Following the running of four heats of the $115,000 TAB AGRC Anniversary Cup (530 metres) at Angle Park last Thursday night, Compton trainer Tracie Price now has three runners – Compton Rocks, Capybara and Compton Gold – in this week’s final.
The trio all finished second in their respective heats with Compton Rocks, a daughter of Tommy Shelby and Rock It Barcia, finding the front from box eight before being beaten two lengths by Barefoot Zulu in 30.34 seconds.
Capybara, by Fernando Bale out of Nangar Gold, settled in third spot in her heat before eventually going down by 1½ lengths to Nola Keeping, also in 30.34 seconds.
And box six runner Compton Gold (Beast Unleashed x Minnie Banjo) chased home Mallee Beauty, eventually beaten by 2¼ lengths in a quick 30.08 seconds.
The Anniversary Cup final box draw took place at the track later that night and Price didn’t fare too badly – 1 Compton Rocks, 2 Barefoot Zulu, 3 Black Noir, 4 Capybara, 5 Nola Keeping, 6 Mallee Beauty, 7 Victa Krev, 8 Compton Gold. Res. Woodside Johnny, Zelda Covilha.
Meanwhile, at Tara Raceway’s Thursday afternoon time-graded meeting, Price kicked off the day with a win by Wild Star – a member of the successful Need My Moneynow x Wild Marilyn litter – in the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (400 m).
The black dog led all the way from box one and brought up win number 16 when defeating former kennelmate Crowie Unleashed by 2¼ lengths in 23.24 seconds.
Later in the day, in the Federal Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Compton Baker, a kennelmate and litter brother to Anniversary Cup finalist Compton Rocks, led all the way from box two for a 2¾ length win over Miracle Man in 23.27 seconds.
The Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 m) wrapped up a successful first half of the day for Price with a treble after Held For Ransom quickly found the front from box one before running away to a 4½ length win over Aston Deutz in a quick time of 17.48 seconds.
Also landing a treble was Berringa trainer Michael Niele who was successful with Acoustic Flash, Fernando Lee and Appellant. This was his second Tara Raceway treble this year after Speechless, Rusty Wheels and Fernando Lee had won on March 19.
Acoustic Flash, a daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Acoustic Lee, was having her 105th start last week when lining up in box two in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m).
Chasing her first win over the distance, she quickly found the front and never really looked like being beaten when holding off Close Shave for a 1¼ length win in 17.99 seconds.
Fernando Lee, a son of Fernando Bale and Acoustic Lee then followed up in the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (305 m) with a neck win over Jazzy Boo in 17.68 seconds.
And Appellant, by Plaintiff out of Paua Of Mindy, led all the way from box one in the Quickmix Concrete Group TG1-4W Stake (400 m). He defeated Dimora Bernie by 3½ lengths in 23.12 seconds.
In the Ontrack InsiderTG1-4W Stake (305 m), Painswick trainer Sandra Elmes landed her second Mount Gambier winner this year after $30 chance Classy Willow railed through in the home straight for a narrow win over Saint Kylie in 18.18 seconds.
By Tommy Shelby out of Pink Martini, Classy Willow has been with Elmes for all of its 52 starts and has now won five races. In charge of the winner last Thursday was Rick Boehm who was accompanied by his granddaughter Willow, 8, who the winner had been named after.
