Saturday, 28th February 2015
BOWDITCH & JERRY GO FOR GOLD
Pony racing was at its best on Saturday night, with a buzzing atmosphere for the exciting Gold Cup. Competitiveness was arising between the eight junior drivers and their ponies. The first race was kindly sponsored by Charlie and Andrew at Gambier Rural Traders. The feature race for the season, The Mount Gambier Pony Gold Cup, was also on the schedule for the night, proudly sponsored by Balnaves of Penola.
The first race on the busy agenda was the Gambier Rural Traders Handicap. Lucy and Keeley Formosa kept the spirit going until the home straight where mid-fielders Marmalade (Stacey Barker) and Blaze (Courtney Sealey) caught up making it impossible for Lucy to catch them. Meanwhile, it was the battle of the backmarkers, Jackim (Jacob Opperman) and Minty (Jessica Shepherd) quickly approaching the rest of the field. Marmalade and Stacey Barker were over the line first with a closer tussle, ahead of Jackim (Jacob Opperman) who was followed by Blaze (Courtney Sealey). Minty and Jessica Shepherd worked hard on the outside of the field and they made it to the finish line for forth placing with Jerry and Nicola Bowditch on the inside of the track gaining 5th placing. Pee Wee Penny and Evie Sealey just couldn’t keep the motivation alive but were unable to make ground. The fresh combination of Amber Formosa and Slim Dusty proved that the backmarkers may be a threat in the upcoming Gold Cup race.
Minty with Jessica Shepherd leapt of their mark on the signal to start the race. Jackim (Jacob Opperman) was also keen to get away cleanly. Front markers, Lucy and Keeley Formosa took the lead, stride by stride. Backmarkers, Marmalade, Minty and Jackim closed the gap on the field as they drew closer to the finish line. But Jerry just couldn’t do any wrong lengthening the lead, taking out the title of the prestigious 2015 Pony Gold Cup. Second placing went to strong trotter, Pee Wee Penny (Evie Sealey) who battled on closely behind Bowditch and Jerry. Blaze and Courtney Sealey were next across the line. Forth went to Marmalade and Stacey Barker of Hamilton, closely followed by Slim Dusty (Amber Formosa), Minty (Jessica Shepherd), Lucy (Keeley Formosa) and last over the line were Jackim and Jacob Opperman.
We look forward to the next race meeting on Saturday the 14th of March with both pony races kindly sponsored by the Mount Gambier Navy Cadets.