Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde has had a bright start to the 2016/17 and it continued at his home track last Thursday with a double.
Floral Fever and Miss Shrimpton won maidens over 1100 metres and 1700 metres respectively.
Floral Fever drifted in the betting ($3.50 to $5) before defeating Autonomous and Bryan. Wilde’s other runner in that race, Ruby Eyes, was well supported ($6 to $3.70) but could only manage fourth.
Wilde said he was confident both horses would derive improvement from their runs
“Floral Fever came off a strong run at Geelong on the synthetic so I was confident he’d run well,” he said.
“Ruby Eyes had to do a bit of work in the run. She shouldered out from behind them. I don’t think she’ll be a maiden for much longer.”
Miss Shrimpton ($5.50) finished her race off strongly to beat Trippin Away and Prime Turf.
“I’ve got a good opinion of Miss Shrimpton,” Wilde said.
“We picked her up for $28,000 at the 2014 Inglis yearling sale and there’s plenty of scope to her.
“She ran well (on debut) at Warrnambool earlier in the month.
“I think she might develop into a handy staying mare given time. She’s a really nice type. We’ll just take her along slowly.”
Second best
Trainer Daniel Bowman reckons he pulled the right rein last weekend with lightly raced Warrnambool mare Modesty.
The five-year-old picked up $7500 for her connections by running second to Alabama Missile at Morphettville on Saturday.
Bowman had entered Modesty for a race at Caulfield on the same day but decided on the easier option.
“We could have gone to the race in Melbourne and she would have run a nice seventh or eighth but there was no prizemoney for that,” Bowman said.
“I was really happy with her run. The only thing that beat her was they had an apprentice who claimed on the winner.”
Alabama Missile carried 54.5kg after Matthew Poon’s three-kilo claim while Modesty carried her full 55.5kg under Damien Thornton.
It was a good week for Bowman, who tied with fellow Warrnambool trainer Mitch Freedman for the inaugural Colin Alderson award for young trainers on Scobie Breasley Medal night last Thursday.
Wales needs it wet
Trainer Jarrod McLean blamed the firm track at Cranbourne last Sunday for the failure of handy Warrnambool galloper Jose Wales.
Jose Wales ($6.50) ran 10th behind Devil’s Pinch in a benchmark 70 over 1200 metres, with the track rated a good 4. The lightly raced four-year-old had run second at his previous start, on a soft 7 at Bendigo.
“We’ve just got to forget the Cranbourne run,” McLean said. “The track never suited him. He needs it in the soft 7 range and worse to stretch out. He just never went a yard.
“He’s a difficult horse to place now because he’s been so consistent. I just hope they drop his rating down a coupe of points after this run.”
In other stable news, McLean said last-start Swan Hill winner Spicy Mac was in the spelling paddock.
“I decided to give her a break,” he said. “She’s done a big job from her four starts. I think we’ll give her most of the spring in the paddock. She’s an immature type but she’s shown she’s got a bit of ability.”
From her four runs Spicy Mac has picked up $36,090 including $21,200 in VOBIS bonuses.
Pleasing ’Tone
Champion Irish jumps jockey Katie Walsh gave a glowing report to Orford trainer Anne McGrath after Mannertone’s run in thre steeplechase at Morphettville last Saturday.
Mannertone ran third behind Hucknall and About the Journey in the $42,000 Australia v Ireland Steeple (3500m).
The effort followed Mannertone’s victory on a heavy track in a steeplechase at Ballarat the previous Sunday.
“Katie was really impressed,” McGrath said. “She said he only tired over the last 150 metre metres so it was a huge effort considering he ran on a bottomless track at Ballarat at his previous start.”
From his 26 jumps starts Mannertone has five wins and nine minor placings.
McGrath is considering running the eight-year-old in the final two steeplechases for the season, at Casterton on September 11 and Coleraine on September 25.
Down but not out
Brian Chapman, 85, has had a constant flow of district racing people visiting him at South West Healthcare’s Warrnambool campus since a fall a few weeks ago.
Chapman trained Lord Toy Boy to numerous wins over the jumps and on the flat as well as shoeing horses at Flagstaff Hill.
He was one of the leading racing farriers in the district for more than 40 years.