Bairnsdale Racing Club hosted its final race meeting for the 2023/24 season on Monday with a competitive eight-race card.
Riding honours for the meeting went to Jackie Beriman and promising apprentice Lauren Burke, who both rode doubles, combining with trainers Shawn Mathrick and Matt Laurie.
The first race on the program was won by regular winners at Bairnsdale, Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock, who saluted with well-backed favourite, Bit of Oz, with group one winning hoop Lachlan King in the saddle. Second placed galloper Sergeant Mavers looks capable of picking up a similar race in the coming weeks.
Mathrick and Beriman combined with Zapurple Groove and Superset, both well in the market, with the former rodeo rider having a reputation for liking to have a punt when he thinks his charges can win.
Local galloper Shooter McGavin, for trainer, Jackson Pallot, ran a nice third to Superset and looks close to a victory.
The longest priced winner of the day was in race three when Sale trainer Adam Hanley and veteran jockey Sally Wynne combined for a surprise win with Saufiana at $26.
Though given the ease the three year old filly won with, one suspects that it wasn’t a total surprise to connections.
The galloper was formerly trained by Cliff Brown, where it ran a disappointing race on debut in August last year. Burke, who is in a rich vein of form, combined with Mornington trainer, Laurie, to win races four and five, with Our Silver Linings and Mount Dove, neither friendless in competitive betting races.
Burke also rode a double at Terang last Sunday and looks is certainly a jockey to follow.
Former Queensland trainer Trent Edmonds who was formerly part of a highly successful training partnership with dad, Toby, trained his first winner as solo trainer, in his new adopted state, when Glen’s Top Cat crossed the line first.
Edmonds combined with Mornington apprentice, Luke Cartwright, who continues to impress with ability around the Gippsland racing circuit.
The last race on the card went to Celestial Harmony for the training brothers combination of Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the galloper one of the first winners from their Pakenham base, which has reopened in recent weeks.
The stables were recently occupied by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, who have moved into a new complex. Celestial Harmony was ridden by Matt Cartwright.
