Saturday's Morphettville Races Report

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 23:44

Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams brought up his first Group success when the Ryan Maloney ridden Uxorious was the two length winner of the Group 3 Spring Gully Spring Stakes over 1200 metres at Morphettville on Saturday.

A Choisir gelding from the Keltrice mare Shiny Mai, Uxorious was not far from the lead throughout the event and beat the Mick Whittle prepared Scott Westover Periduki $6.

Valentine Miss $5 was a farther long neck away third for Mark Kavanagh and Mitchell Speers.

From a local and spring point of view many eyes were focused on the runs of Alcopop who finished fifth and dual Derby winner Rebel Raider who finished fourth.

After winning his maiden hurdle at Sandown ten days ago the $2.80 favourite Roll on Bert repeated the dose when he was the short neck winner of the 3100 metre Leslie Short Hurdle.

Being under the care of Oakbank mentor John Dunn and having the services of Gavin Bedggood the Statue of Liberty gelding from the Scenic mare Carmenesque, Roll On Bert was well placed throughout the event and beat the Robert Smerdon prepared Steven Pateman guided Tadgh $4.80.

Galileo’s Dream was a farther length and a half away third for John A O’Connor and Shane Gray.

Having its first race day outing the half brother to the well performed Niconero and Niconi, Niconoise $3.30 gave trainer David Hayes and rider Simon Price a three and a quarter length win in the 1200 metre second race.

A three year old son of Redoute’s Choice, from Nicola Lass, a Scenic matron, Niconoise was well placed and beat the $3.20 favourite Amor Cache for Caulfield trainer Peter Moody and rider Linda Meech.

Perfect Punch was another one and a half lengths away third for Leon Macdonald, Andrew Gluyas and Clare Lindop.

The progeny of the USA bred Gallo Di Ferro and the Idealist mare Nene Valley, Texan Warney, gave trainer Darryl Dodson and jockey Hollie McKechnie a one and a quarter length win in race three which was run over 2021 metres.

Coming from well back Texan Warney beat the Simon Casey prepared Clare Lindop ridden Akhabrach $6 who finished six and a half lengths ahead of the Karen Byrnes prepared Dominic Tourneur ridden Currency Cugat $3.50.

Falken $4.40 gave Mornington trainer Shane Nichols and jockey Brad Rawiller a six length win in the 1600 metre fourth race.  From the Marauding mare Gypsy Marauder and fathered by Grass Wonder, Falken came from a midfield position to beat the Bevan Laming cared for Clare Lindop ridden Naadji $7.

Goldridge $4 was a farther short half head away filling the minor placing for John Hickmott and Nathan Rose.

Manganese $17 scored his second win in ten days when he was the half length winner of the 2021 metre fifth race for his trainer Ken Sweeney and rider Scott Westover.

Scoring a half length win the Fasliyev six year old, from the Vettori mare Vetorisc, Manganese settled well and maintained a forward position going on to beat the Mark Riley mentored Talia Rodder ridden Vitreous $6.50.

After going out with a sizable lead Ruling to Win $8 was a farther one and a half lengths away third for John Hickmott and Nathan Rose.

Starting the $2.40 public elect and winning his second successive race Guru Bob gave the training combination of Lee and Shannon Hope and rider Reece Wheeler a short neck win in the 1200 metre sixth race.

Sired by Ishiguru from the Sir Tristan mare Phantom’s Lady, Guru Bob was in the first three throughout and ran down the Roy Rogers prepared Lauren Stojakovic ridden Exalted Thomas in the concluding stages of the event .

Another Rogers runner Exalted Brother, ridden by Dominic Tourneur, was a farther length away third at $9.

The two and a half length win of Columbus brought up a double for trainer David Hayes, jockey Brad Rawiller and the four year old’s sire Redoute’s Choice in the 1050 metre final event.

From the Centaine mare Kapchat, Columbus came from well back and with Rawiller steering an outside course in the straight defeated the Robbie Griffiths mentored Dominic Tourneur ridden Super Swell $7.50.

A farther two and a half lengths away third was Heaven for Sure $10 for Bill Bogarts and Talia Rodder.

Picture: Colin Bull