A VERY happy and safe Easter to everyone.
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The big news this week is our own Easter Cup meeting at Moruya this Saturday, where I am sure I’m not the only one delighted to see Maddy Wright back in the saddle on race day on her home track.
A big welcome back to Maddy from all of us.
Fine weather should guarantee a big crowd of local racing enthusiasts and Easter holidaymakers alike flocks to the track for the exciting six-event full-TAB meeting, the feature race being the Easter Cup.
For all details of the meeting check the Moruya Jockey Club’s promotional poster on page 69 of today’s edition of the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner.
Over the past 10 days we have seen plenty of exciting performances by our Moruya gallopers, starting at Goulburn on March 20 where both Lynda Bundy and Colbey Hill each had a runner in the South-Eastern Qualifying race for the Country Championships, the $300,000 final of which will be run at Randwick next Saturday.
Lynda’s Jacakaizane jumped from a middle gate with Grant Buckley aboard, carrying top weight of 59 kilos in the 16-horse field, being caught wide for most of the race.
It was still right in the finish at the line, claiming a close two-length fifth in the strong field.
Colbey’s Ward finished well back behind the place getters.
John Marzol’s Bel Esandy ran a terrific half-length second, with Kathy O’Hara aboard, in the Benchmark 55 (1200m) sprint, being the best result for our other Moruya runners on the day.
We had three outstanding Moruya runners at the provincial meeting at Kembla Grange the following day in Joe Ible’s Vision And Verse, Debi-Lee Saxton’s Lighthouse and Mark MacDonald’s Lavington Star, the last two both ridden by Roly Saxton.
Joe’s Vision And Verse won the Class Two (1300m) event in the last stride to the line.
The four-year-old mare made it two wins in a row, both with Winona Costin in the saddle, and is running in fantastic form.
Let’s hope her next run completes the hat-trick for Joe.
Our other two runners finished unplaced in their respective events.
Tim Phillips has continued on his winning way at the two Picnic meetings over the past two Saturdays, firstly at Ardlethan where he rode three winners, including the feature Picnic Cup, as well as a third on the six-race card.
Last Saturday, he rode two winners, one in the feature Picnic Cup at the Tullibigeal Picnic meeting, as well as three thirds on the six-race card.
Well done again to Tim from us all.
The feature meeting this week for our Moruya runners was the Sapphire Coast meeting on Monday where we had runners in each of the seven races.
Rachel Backhouse’s The Devil’s Mark was our only winner of the day, taking out the Benchmark 50 (1400m) event when flying home late and out wide, with John Marzol’s Flying Impulse following just behind in second.
It looked like they would be fighting out the minors when James Curtis’ Rushman lead the field from the jump but was caught in the last 50m and was relegated to a close fourth at the line.
Kevin Cassidy’s Goodlookin’Rooster ran a terrific race, fresh from a spell, when leading up the straight in the Benchmark 60 (1200m) sprint with Roly Saxton aboard. Unfortunately he was caught late by Paul Murray’s provincial runner Alert Status, but still held off all other challengers to claim second at the line.
There was a protest by the third place getter against the winner which, if successful, would have elevated Goodlookin’Rooster to first place, but the protest was dismissed.
Tom Lyttle’s Double Warning and Kevin Cassidy’s Woobie finished second and third respectively in the opening Maiden (100m) sprint, and John Law’s Yarragee Road came from well back with a great run to claim a close third in the Benchmark 55 (900m) sprint.
Apart from our Moruya meeting on Saturday we may also have runners at Sunday’s Nowra meeting.
Until next time, good luck and good punting.