SLIM WINS PONY CUP
The Sunday twilight meeting at the Greenfield Paceway saw 9 ponies line up for the 2 races on the program, with the latter race being the Glencoe Cup.
New driver, Jhett Perry, with the assistance & guidance from the Drury Stable, made his debut appearance on pony Run Jemma Run with a solid performance.
Race 1
Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. P&L Medhurst, the Lindhurst Lodge Handicap was a very closely fought race.
At the start Run Jemma Run and new driver Jhett Perry held the lead with Frankie Under Fire & Aaron Shepherd chasing hard to close the gap. Blaze driven by Courtney Sealey edged forward toward the leaders from Willow & Abbey Gull.
Back in the field, Slim Dusty (Stacey Barker) was making headway , while the backmarkers struggled with their handicaps. Marmalade & Jackie Barker made ground ahead of Minty {Matthew Shepherd} who broke stride under pressure in the straight. The perennial backmarker Pumpkin & Emma Greenfield, while gaining some ground, were unable to make an impression on the race.
Racing into the home straight it appeared as if Frankie under fire had stolen a break, but as the finish line approached a fortunate Courtney Sealey drove Blaze through the field to victory just ahead of Slim Dusty. A tiring Frankie Under Fire was overtaken just before the line. They were followed in by Marmalade, Snoopy, Run Jemma Run, Minty, Willow & Pumpkin.
Race 2 The Glencoe Cup
The Glencoe Community & The Tack Room Saddleworld sponsored the Glencoe Cup with a pony rug specially designed in the maroon & gold Glencoe colours.
The backmarkers flew forward at the start with Minty & Marmalade fighting their way toward the main field & Pumpkin not running to previous form. Slim Dusty and Stacey Barker raced keenly onto the back of the leaders. Turning for home they held off the approach from behind & steadily made ground on the frontmarkers into the home stretch. Run Jemma Run with Jhett Perry in the sulky gave a good sight and tried hard to break away from the pack but was unable to hold the momentum into the straight.
Willow & Snoopy were swamped by the main field, but Frankie Under Fire under the direction of Aaron Shepherd persisted under hard driving to kick back on the line. However emerging from the pack Slim Dusty in a superb drive by Stacey Barker won their first race for the season after numerous placings.
A very happy Stacey accepted her trophy & pony rug, with 2nd place going to Frankie Under Fire & 3rd place to Blaze, ahead of Marmalade, Minty, Run Jemma Run, Willow & Pumpkin.
Slim Dusty (Stacey Barker) winning the Glencoe Pony cup ahead of Frankie under Fire (Aaron Shepherd) by a head and Kathy Finnis awarding Stacey Barker her first prize of as pony rug and trophy for winning the Glencoe Pony Cup.
SA State Championships
Six ponies from Mt Gambier will be travelling to Globe Derby to compete in the Group 1 & Group 2 State Championships over the Easter Long weekend.