further four-and-three-quarter lengths away third.
Formerly trained by Linc Sullivan, Couldbefamous is now raced by Strang.
The gelding has now won the one race with one minor placing from his 11 starts.
Picnic success
With the Victorian 2021-22 picnic season completed on Sunday at Swifts Creek, fellow Seymour trainer Don Dwyer took out the Trainer of the Year Award with an incredible 28 wins for the season.
Dwyer’s stablemates All Too Creedy and Peggy Rose won six races apiece for the season.
