Glenroy trainer Richard Clayfield couldn’t have chosen a better day than last Sunday for Miss Sniper to open her winning account at Tara Raceway.
The daughter of Spring Gun x Majestic Tale had previously gone around nine times for nine minor placings, Clayfield starting to despair whether she would ever win a race.
While the $515 first prize for short-course maiden events had so far eluded her, last Sunday’s stakemoney rise meant she would now be racing for a first prize of considerably more – try $880.
Maybe that’s what she had been waiting for – July 4 and the introduction of Category 2 stakemoney. Whatever, she never looked like being beaten when leading all the way for a 5¾ lengths win over Limousine in 17.85 seconds.
All told, it turned out to be a pretty good result for Morphett Vale breeder-owner Damien Smith who also picked up a $1000 SA-bred maiden bonus. A return of $1880 for a maiden 305 metres event doesn’t sound too bad.
The Lenehan brothers – Neville and Leon (or Nifty and Bones as they are sometimes referred to) – combined to win the Glencoe Football Club Maiden Stake (400 m) with Don’t Move Rufus.
The race quickly developed into a keen contest between Don’t Move Rufus and Pongo, only a neck separating the pair on the line in a time of 23.51 seconds.
By Barcia Bale out of Off The Property, a winner of four races at Warrnambool from 10 starts in 2015, the litter was Leon Lenehan’s first venture back into breeding in a long time.
In Neville Lenehan’s kennels prior to breaking-in, the February 2019 fawn dog’s win last Sunday was his trainer’s 11th this year at Tara Raceway.