Emerley Lover’s Purple Patch Continues At Gawler
Troy Murray is no stranger to the winners circle with his vast selection of chasers, and Emerley Lover is continuing to fly the flag for the popular Lewiston trainer.
After a dominant win in the rich St. Patricks Day sprint last Thursday night, the son of Nitro Burst and Emerley Shine had that winning feeling again, but this time it was up the highway at Gawler.
Backing up four days after the brilliant 29.40 Angle Park performance, Emerley Lover lined up on Tuesday in the first heat of the Gawler South Bakery Free-For-All series, and from box four, ran the arms off the clock again.
With a small field of five facing the starter, the 32kg chaser was expected to get the job done, with punters sending it out as a $1.60 elect. After an early speed battle with Cacia Bale, the favourite powered away proving far too good for those in pursuit.
The flying chaser ran 30.56 for the 531 metres and has always had an affinity for the Gawler circuit, having previously run a slashing 30.36 for the same journey in June last year. His record at the showground venue now sits at five wins from nine tries, and he will prove most difficult to overcome for those other chasers qualifying for the final.
Those from the first heat joining Emerley Lover in next week's feature were Long Gully Court, Sheza Diva and Lochinvar Impala.
The second and final heat was a more competitive affair, but on this occasion the favoured runner had to settle for second place.
Punters came hard for Chemical Maker, who shared a similar form line as Emerley Lover after being runner-up in the St. Patrick Day Sprint. As a result, he was “in the red” by the time they jumped, but was unable to give Troy Murray back-to-back winners from box two.
Instead, the underrated Fire Tyson from the Tony Lagana camp would steal the show and lead all the way to beat Chemical Maker, who came from last to challenge in the straight.
Fire Tyson came into the event with his last few runs over the shorter 400-metre trip after being off his best for the majority of the year so far. However with a sharpened focus, the highly successful sprinter was brilliant from the moment the boxes opened, running 30.75 in victory.
While it was a fair way from his 30.44 personal best, the winner of 31 races can never be taken lightly, especially on a course where his style of using the track comes as no disadvantage.
Former Queenslander Kenso Karoo was not far behind that leading duo and subsequently progressed, along with Long Gully Bill who took the last spot on offer.
The $2250 to-the-winner final is sure to be the highlight of the meeting next Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, there is one chaser who keeps turning regular Grade 5 events into a highlight package at Angle Park, running times that would give the very best a fright.
Cairnlea Layla for Peter Hubbard and new trainer Robyn Mackeller has won its past two races by a combined margin of nearly 24 lengths, but it's the fact she runs times comparable to Ernie Bung Arrow that puts her ability into perspective.
From box seven, the daughter of Mogambo and Della Bale lined up in the eighth event on Monday night and speared out to set a first split of 4.45, before going to run 29.55, backing up the twelve-length 29.56 effort she produced Wednesday last week.
The December 2011 pup is only a recent acquisition to South Australia, having been a Victorian competitor for the first nine starts of its career under the care of Robert Britton. She'd had three wins at Sandown under her belt (29.73 best) as well as some early placings at Geelong before the trip west was undertaken.
With such improved box manners and an obviously strong motor, expect this chaser to be winning much better races in the very near future.