By ‘Pegs’
AFTER failing to beat a runner home at Colac at his first run this preparation, the Neil Dyer-trained Oliver Bullet turned the tables with an impressive win at Ararat on Friday.
Sent out a $41 hope in the 1600-metre Harvey Norman Ararat Maiden Plate, the five-year-old gelded son of Bullet Train and El Ashb was positioned back in the field by apprentice Tianni Chapman and got up to defeat the $2.80 favourite Van Scotia by three-quarters of a length, with Undisturbed, $11, a similar margin away third.
The Kyneton-based trainer said he did not give the gelding much of a chance.
“We’ve been struggling at Kyneton since the track got flooded on the seventh of October [last year] and we’ve had very limited conditions to work on,” he said.
“We’ve been tread-milling, swimming and walking and a little bit of trackwork, so it was a bit hard to get a guide on him.
“His run at Colac last start was good as we probably took off a furlong too early on him, but he loomed up four wide on the turn as if he was going to go on with it, but he got the stitch.”
Dyer purchased Oliver Bullet at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale for $43,000 for himself and stable clients.
The gelding was having his 17th start.
Berrigan beauty
Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson, who is not afraid to travel with her horses in search of a winner, took a team over the border to Berrigan, NSW, and came home with a winner.
She saddled up the newly-acquired Benefactress, paying $5, for a comfortable win in The AF (Bert) Honeychurch Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap, over 1600 metres.
The Contributer five-year-old mare, ridden by Josh Cartwright, defeated Smokin’ Soldier by two lengths with Honour The Legend, $5, a length away third. The Dyer-trained Latest Bentley started a $3 favourite and finished fourth.
“It was a superb ride by Josh Cartwright,” Thompson said.
“He drew the 14 barrier and was on the fence within 200 metres and went around two horses.”
Thompson purchased the New Zealand-bred mare, formerly trained by Simon Zahra, for $6500 at the 2003 Inglis February Online Sale for herself, family and friends.
Benefactress has now won four races, including a Caulfield win from her 20 starts. The Berrigan win was the second start for the new stable.
Four from six for The Beach
The Tony Carter-Smith trained Main Beach, $3, made it four wins from his past six starts when easily accounting for the opposition at Alexandra picnic races on Saturday.
The four-year-old gelded son of Reward For Effort and Princess Carnegie, coming off a Yea picnics victory mid-February, was an easy winner of the Thompson Family Racing Stables Trophy1 Handicap, over 1300 metres.
Ridden by Kilmore hoop Tyson Barton, who also part owns the gelding along with his partner Courtney Talty and his father Greg Barton, Main Beach defeated Make False Report, $7, by two lengths with Calypso Rich, a further one and three quarters lengths away third.
“The horse has really matured this season,” Tyson said.
“He’s so honest. His two unplaced runs we found he had back soreness after he got cast in his box.”
Tyson was full of praise for the Kilmore trainer, who gifted the gelding to him and has been a great mentor.
Main Beach has now won six races with two minor placings from his 18 starts.
Main Beach is currently third on the premiership table and Barton is third on the jockey’s ladder for the season.
- Hoofnote: The Thompson Racing Stables have been a great supporter of picnic racing, sponsoring Saturday’s race and were sponsors at Yea last month.
Kilmore turf meeting on Friday
Kilmore Racing Club will host a turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore this Friday. Admission to the meeting is free.
Dining bookings for Trackside Bistro and alfresco area are still available. To make a booking or for further enquiries call 5783 0777.
