David Polley’s First Double
Fledgling trainer David Polley prepared his first double at the Tote Racing Centre on Monday night when the litter brothers Jack O'Riley and Hello Knocka greeted the judge.
The Derwent Park based mentor has been involved in the sport for just two and a half years, but is already making inroads and despite only being able to accommodate a team of two chasers due to work commitments, has enjoyed his share of success.
Purchased from prolific breeder Barry Heawood and by Knocka Norris from the Exceptional bitch Regent Ebony which won 12 races, Jack O'Riley and Hello Knocka have now won five races between them and are proving to be a worthwhile investment.
On Monday night Jack O'Riley gave his rivals a galloping lesson by winning the Curtains And Blinds Juvenile (515 metres) by five lengths in the time of 30.60.
Hello Knocka prevailed in the Shaw Contracting Juvenile (515 metres) by a neck, recording a slightly faster 30.53.
Polley explained that it came as no surprise that the chasers had won on the night and that in recent starts both had been disadvantaged by bad box draws.
“I know it is invariably used as an excuse, but they have been drawing badly and racing without luck,” he said.
“I will now enter them for the HGRC meeting next week and am naturally hoping that they can now go on with it.”
When the trainer began trialling the litter brothers, he considered that Hello Knocka was the pick, but he has now changed his mind and is opting for Jack O'Riley.
He also paid tribute to the Tea Tree based Heawood, a greyhound racing fanatic and leading satchel swinger.
“I have purchased several pups from Barry and have enjoyed success with the majority of them – he does a great job,” he said.
Meanwhile Exeter trainer Anthony Bullock took training honours at the LGRC meeting by scoring an early treble from the first six races on the card.
He set the ball rolling with the fancied Posh Nan (Meticulous – Oh Zoya) which took out the Kingsley Jarman Fencing Grade 4 (278 metres) in the time of 16.42 and paying a win dividend of $2.50.
Three races later he was seen in the winners circle once again with Hellyeah Flossie (Collision – Camdale Nellie), which prevailed in the Rapidgel Stake Grade 5 (515 metres) in the time of 30.41 and paying a lucrative $13.
Smart bitch Ruby May (Shanlyn Prince – No End) then completed the treble by taking out the Wayne Groves Automotive Grade 5 (515 metres), scoring by eight lengths in the time of 30.15 and paying a win dividend of $3.
Mangalore trainer Susan Gittus also prepared a double at the meeting when Select Breaker (Overflow Breaker – Optimum Angel) and Hellyeah Rachel (Collide – Gone For Tea) won their respective events.
Next Tuesday afternoon racing will return to the Devonport Raceway, following a two week break for the Devonport Show.