A Day For Doubles At Bunbury
Been Scootin made it two in a row on Friday at Bunbury for Ray Jones and Chris Lewis, with the three-year-old making full use of the sprint lane to run down the leader in the home straight for a 1.1m margin. In a blistering 1:54:6 over the 1609m sprint trip, Been Scootin brought up his third career win in just 12 starts, taking his earnings to over $23,000.
Jones had Lavra Joe engaged later on that night at Gloucester Park, with the impressive WA star running fourth in the FFA event, also driven by Chris Lewis who made the drive back up to Perth after just the one drive at Bunbury.
Double Westbred gelding Strauny resumed after six months away from the track to win race two for Peter Tilbrook and Chris Voak. After three trials for the new stable, the four-year-old who was having his first start for Tilbrook’s stable came from behind to win by a neck in 1:58:2 over the 2100m trip.
Bayardo NZ made it two in a row for trainer Kym Neal, giving Kyle Symington the winning steer in race three. After starting off the 20m handicap (the front line in the stand) the seven-year-old begun well and was able to settle behind the leader over the 2503m, and with Symington waiting for the sprint lane to open up at the top of the straight, Bayardo NZ was able to come out on top, winning by 4.2m in 2:03:8.
Emily Johnson had the drive on Navy Street this week, with the three-year-old claiming a narrow victory over the race favourite in the fourth on the card for trainer Aiden De Campo. After starting from barrier four, Navy Street settled four back on the pegs over the 1609m journey and at the top of the straight, Johnson angled the gelding out four wide to win by a neck in 1:56:1.
Vanessa Brockman and Deni Roberts joined forces in race five with the $1.85 favourite Auckland Jet going one better this week, running down the leader on the post to win by a half neck. Starting from barrier three, he settled in the one-one position and with 600m to go Roberts pulled him three wide, fighting it out until the winning post to get the narrow victory in 1:58:1 over the 2100m.
Roberts made the drive up to Gloucester Park after her drives at Bunbury where she took top prize in the Gr2 San Simeon on board the Team Bond trained Socrates NZ, with Skye and Greg getting the race trifecta with their runners.
Trent Wheeler finished off the meeting with a driving double, with the first of his wins on board his dads horse El Manzana who finally broke through for his maiden win after knocking on the door in his recent attempts. Trained by Brian Wheeler, the four-year-old was beaten for speed at release point, but after using the sprint lane in the concluding stages he was able to get the win by a half neck over the 2100m trip, recording a winning mile rate of 2:04:8.
In the last, Wheeler piloted Goodonya Mate to victory, running down the race favourite to win by 4m in race seven for trainer Brian Clemens in a mile rate of 1:57:1 over the 1609m sprint trip. After weaving his way through traffic in the home straight, Wheeler took top prize and the five-year-old brought up his fourth career win in 71 starts.
Ashleigh Paikos