Sport
2 February, 2024
Grumpee joy after start tape tangles
THE Alison Alford-trained Grumpee had his first win in four months on the third attempt to run Sunday’s Wedderburn Trotters’ Cup. Chris Alford drove the four-year-old superbly to take the lead in the home straight at Carisbrook raceway...
THE Alison Alford-trained Grumpee had his first win in four months on the third attempt to run Sunday’s Wedderburn Trotters’ Cup.
Chris Alford drove the four-year-old superbly to take the lead in the home straight at Carisbrook raceway, overtaking Baltica and Majestic Belle to win by 2.6 metres.
Grumpee had started at the handy odds of $13 for the win. Favourite in the Priorty One-sponsored feature race Mercenary ($2.80) came in at the rear of the field.
Mercenary had paced and broken after the start and stewards have now placed the horse on his last chance for standing starts.
Stewards were busy reviewing the trotters’ cup with two false starts before the green light was given to racing on Sunday.
They said that immediately prior to the tapes being released driver Ellen Tormey (Gee Cee Calder) called to the starter to alert him that her horse was in contact with the front tape, and as a consequence a false start was called.
At the second start attempt, the 10 metre tape failed to release, causing a further false start and the tapes were then hand held for the start. Alison Alford said Grumpee had a rewarded her faith with the strong finish.
In the Wedderburn Pacing Cup, Jack Laugher drove Earl of Prembroke to a fast-finishing win, storming home in the bell lap to outgun Ubetcha Tigerpie and Platinum Stride,
Ubetcha Tigerpie had set the early pace before Laugher pounced to drive the favourite to victory.
Local horse Modern Bliss, owned by Jarklin’s Graham Maxted, was the race outsider with punters but finished midfield in the 2690-metre cup.
Modern Bless underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations due to his number of lifetime starts and no abnormalities apparent. The local horse had been held up around the home turn.
The Gavan Holt-owned trotter Glengarriff was second in the John Rohan Trotters’ Handicap, finishing 7.6 metres behind favourite TicTok.
Punters had favoured the Wedderburn horse, backing him to second favourite.
Glengarriff has figured in the placings over the last year without a win.