By David Gilbert
HIGHLY respected trainer Sue Jaensch has had plenty of highlights throughout her long career.
Countless country cup victories and a plethora of metropolitan winners appear throughout her resume when Jaensch was based at Naracoorte before moving to Murray Bridge a few years ago.
A couple of gallopers that spring to mind who put Jaensch in the limelight include Lady Avacan who won a couple of city races, including the last race ever run at Cheltenham in 2009.
The smart galloper Amberdi won four races in Adelaide during the 2018/19 season and then there was the good stayer Fereronoche who won four country cups during the 2006-07 season.
These days, the Jaensch stable is a joint operation, with Sue at Murray Bridge and son Jason running the show back home at the Cadgee stables north east of Naracoorte.
There is not much doubt the biggest win since the pair joined forces came last Saturday at Morphettville when the exciting youngster Sir Sway won the $120,295 Listed Redelva Stakes over 1100 metres.
The Redelva Stakes is named after the star Millicent sprinter who really put South Australian racing on the map, both here and in Victoria, during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Sir Sway, by Sir Prancelot out of Silent Sway, has had an exceptional three and a half months of racing, and has not missed a place from six starts.
The three-year-old gelding caught the eye at his first start at Naracoorte on December 29 last year when, as a $7 chance, he won an 1100-metre maiden.
After winning at Penola on Coonawarra cup day in January, Sir Sway has raced in Adelaide for two thirds prior to last Saturday’s success.
It was a big step up in class to Listed level last weekend, taking on several promising Victorian gallopers and those punters who stayed loyal to Sir Sway were rewarded handsomely.
The South East owned youngster was a $31 chance and defied those odds with a gutsy win for Victorian jockey Carleen Heifel.
“He just showed that while he is not very big, he’s got a really big heart,” Heifel told the press post race.
CUP DAY FORM PROVEN GOOD
ANYONE who followed the form from two of the feature races on Mount Gambier cup day last month should have money to spare following the meeting at Bordertown on Sunday.
Winner of the Blue Lake handicap (Victory Bandit) and the Volcano handicap (All Beans) at Glenburnie both saluted at Bordertown at very good odds.
Fresh from their big win in Adelaide the previous day, the Sue and Jason Jaensch stable won the 2000-metre BM 62 handicap with Victory Bandit for jockey Stacey Metcalfe.
The six-year-old mare caused a boilover in the Blue Lake handicap as a $51 chance at her first glimpse of any form this campaign when also ridden by Metcalfe.
In a race of lesser quality at Bordertown, Victory Bandit was a $4.20 chance and put up a big effort to overcome a check near the 1300 metres and then come from the tail of the field to win running away.
Likewise, All Beans was down in class at Bordertown and defied a betting drift ($4.60-$5.50) to narrowly win the 1100-metre BM 66 handicap to give apprentice Caitlyn Munro her first winner on a Limestone Coast track.
Apart from Victory Bandit, the horse to follow from Bordertown in future months may be the Millicent owned and trained Bear Arms.
The mare was not expected to be a major player on the good track at Bordertown, but ran home strongly for fifth and will improve even further on rain affected tracks.
DECENT PLUNGE LANDED
CORPORATE bookmakers were on the back foot early in the program at Bordertown when a decent plunge was landed in the opening event, the first division of the 1100-metre maiden.
Lift The Bar, prepared at Murray Bridge by hobby trainer Sarah Rutten, came from mid-field and never went around another runner before scoring easily from the favourite Undercover Agent ($1.70-$3.40).
The five-year-old mare had been placed once previously (here at Mount Gambier) in her career from six starts and was having her first start for Rutten after finishing fifth in a trial at Murray Bridge on April 5.
As much as $51 was bet on race eve about the chances of Lift The Bar and her odds firmed from $11 into $6 on race day.
Stewards were quick to quiz Rutten after the race in relation to the significant betting support for the mare and Rutten stated she was surprised at both the betting moves and at winning the race.
Rutten did add that the stable was unsure what to expect as the mare was having her first start for her and that Lift The Bar had performed satisfactorily in a jump out prior to the Murray Bridge trial.
Furthermore, Rutten stated the stable had not backed the mare and she had not encouraged any party to do so.
INTEREST AND SUPPORT STILL THERE
MANY country sports are going through some tough times in regards to participation numbers, lack of volunteers and crowd interest.
Therefore, it was fantastic to see exceptional crowd numbers at two local sporting events I attended last weekend.
Some long time supporters of the Glencoe football/netball club claim the game against Hatherleigh last Saturday attracted the biggest home and away crowd ever to a Glencoe home game.
It appeared the local football/netball community were thrilled at the opportunity to be able to unite once again and have a social day outside to enjoy the perfect autumn conditions.
Then on Sunday, Mount Gambier greyhound club officials had to be over the moon with the crowd for Mount Gambier cup day.
While I cannot vouch for the crowds at the greyhounds in its infancy days at the Glenburnie racecourse, it was the biggest crowd I have seen since they moved to the Lake Terrace complex.
WINNER AT START NUMBER 262
AGE is obviously not affecting harness trainer Jim Barker (in his 90’s) or his 13-year-old pacer Johnny Redcoat, the latter recording his 18th win at start number 262 at the Greenwald Paceway last Sunday evening.
That was in the NR 40 pace which the club named after Glencoe identity Lesley Medhurst who passed away last week after a long illness.
There have been plenty of close finishes at the Greenwald Paceway this season, but none as close as the opening event when the judge could not separate the rank outsider Hilldale Sunrise ($51) and the $2.80 favourite Joanies A Pearler.
Their trainers, Ken Dihm and Rebecca East also tasted success later in the program, while driver Jackie Barker had 1.5 winners for the night (including the dead heat).
The most impressive winner on the program was the first starter Always Dancing from the Alyce Finnis stable in the maiden pace who streeted his rivals after securing a clear passage at the top of the straight
Mount Gambier gold cup winner Hez All Rock was at good odds ($6.50) in winning his second race here in a month in the NR 54-65 pace.
LEGENDS RACE DAY
MID-WEEK racing returns to Glenburnie next Wednesday (April 24) for Legends Day when four local racing identities will be inducted into the legend’s club.
During the afternoon, the club will recognise the efforts of former jockeys Frank Dean and Roy “Mick” Medhurst, along with trainer Essy Thompson and race caller/media man George Kay.
There will be free admission for everyone, all facilities for the day will be upstairs and the $30 meal deal (choice of schnitzel or fish, a beer, wine or soft drink and a racebook) will be available.
