Mission Complete: Secret Operation Takes Out Bridgetown Cup
Secret Operation claiming the win in the 2022 Richfield and Rural Supplies Bridgetown Cup. Photo Credit – Carol Lewsley/Craicpot Photography.
“The Bridgetown cup was my mission; I’ve never won it before, but I have run second in it.”
Bob Poolman went into Sunday’s 2022 Richfield and Rural Supplies Bridgetown Cup expecting that his runner Secret Operation was ready for the assignment and the $1.80 favourite understood it completely, with the five-year-old going on to take out the feature of the day and the season at Bridgetown by 5.1m.
“We did expect the win as he’s going like a rocket at the moment, we’ve had a lot of trouble with him this year, he’s only had four or five starts this year because of stomach ulcers earlier in the year, its cost us a fortune to get that sorted out,”
“we’ve got him over that, he’s leapt out of the ground now, going out of his skin.” Poolman said.
Driven by Shannon Suvaljko, Secret Operation was restrained at release point and found himself at the tail of the field, before tracking three wide with just over a lap to go, proving to be too strong for his opposition over the 2597m journey in a mile rate of 2:04:6.
“It did bother me a little bit when they ran so slow early, but I thought he did an exceptional job,”
“We had a plan worked out with Shannon and he drove him very well.”
The 2022 Bridgetown Cup. Video – harness.org.au
Now that the smaller community races such as Williams and Bridgetown have wrapped up for another year, Poolman has confirmed that Secret Operation will head back to Aldo Cortopassi in the coming weeks to resume racing at Gloucester Park in metropolitan company.
“I’m not interested in travelling with him, so I have already spoken with Aldo (Cortopassi) and we will probably take him up ourselves to race in Perth, then leave him up there,”
“The racing up there suits him a lot better, he’s a high-speed horse and he can usually do what he did Sunday off a fast speed.”
Poolman will take a break over the winter season, with just his two yearlings that he purchased at this year’s APG sales heading home soon from the breakers, before resuming their second preps after a short break.
There were seven races on offer at the final meeting for the season, with Shannon Suvaljko walking away with driving honours with a win in the first with 19-start maiden Bathtime breaking through for trainer Nathan Dymock. Suvaljko took the reins of Patrikiar in race five for Craig Hynam, coming from behind to win by 1.8m.
Kaiden Hayter had a driving double on the card with Shakira Blue taking out the third on the card for Sarah Wall, and then the last race with his own horse Ta In Advance breaking through for his maiden win in the 3YO Westbred pace.
Domande gave trainer/driver Ryan Eyre his first training win and first driving win in almost two years when he led all the way in race two after plenty of action in the lead up to attempt three.
Race four went the way of the locals, with Lorinda Kate facing the breeze throughout to win by 7.1m for Manjimup based breeder, owner and trainer Debra Sutton, driven by Shane Butterworth in 2:02:0.
Ashleigh Paikos