Thursday's Morphettville Parks Races Report

Thursday, 12 May 2011 14:04

Rider Matthew Neilson brought up the first leg of an early double when the Phillip Stokes trained Top Billing $3 was the half length winner of the opening event of 1950 metres at Morphettville on Thursday.

Sired by Savabeel from Lap Dancer, a Danasinga mare, Top Billing was one of the first to begin before dropping back and then was able to muster enough speed once again over the concluding stages to beat Set to Excite, the $2.20 favourite.

Elancer $8 was a farther three and a quarter lengths away third for Jon O’Connor and apprentice Nathan Rose.

The John Macmillan prepared Three Start General, the $2.20 favourite gave jockey Matthew Neilson his second winner in the 1000 metre second event.

A General Nediym colt from the Secret Savings mare Swiss Vault, Three Star General was close to the lead for the entire journey and proved too strong for the former Queensland galloper, the Richard Jolly trained Chad Lever ridden Provider $4.

Ta Moko $51 was a farther one and a half lengths away third for Colin Graves and Damien Robinson.

Apprentice Libby Hopwood chalked up her third winner in two days when the Bill Bogarts trained Twilight Dancer was the short neck winner of race three which was contested over 1250 metres.

Starting at $10 the daughter of Real Jester, form the Bellotto mare Cross Me Not, was well placed and beat Out of Wings $26 for Michael McClean and Kate Dyson.

Perfectamundo $6.50 was a nose away third for John Macmillan and apprentice Amy Herrmann.

The Encosta de Lago six year old gelding Ruling to Win gave trainer John Hickmott and apprentice Jordan Mallyon a three and a half length win in the 1550 metre fourth race.

Starting the $3.20 equal favourite with the unplaced Eaglehawk Star, Ruling to Win from the Zabeel mare Clam as a Lady, came from a rearward position and beat Comic Success $8 for mentor Stewart Gower and Crystal Hallett.

Fraacharm was a farther one and a quarter lengths away third for Ryan Balfour and Melissa Walters.

Apprentice Libby Hopwood brought up her second winner for the day when she scored a neck win on the Ken Sweeney owned and trained Rowdy Rocker $12 in the final of the Australian Apprentice Series which saw SA take out the National title.

From the Jeune mare Sally Rose and sired by Saratoga Springs, Rowdy Rocker came from a midfield position and beat the Lloyd Kennewell prepared Josh Adams ridden Ocsmepop, the $2.60 favourite.

Ticket to Vegas $6 was a farther half length away third for Georgie Henderson and Michael Grantham.

A betting plunge from $12 to $6 saw the Chad Lever ridden Ricky Moore trained Wanaka Gold score a short head win in the 1000 metre sixth race.

From the Gold Ace mare Evening Gold and fathered by Face Value, Wanaka Gold came from a rearward position to beat the John Thompson mentored Adrian Patterson ridden Often Away $21. 

Herocia $6 was another one and a quarter lengths away third for the combination of Leon Macdonald, Andrew Gluyas and Clare Lindop.

The $8 chance Steely Resolve gave trainer Jon O’Connor and rider Todd Pannell a one and a half length win in the final event of 1300 metres.

A  Refuse to Bend gelding from the Spinning World mare Spin About, Steely Resolve was well placed and beat Chilli Deva $4.40 for the combination of mentor Dion Koch and rider Justin Potter.

Cute to Boot the $4 favourite was a farther half length away third for David Balfour and Clare Lindop.