It was apparent with a lap of the Hatrick track to race that Dusty Gambler was going to maintain his unbeaten 755m record in the River City when he secured the race lead in Friday’s running of the $15,825 Wanganui Stayers.
Pictured: Dusty Gambler following his Wanganui Stayers victory
The Karen Walsh prepared stayer, after making a moderate jump from trap three, pushed forward to master the early pace making Cawbourne Taylor when passing the judge on the first occasion. From there he turned the Group 2 event into a procession, freewheeling to his fourth 755m victory at the venue, landing his Wanganui Stayers title by an effortless 7.75 length margin.
As suggested prerace by his trainer that he would be improved after his 44.91s heat win when he clocked 44.76s for this effort. Dusty Gambler had returned 44.52s when he won the Wanganui Distance final at Group 1 level back in April. The victory maintained the exceptionally high winning strike rate that Walsh has complied in producing staying Group race winners which continues her hugely successful association with owner Gary Harding.
“He’s such a genuinely good dog who keeps on giving it everything he has. As you saw tonight he’s the type of dog who won’t take a sit – he will keep on pushing forward all the time. I’m rapt for Gary and the team back at home whom without their help and support I couldn’t keep on getting results like this,” commented Walsh.
Cawbourne Taylor was gallant when finishing second for her conditioner Matt Roberts when after setting the initial pace she gamely tracked the winner for the balance of the trip. She also delivered on her trainers prediction that would have derived benefit from her heat assignment where she got some late race wobbles when finishing fourth after having set the pace.
The Angela Turnwald prepared Iris Allen was also bold when she kept on grinding away to claim her third placing. She had settled just behind the early pace in fourth possie from where she kicked on to wind up 4.5 lengths behind Cawbourne Taylor, while holding off her strong finishing kennel mate Mija Sydney by a half length margin.
For Dusty Gambler, this was his 16th career victory. He has placed on a further ten occasions which now sees his stake earnings sitting at $93,579 from his 33 career races. His record since he arrive from Victoria has been simply outstanding with his 13 races in this country having yielded him with ten wins, plus two second placings and one fourth.
Trainer Karen Walsh mentored yet another staying Group race winner – she’s pictured proudly standing with Wanganui Stayers winner Dusty Gambler; Matt Roberts with his runner up Cawbourne Taylor, while Courtney Turnwald brought back the third placed Iris Allen for her mum Angela
Aside from the two Group race finals during the evening, there was also a strong support card to those. Included was the C2D First Security staying event over 645m. Included in the field was the talented Matt Roberts prepared Cawbourne Krusty who was making her debut outing as a stayer.
Cawbourne Krusty, who was a dual Group race Restricted Age winner last season, was making her staying debut. In doing she was picking on a number of hardened, proven stayers including Nitehawk Rose and Tranquil Blossom.
It was an awe inspiring effort by her, when after seizing the early race lead from trap six, Cawbourne Krusty was never seriously challenged when cruising to her effortless first up staying win by a comfortable 7.25 length margin. She clocked a respectable 37.79s in doing so on a card that saw Roberts mentoring four winners.
“This win by Krusty has opened up a number of future options for her. I’ll speak to Stu (co-owner and breeder Stu Dickinson) and we’ll make some plans for her future,” advised Roberts, who had indicated that depending how she went on Friday, that a possible trip across the Tasman to contest some Australian 600m plus races was o the cards.
Cawbourne Krusty following her impressive 645m victory (left); the quality Friday evening started with Lisa Cole producing the first of her six winners on the card with Bigtime Phantom; Matt Roberts was rewardd with his terrific race placement of his sprinter Cawbourne Liz when she claimed her third straight C2 win in the feature C2 305m sprint.
The trap one specialist Rain And Tears nailed her sixth win when sighted wearing the red racing vest (from eight trap 1 races) when she won the C5 305m sprint for Roberts; Ivanhov rocked followers when he led throughout for his trainers Don Kettlewell and Nev Phillips to land his C2 520m win paying $28.10; Bigtime Kate led home a Cole kennel quinella when she won the following C2 520m heat
Dyna Vernon displayed great track sense for Roberts when he took out the third of the C2 520m heats; Bigtime OnFire prevailed for Cole in the C4/5 520m event, she’s pictured here with some of her owing Wanganui East Bowling Club syndicate members; It was Cole prepared sprinters who round out the evening’s action when Bigtime Basher and Bigtime Victory won the last two 305m sprints
By Peter Fenemor
