Wednesday's Balaklava Races Report
- Thursday, 02 June 2011 00:47
Carrying the number one saddle cloth and starting from barrier number one the $2.60 equal favourite Lucky Sunday gave jockey Justin Potter and trainer David Jolly the first leg of a double in the opening event of 1000 metres at Balaklava on Wednesday.
A two year old Keep The Faith gelding out the Peintre Celebre mare Lucky Beauty and starting for the first time Lucky Sunday was well in contention throughout the race and beat the Tony McEnoy cared for Simon Price mount Refract $3.
The equal favourite with Lucky Sunday was another David Jolly runner God’s Way ridden by Paul Gatt who finished another one and three quarter lengths away third.
Justin Potter brought up win number two when the William Smart prepared first starter Daylight Dauphin $21 scored a half length victory in the 1400 metre fourth race.
From the Prince Echo matron Nankeeen Kestrel the Barely A Moment fathered Daylight’s Dauphin was well back early and came with a strong run over the concluding stages to beat the apprentice Libby Hopwood steered O’Jay, the $2.10 public elect for her master Richard Jolly.
The $3.80 chance Ninetysix Krug was a half neck away filling the minor placing for Lloyd Kennewell and Shayne Cahill.
Trainer David Jolly won his second race when his apprentice Claudia Lions guided Wicked Dreams $3.60 to a three quarters of a length win in the 1050 metres fifth race.
A Key Business mare from Danzotto, a Danzero matron, Wicked Dreams was well placed and defeated the Lloyd Kennewell charge, the Shayne Cahill ridden Sixtykay $3.
Returned as the $2.60 favourite Bigbadbarry was a farther three quarters of a length back to third for Ken Sweeney and Dominic Tourneur.
Mentor Mark Kavanagh brought up the first leg of a consecutive double when the Exceed And Excel sired Avail, from the Zabeel mare Avabelle, was the one and a half length winner of race two which was run over 1200 metres.
Having the services of Todd Pannell and starting at $4.40 Avail came from the rear of the field before unleashing a strong run in the straight going on to beat the Bill Bogarts prepared Libby Hopwood piloted Heavens Halo $6.50 who finished another one and a quarter lengths ahead of the minor placegetter Delphere, the $1.70 punter’s choice, for Paula Trenwith and Clare Lindop.
The $1.50 favourite Steam Engine, who was ridden by Chad Lever, was the two and a half length winner of the 1050 metre third event, bringing up win number two for Mark Kavanagh.
Sired by the United States bred Lion Heart from the Danehill mare Brisanna, Steam Engine was well placed and powered home over the last metres to beat the Darren Magro cared for Adrian Patterson guided Arctic Cash $9.
Starting at $6 Murtagh was another three and a half lengths away third for Shane Oxlade and Justin Potter.
The Grass Wonder sired Tuscan Wonder the $3 favourite gave trainer Kirsten McGowan and jockey Troy Baker a neck win in race six which was run over 2200 metres.
From the Alzao mare Laudemio, Tuscan Wonder came from well back to defeat Rockin Rapture $4.60 for the combination of Fred Meuring and Dominic Tourneur.
Countess of Tiba $3.20 was a farther length away third for Ken M Knowles and Jackson Matthews.
Leading all the way the $2.50 public elect Mountain Cat gave mentor Lloyd Kennewell and rider Dominic Tourneur a three quarters of a length win in race seven which was run over 1400 metres.
A Tiger Hill mare from the Barathea mare Marlboro Hill, Mountain Cat beat Crocman $9 for mentor Craig Curtis and rider Michael Hoppo.
Smoke ‘Em Billy $5 was another one and a quarter lengths away third for Mick Huxtable and Paul Gatt.
The training combination of Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas and rider Clare Lindop were associated with Novasaurus $13 the neck winner of the final event which was run over 1600 metres.
From the Weasel Clause mare Nova Clause and sired by Testa Rossa, Novasaurus came from well back to defeat Team Lago $21 for trainer Di Tulk and rider Damien Robinson.
Savvy Smokin’ $3.30 was a farther length away third for Ken Sweeney and Matthew Neilson.
