Bunbury Withstands the Wild Weather
Vanessa Brockman, Bailey McDonough and connections after Sweet Sassymolassey won. Photo: Photography by Jodie Hallows
With the wild weather putting an end to Friday night at Gloucester Park, it left Bunbury as a stand alone meeting in WA, with the track holding up brilliantly to the host the seven-race program.
Silent Reaction took the shortest way home on Friday night at Bunbury to take out the first on the card for Hayden Reeves and Bailey McDonough. Setting McDonough up for a driving treble, the three-year-old recorded his first career victory at just his sixth start and whilst he was yet to place at his earlier attempts, turned his form around to get the win in the 3YO Westbred Maiden. After a masterful drive to land behind the leader early from barrier five, McDonough sat patiently on the inexperienced youngster, making full use of the sprint lane to win by 2.1m in a mile rate of 2:01:6 over the 2100m trip.
McDonough showed no signs of slowing down and in race two, piloted Sweet Sassymolassy for the win for local trainer Vanessa Brockman. After almost 14 months away from the winner’s circle, the $1.50 favourite who has been racing in consistent form, justified her starting price and after sitting in the breeze for over 1200m, won comfortably by 21.5m in 1:59:7.
Brockman claimed a training double on the card with Rockin Jetstar taking out the fourth, and whilst the race wasn’t named after her, it was quite fitting that Brockman took out the Vanessa’s Friends Pace. Driven by Bailey McDonough, the win brought up the final instalment of his driving treble on the night. The four-year-old has been racing in consistent form, having saluted the judge at his last 10 starts, Friday night was no exception with the Brockman bred, owned and trained gelding getting the cash.
“I knew five out of six of my drives had real chances of winning, but I need to make the moves at the right time.” Mcdonough said.
Sweet Sassymolassy taking out race 3, Bailey McDonough in the cart. Photo: Photography by Jodie Hallows
At long odds, it was a tough win for Magic Matteo in the third after settling at the rear, trainer/driver Ash Markham put the big horse in the race with 1100m to go, giving the horse his second win for the team since entering Markham’s stable in March this year. Running his last half in 57.4, the four-year-old manged to stave off his rivals by 2.8m in 1:59:4.
Mother and son duo Sarah Suvaljko and Daniel Suvaljko took out race five with four-year-old mare, Rockin The Trend. After settling four back on the pegs, the rails run opened up in the sprint to the finish, rewarding the patient junior driver with the win in race five. Recording her first victory since entering the stable recently, she recorded her win in a mile rate of 2:01:6 over the 2100m.
Awaitinginstructions continued his fantastic form in the standing start on Friday, making it four in a row for trainer Matt Scott and driver Mitchell Miller, and making it seven wins from seven starts in the standing starts. Starting off the 50m handicap, the standing start specialist stepped cleanly and settled four back on the pegs with Miller making his way to the front with around 1500m to go, sailing away for an easy victory, spacing the field by 18m in a mile rate of 2:04:7 over the 2503m staying journey.
Advance Your Dream took out the last on the card for Debra Lewis and Jocelyn Young after settling three back on the pegs throughout. Going three wide with 400m to go, the four-year-old double westbred mare claimed the win comfortably in 2:03:1 and a last half of 57.4.
Ashleigh Paikos