It was another successful week for Murray Bridge trainers, with winners recorded at Balaklava, Murray Bridge and Morphettville Parks. The week featured several standout performances, including a memorable retirement raceday for one of Murray Bridge’s most respected racing identities, local trainers dominating an entire race at Murray Bridge, and a training quinella in metropolitan company.
Balaklava on Wednesday (15 July):
Grant Young opened the week in style, with Celeman Zor, ridden by Jason Holder, producing an impressive performance to win Race One by 2.52 lengths.
Garret Lynch added another winner in Race Five when Costless, partnered by Stacey Metcalfe, proved too strong to score by 0.91 lengths. Grant Young’s Kushan Khanivale, also ridden by Jason Holder, chased home well to finish second, giving Murray Bridge trainers the quinella.
Murray Bridge on Friday:
Friday’s meeting at Thomas Farms Racecourse was a special occasion, with the club celebrating “Thanks for the Memories” Raceday in honour of the retirement of long-time racecaller John Buhagiar, whose voice has been synonymous with racing in South Australia for decades.
Ron Daniel & Trish Stanbury provided the perfect start to the celebrations in Race Three, with Amical, ridden by Connor Murtagh, prevailing in a thrilling finish by just 0.12 lengths.
Race Five once again showcased the incredible depth of the Murray Bridge training ranks. Easy Beast, prepared by Sophie Logan and ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, claimed victory by 0.4 lengths ahead of Kristi Evans’ Unwind, partnered by Kayla Crowther. Murray Bridge trainers completely dominated the race, filling the first five placings, with Hannah Bryce finishing third, Sue & Jason Jaensch fourth, and Sarah Rutten fifth.
Sarah Rutten rounded out the home-track winners in Race Six when Petit Eagle, with Jason Holder aboard, scored by 0.82 lengths to continue the stable’s consistent run of form.
Morphettville Parks on Saturday:
Nicole Irwin enjoyed a memorable metropolitan result in the final event, producing a stable quinella in Race Nine.
Real Deluxe, ridden by Stacey Metcalfe, proved too strong to score by 0.3 lengths, while stablemate Vexatious Dancer, partnered by Connor Murtagh, finished second to complete the quinella.
Following the race, Nicole described Real Deluxe as a “real little superstar” after another impressive performance from the consistent galloper.
It was another outstanding week for Murray Bridge trainers, highlighted by a memorable farewell raceday for John Buhagiar, local trainers filling the first five placings in one race at Murray Bridge, a stable quinella in metropolitan company for Nicole Irwin, and winners across three race meetings.
Winning Murray Bridge Trainers This Week:
- Grant Young – Celeman Zor (Balaklava R1)
- Garret Lynch – Costless (Balaklava R5)
- Ron Daniel & Trish Stanbury – Amical (Murray Bridge R3)
- Sophie Logan – Easy Beast (Murray Bridge R5)
- Sarah Rutten – Petit Eagle (Murray Bridge R6)
- Nicole Irwin – Real Deluxe (Morphettville Parks R9)
Coming up this week, an amended race meet brings the races back to Murray Bridge for the fifth time this month, and the last one for the season! General Admission is free, so bring anyone and everyone to experience the last meet of the racing season at the Thomas Farms Racecourse Murray Briddge.