Western Victoria: Matt's Meteor makes amends
By Tim Auld, July 25, 2016 - 10:45 AM

Honest Warrnambool galloper Reigning Meteor put recent unlucky runs behind him when he won a $30,000 benchmark 70 hanidcap at Bendigo on Sunday.
Trainer Matthew Williams said the four-year-old, who was well backed to start $2.40 favourite, appreciated big, flat tracks.
“He’s probably been unlucky in a few races,” Williams said. “He got things to suit on the big, roomy track. It was heavy and he likes those sort of conditons.”
Reigning Meteor took his stake earnings past $110,000 with the victory.
Wet suits Star
Robbie’s Star kept up his impressive record at Bendigo and on heavy ground when he won a benchmark 64 over 1600 metres at Sunday’s meeting.
The Warrnambool-trained Robbie’s Star defeated Buzz Punch and Walloon Region in the $23,000 race.
Trainer Peter Chow pointed out the four-year-old has won two of his three starts at Bendigo and both victories have been on heavy tracks.
“I just hope it keeps on raining,” Chow said. “He’s a real swimmer. I reckon there might be more wins in him if we get conditons to suit.”
Robbie’s Star has won $50,715 from his 13 starts.
Nod for Dunkeld
Dunkeld Racing Club has been nominated for Country Racing Victoria’s Club of the Year award for 2015/16.
Ballarat, Donald, Kyneton/Hanging Rock and Pakenham are the other nominations.
Dunkeld Racing Club manager Karen Van Kempen said the club was delighted to be a finalist.
“We pride ourselves on working tirelessly to ensure that our once-a-year race meeting is delivered in a manner that makes for an enjoyable, relaxing and comfortable day out,” she said. 
“Our selection as a finalist in this category is testament to the great work done by our dedicated volunteers.”
Going strong
Former Warrnambool jockey Pat Ryan, one of the quiet achievers in local racing, celebrated his 70th birthday with family and friends last Sunday. 
Ryan, who rode 297 flat winners including five in one afternoon at the old Koroit racecourse in 1963, also booted home 80 over the jumps. 
His wife of more than 47 years, Colleen — an inspiration to many after fighting numerous health battles — was at his side for the function.
In other news from the family, Ryan’s son Patrick is going to switch talented jumper I’ll’ava’alf to steeplechasing following his impressive maiden hurdle win earlier this month.
“It was always our plan to run I’ll’ava’alf over fences,” he said. “We’ve always thought he’ll be better in steeplechases since we got him from New Zealand.”
I’ll’ava’alf defeated Berning Desire and Deliberate to win a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool on July 10.
Just too wet
Bad weather over the past few weeks has forced Colac trainer Bill Cerchi to send his entire eight-strong team to the paddock.
“I had no other option but to tip them out,” Cerchi said. “It’s really heavy at Colac. 
“We’ve had more rain this year than last and it’s impossible to work horses. 
I pushed through last year but it’s not worth doing it. I’ll bring them back into light work in three weeks.”
Purcell pushes on
Aaron Purcell will push ahead with plans for his talented stayer St Jean despite the rising seven-year-old testing positive to a prohibited substance.
St Jean returned a positive reading to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, a prohibited substance on raceday, after a blood test last week. 
The imported stallion was treated with ibuprofen while on rehab at a pre-training complex after injuring his near-side tendon in September 2014.
“We’ll have him blood-tested later this week,” Purcell said. “The whole thing is just so frustrating for St Jean’s owners. 
“I’ve said on numerous occasions he was potentially the best horse I’ve trained. It’s so disappointing but we’ll push on and hope he returns a negative reading.”
Purcell paid just over $110,000 for the Irish-bred stallion, who has won four of his eight Australian starts for the trainer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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