Treble for Mellsop Family at Narrogin
Ash Markham on board Ollie Oliver at Narrogin on Friday night. Photo Credit: Photography by Jodie Hallows
It was a great night out at Narrogin Paceway for the Mellsop family, with a treble on the card between Waroona based father and son trainers, Bob and Adam Mellsop.
Bob Mellsop’s stable is in strong form at the moment, with three-year-old Allwood Wizard leading all the way in the first at Narrogin to claim the win in a mile rate of 2:04:8 over the 2242m trip. Driven by Kyle Harper, the $1.16 favourite started from barrier one and after dictating terms throughout, went on to win with ease by 11.8m for owner Allwood Stud Farm.
It was a race-to-race double for Mellsop and Harper, with the duo teaming up with Military Star in the second on the card. The short-priced favourite, who was having his first start in a race is also owned by Allwood Stud Farm, giving the prominent owner an early double on the card. With just the six starters in race two, the double westbred four-year-old settled in the one-one position, and after being pushed three wide down the back, he went on to win untouched by 19.5m in 2:03:7 over the 1823m sprint journey.
Another favourite saluted in the third, with the Aiden De Campo trained Keptain Courageous claiming the win for driver Mark Johnson in 2:02:5 over the 1823m sprint. The $1.95 favourite was left without cover throughout but that didn’t worry the four-year-old, going on to win by 2.9m, bringing up the geldings seventh career victory in 52 starts, and earnings to over $57,000 for his connections.
After working her way to the breeze early, Sweetdream Trunkey was able to sit outside the leader and win the fourth on the card for trainer and driver Chris Playle over the 2242m pace. Recording her first win for Playle since entering his stable in July, the four-year-old mare broke a losing sequence of 18, not having won since late December 2020. At long odds, the $31 shot held on for the win by a half-neck in a time of 2:04:0.
Bob Mellsop was confident he would walk away with a treble on the card, but his son Adam spoiled the party with Ollie Oliver staving off the $1.55 favourite and stable rival Our Star Watch NZ by 2.1m. In a mile rate of 2:02:2, the four-year-old made it two in a row for driver Ash Markham, after leading all the way in race five over the 2242m trip.
“I thought he could win. I thought the only horse that could beat him was dad’s horse,”
“His early form this prep was trainer fault, not the horse. Friday nights run was only the third time he’s led. He’s not going to be a leader, he’s more of a high-speed horse.” Adam Mellsop said.
With 13 horses engaged in the meeting, Hayden Reeves undoubtedly would have expected a winner next to his name, but it’s fair to say he probably wasn’t expecting How Gouda She to be the victor on the night. Starting at $26, the six-year-old mare brought up her second win in just 13 days, claiming race six by 3.1m. Starting off the 30m handicap (the front line of the race), Kyle Symington stepped the mare almost without a hitch, settling behind the leader for the majority, with Symington pulling her out with 500m to go, going on to win in a time of 2:04:1 over the 2636m staying journey.
After leading all the way in the seventh, Watch Me React saluted at $1.16 odds for trainer Brian Wheeler and driver Trent Wheeler. Making the trip from Collie well worth it, the five-year-old led all the way, breaking a losing sequence of 14 starts and an eight-month hiatus from the winners’ circle. In a mile rate of 2:00:0 over the sprint trip 1823m, winning comfortably by 12m for the Wheeler family.
After leading all the way in the last, the race favourite, $1.50 shot Padditude went down narrowly, beaten by a half-head by the fast-finishing Disco Demon for Ross Ashby and Shane Butterworth. Resuming after a short let up, Disco Demon settled in the breeze throughout, with the three-year-old recording his third career victory in a mile rate 2:02:9 over the 2242m trip.
Ashleigh Paikos