Brumby Bomber Salutes At Bolters Odds
Brumby Bomber ( Brumby Lad – Kanowna Belle) provided a major surprise at Tuesday's NWGRC meeting conducted at the Devonport Raceway by winning the City Of Devonport Cup (452 metres), as a despised outsider, paying a dividend of $45.70.
The field included several of Tasmania's best chasers, including Devonport Cup winner Rewind (Collide – Ricky's Angel) which was resuming in his home state after competing in the Golden Easter Egg Series at Wentworth Park.
Brumby Bob pounced on the early lead from the green box as the lids flew and never headed, recording the time of 25.74 in defeating Wynburn Diamond (Big Daddy Cool – Swift Azz) and Rewind, which was sent out a raging $1.30 favourite.
The race was robbed of some interest with the scratching of the Paul Hili prepared Black Nitro (Bombastic Shiraz – Leetyla), however all honours were with Brumby Bomber, which has now won 11 of 52 lifetime outings and stakes of in excess of $20,000.
Former harness racing trainer Brian Shipp of Westbury prepares Brumby Bomber and was pleasantly surprised at the chaser's win in the annual feature.
“It was his best win by far and the best time that he has recorded at Devonport by several lengths,” he explained after the race.
“He had ten wins before today, but nothing really big and he's a grade one dog now so he will be meeting strong fields every time that he races.”
“He will win another race or two when the luck comes his way like it did today.”
Meanwhile another former harness racing identity to experience success at Tuesday's meeting was Invermay based trainer Kim Rockliff, who was successful with the former Victorian chaser Frank's Memory ( Paddy's Flame – Indiana Waters).
Kim is the daughter of well known harness racing trainer Alan “Nobby” Abra and a sister to Lyn Maney, who was at one time Secretary of the Launceston Pacing Club before relocating to a similar position at Bathurst in New South Wales.
Kim has a small team in work and invariably bobs up with a winner when least expected.
Frank's Memory took out Tuesday's Tasfreight Grade 5 (452 metres) at only his third Tasmanian outing, in a manner suggesting further victories in the not too distant future.
The chaser recorded the time of 25.94 in defeating Gotta Be Daire (Bit Chili – Gorgeous I Daire) and Bubble Gump (Big Daddy Cool – Jaspers Oceania), paying a dividend of $3.60.
Promising chaser Sir Sonic (Bond – Lusty Star) was the fastest winner on Tuesday's card, recording a slick 25.64 in winning the Betta Milk Grade 5 (452 metres) as a well supported $1.90 commodity.
Prepared at Wynyard by Scott Bryan, the chaser has now won three races since being transferred to Tasmania in January and is another which will pay his way in the future.