Irrigate

Racing will be held at Sale Turf Club tomorrow.

File photo

Valley Country Sprints to headline Sale races

SALE will play host to a bumper meeting at Greenwattle Racecourse tomorrow. The program is headlined by the second heat of The Valley Country Sprint Series (1006m). Acceptances for the meeting will be taken later today, but a look at the nominations illustrated how competitive the race promises to be. Hawker Hurricane from the Mike Moroney stable will carry the top-weight if the stable accepts for the race. The five-year-old son of Deep Field has won just two of his 16 starts, but was placed at Group 3 level as a juvenile and competitive in races such as the Wangoom Handicap, Creswick Stakes and Arrowfield Sprint. The state’s leading stable Ciaron Maher and David Eustace is set to have a large presence in the race, nominating six horses including the consistent The Mobot, The Gauch, Overkill and Pioneer River, scratched from Moonee Valley on Friday night. Rigel Star, who has won his past two starts for Lindsay Park, is another likely runner. The undercard also has plenty of depth, with the eighth race of the MRC Grand Handicap run at Benchmark 64 level, which offers ballot free exemption into the final. Condo’s Express was allocated the top-weight of 65kg for trainer Richard Laming, although he is likely to book an apprentice to ease some of the burden from the shoulders of the well-credentialed five-year-old gelding, who boasts former Hawthorn champion Robert DiPierdomenico among his owners. A three-year-old Benchmark 64 Handicap (1206m) looks likely to feature a raft of exciting talents including debutant winners Boss Queen and Iffuwish, as well as New Zealand import Dream Queen. A daughter of Super Easy, Dream Queen broke her maiden at Te Rapa and has not finished outside the top two in her four career starts to date. Interest also surrounds the Victorian Derby aspirant Inverell, nominated for a $35,000 Benchmark 64 Handicap (2226m). Inverell, trained by Clayton Douglas, made a great impression when winning his maiden at Sale on August 22, but followed up that run with a ninth place finish behind Gundec at Flemington over 1800m.

Ferdinand Boy takes top spot in sprint championship final

Ferdinand Boy and trainer David Geall had another successful night at Sale Greyhound Racing Club on Sunday. File photo Gregor Mactaggart

CLASS prevailed when Ferdinand Boy saluted in Sunday night’s Yeates Printing Sale Sprint Championship Final (440m). The David Geall-trained ace went into the feature event as the odds-on favourite and produced a slashing performance to live up to expectations. Ferdinand Boy ($1.90fav) jumped fairly from box two and powered through to hold the lead. Darriman chaser Dr Tucker, who was backed into $3.20 second favourite, posed the major threat and loomed large heading into the home turn. But he got on the heels of Ferdinand Boy, who skipped away in the straight to score by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 24.58 seconds and with it the $10,000 first-prize cheque for connections. The form from the heats shone through in the final, with Dr Tucker second and Perfect Colour rounding out the trifecta. The win lifted Ferdinand Boy’s career record to 29 wins from 51 starts. It proved a good night for trainer Geall, with King of Glory winning the Sale Motor Group Grade 5 (440m). King of Glory jumped solidly from box seven and after assuming the lead, held off Sovereign Wind by 1 ¾ lengths to win in 24.89 seconds. Three heats of the GRV Vic Bred Maiden series were run and won at the 440m trip. High End, trained by Peter Presutto at Devon Meadows, ran the quickest time of 25.05 seconds after leading all the way from box one. But visually, the most impressive performance came from Rio Bailey, prepared at Giffard West by Jon Boreland. Rio Bailey, who had run two fourth placings at Geelong in readiness for this assignment, scored by 11 ½ lengths in 25.06 seconds. Grenadier Prince, trained at Korumburra by Reg Boyce, won the opening heat in 25.54 seconds. It was the first win at start number six for the son of Barcia Bale bred by the late Karen Leek. The William McMahon kennel at Darriman provided the two winners of the heats of the TAB Great Chase series. Grayden ($13.80) caused a boilover when he scored in 25.15 seconds, while Harrigan ran quicker with a 25.04 second effort in the other heat. Other winners on the program were One’s Obsession (Kate Gorman, Tanjil South), Omega Tyson (Barry Harper, Seaspray), Back Moo Moo (Steven Bruce-White, Buln Buln East), Chatterbox Tilly (Carly Feltham, Devon Meadows) and Lara’s Love (Dawn Johnston, Boisdale).

Applications to trial for GFC are squad now open

GIPPSLAND Football Club is seeking expressions of interest from dedicated players to trial for its National Premier League squads for 2022, to be held in coming weeks. Those interested in being part of a football program that focuses on individual player development and want to continue their football journey by playing at the highest level in the state against some of the biggest clubs in the country such as A-League teams Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City are encouraged to put their name forward. Trials will be held for: Under 13 (pre-National Premier League for players born in 2009 and 2010), under 14 (born 2008), under 15 (born 2007), under 16 (born 2006) and under 18 (born 2004 and 2005). Interested players must register for the trials via the Gippsland Football Club Facebook page or via the clubs website at www.gippslandfc.com All registered players will receive an email with trial dates and times, once announced. Expressions of Iiterest will be advertised for these programs in early 2022.

Locals trainers have success in the east

SALE trainers were out in force at Sunday’s Bairnsdale TAB meeting. Bill Wood came the closest to success when Just Ralph, backed from $21 into $15, finished runner-up in the Patties Foods Maiden Plate (1000m). Just Ralph, ridden by Jason Maskiell, was edged out in a photo finish by $2.80 favourite Schwoon. Wood’s other runner I’m Cheeky, finished a game fourth behind Mutual Respect in the Patties Foods Rating 58 Handicap (1200m). Two Sale trainers had runners who finished third on the program. Ally’s Reward, trained by Garry Douch, ran a top race in the Bet365 Rating 58 Handicap (1600m). The veteran mare finished behind $51 pop Dessert Time, who celebrated a surprise win, and Barossa Kiss prepared by Bundalaguah horsewoman Sharyn Trolove. Trolove had four runners in action, with Barossa Kiss the clear eye-catcher, although maidens Flikidy Flick (fourth) and Another Pluck (fifth) did run well. Damien Walkley’s charge Peppino was third behind Mach One in the Viatek Bairnsdale Rating 58 Handicap (1600m). Peppino has been racing well without quite landing a telling blow and gave another great account of himself to finish less than a length from the winner. Without Excuse, on the quick back-up from Moe on Thursday for trainer Ian Hutchins, finished fourth. He’s Stryking was third in the Four’N Twenty Rating 58 Handicap (2200m) for Kilmany trainer Cliff Murray. The event was won by Moe galloper Heartland Raider, who will surely line-up in her hometown cup later this month after returning to winning ways. Valley of Hearts ran fourth in the Barney Counihan Memorial Rating 58 Handicap (1000m) for George Doderico.