David Braithwaite
SALE Turf Club will host an eight-race program on Friday at Greenwattle Racecourse.
The track should be in condition, with it rated “good four” on Thursday.
The first race is scheduled for 1.30pm.
In race five, a benchmark 58 handicap over 2226 metres, Ally’s Reward, trained at Sale by Allan Douch, returns to her home track, where she finished second over 2200m at the previous meeting.
High Done, trained at Moe by Paul and Tracey Templeton, has finished in the first three, including a win at Yarra Valley, in his previous four starts, while Billet Doux placed third at Pakenham, won at Sale and came second at Bendigo this preparation and could enjoy the extra distance of today’s race.
Having won as a 150-1 longshot at the last Greenwattle meeting, I’m Cheeky, trained at Sale by Bill Wood, returns for race six, a benchmark 58 handicap over 1006m. Placing fifth at Swan Hill after leading with 200m to go, All In Brawl will come back in class to race at Sale, having won at Yarra Valley over a similar distance.
Local trainer Sharyn Trolove has Tiny Hussy, who finished second to another local horse, Elvaric, at Sale last start, entered in race seven, a benchmark 58 handicap over 1415m. One of the contenders will be Whatarap, who dug deep in the straight to win at Moe on Valentine’s Day over 1208m.
For the final race of the day, the benchmark 58 handicap over 1206m at 5pm, Maldestro followed a hat-trick of wins at picnic meetings with a strong victory at Pakenham last start over 1200m. Roppongi is coming off back-to-back second placings over a similar distance, while Riverdance Lad finished third with a big finish at Benalla this month.
The program will open with a 2226m maiden plate, and a small field of six horses.
Yensire finished second last start at Warrnambool this month over 1700m, while another runner from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, Bella Cavalla, finished second at Kyneton over 1875m. Doom Star, trained by Jackson Pallot at Bairnsdale, is coming off second placings at Stony Creek and Sale.
Entered in race two, the 1006m maiden plate, Mysterious Art was not far off a maiden victory at Stony Creek last start, finishing less than a length behind the winner.
Captain Spud, trained by Peter Gelagotis at Moe, placed third at Geelong and Sandown this month, with the increase in distance of race three, the three-year-old maiden plate over 1415m, potentially suiting.
In race four, a 1415m race for maidens aged four years and over, Capito finished third his past two starts, and won’t mind the distance.
SPUN Dice, trained in Sale by Troy and John Kilgower, shared the spoils with Copthorne at Woolamai on Saturday, after the Dave “Chooka Howe” Trophy (1008m) was declared a “dead heat”.
Copthorne made the early bid for victory in the straight, but Spun Dice, ridden by Joanne Geddes, came home strongly, with the pair not separated in a photo finish. It was the six-year-old mare’s second win from 20 starts.
Two other locally-trained horses placed second during the same program.
Lage, trained by Rebecca Kelly at Sale and ridden by Leigh Taylor, finished second in the 1608m maiden, finishing seven lengths behind runaway winner They Callmemalcolm. It was the five-year-old mare’s first placing from 12 starts.
Atomic Charge, trained by Sharyn Trolove at Bundalaguah and ridden by Geddes, finished second over 1508m. In her first start for Trolove since transferring from Sale trainer Heather Stephens, the six-year-old mare finished three-quarters of a length behind Mycharliegirl.
THE Buchan Cup meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 28.
The meeting was to be held on February 13, but the Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club requested it be postponed because of the snap five-day lockdown.
