Two trebles, the unearthing of an exciting three-year-old prospect and some post-carnival justice were among the highlights of Saturday metropolitan racing returning to Murray Bridge on the weekend.
Apprentice jockey Kayla Crowther continued her outstanding 2019/20 season with a hat-trick of winners, starting with Queensland-bound filly Really Discreet, for trainer Phillip Stokes. She followed up with stablemate Done By Me, then finished the day by taking out race nine with David Jolly’s Rock Harbour, which came with a barnstorming run wide on the track to prevail right on the line, overhauling the brave Just Kappy.
Meanwhile Stokes’ other winner was Symphonette, who experienced no luck in a race on the final day of the carnival, but atoned with a fast-finishing win in race six on Saturday. Symphonette was the second leg of a double for apprentice Lachlan Neindorf, who scored earlier in the day with three-year-old Wicked Whitt.
Like fellow backmarker Symphonette, Debt Collector also had plenty of bad luck during his carnival run (and his start prior), but saw enough clear air in Saturday’s 1200m benchmark 82 event to sprint brilliantly and take out race eight for Stuart Padman, with Barend Vorster aboard.
Perhaps the most impressive performer of the day was Coolth, providing a timely boost for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy yard, which had announced the retirement of champion mare Sunlight earlier in the week.
At just his second start, Coolth powered home from last to win a 1600m race running away from his opposition. Described by the stable as “big” and “raw”, Coolth could be destined for better races, with Calvin predicting “an exciting future” for the son of Dundeel.
