Two Victorians, neither of which had won a race for more than a year, came to Friday’s Gawler harness meeting and set track records in returns to the winning list.
Importantly for connections, both Yambukian and Travel Bug have guaranteed themselves starts in two South Australian features at the end of October.
Trained by Andy Gath, Yambukian had not saluted since July 22 last year but gave the locals a pacing lesson in the $9,999 Ladbrokes Pacing Cup (2550m) leading throughout rating 1:55.9, 1.8 seconds faster than the previous best set by Joes A Character on March 7, 2021.
Sent out a virtually unbackable $1.20 favourite, the six-year-old cruised home 15 metres clear of Artillery ($7) with another Victorian All Da Rage ($23), two metres away third.
The win ensures Yambukian will obtain a start in the $60,000 2024 South Australian Pacing Cup (2645m) on October 26.
It is a ploy used by Gath last year with Tango Tara which ran a close second in the SA Cup.
South Australia’s Ryan Hryhorec praised Gath for his placement of horses.
“Andy was aware the Ladbrokes Cup would qualify for the SA Cup and was on the phone to see if I could drive Yambukian,” Hryhorec said.
“He doesn’t miss a trick.
“This horse was a beast today. He won as he liked and could have gone quicker.
“No doubt he is going to be hard to beat in the Cup, but it still is a month away.”
Hryhorec revealed Yambukian was only floated overnight from Melton to Morphettville.
“I picked him up at 9 o’clock this morning so it was a big effort to come here and do what he did.”
Artillery made good ground from the rear of the field but was never a chance of catching the winner while third placegetter All Da Rage also ran on strongly.
Travel Bug came off a 40-metre handicap to win the 2024 Ladbroke Trotters Cup (2550m) with a sensational sprint over the final 200 metres.
He rated 2:00.3 to take 1.6 seconds off the previous best recorded by The Penny Drops on March 7, 2021.
Driven by Samantha Pascoe, Travel Bug ($7) gave the leaders 20 metres turning for home but sprinted powerfully to arrive and score as half head win from Skybreeze ($6) which was being acclaimed the victor.
Wishing Star ($6) was a head away third.
An eight-year-old, Travel Bug had not won since May 12 last year when victorious at Maryborough.
The winner is trained by brothers Shaun and Jason McNaulty and owned by Carly McNaulty.
Shaun McNaulty revealed Travel Bug nearly had not made it to the track.
“We had a float breakdown at Kaniva this morning and I feared the worst,” McNaulty said.
“Fortunately, it was able to be fixed in 35 minutes, and we made it to Gawler in time.
“I knew he faced a tough task today but even though his form doesn’t look great, he has been racing well against tough opposition. I would have been happy to see him finish in the first five, winning is a bonus.”:
Travel Bug now has automatic entry into the $40,000 South Australian Trotters Cup (2645m) on October 26.
“We bought him across last year for the Trotters Cup and he ran second in a heat but didn’t back up a week later in the final.
“With a win today we can go home and make sure he is spot on for the final this year.”
For Pascoe, who is having a wonderful season and continues to grow her reputation, it was her first Cup win.
Two of the impressive winners at Gawler on Friday were three-year-olds which are likely to clash this week in the $8,500 Ladbrokes Derby (2070m).
Bay Jim Major ($1.65 fav) sat parked in the DF & E Kemp & Son Pace (2070m) but dashed away in the home straight to win by 15-1/2 metres from La Moth ($3.20) with Clarenden Express ($18) a head away third.’
Trained by Les Harding, who celebrated his 75th birthday during the week, the gelding rated a smart 1:55.4.
Bay Jim Major is owned by greyhound identities Michael Ceravolo, Greg Moore and Daniella Madalinski who have had such good success with the gelding, they have purchased his younger brother from Kapunda breeder Stephen Norman.
The other impressive three-year-old winner was Buzz Bomb, trained and driven by Paul Cavallaro.
Buzz Bomb ($4.20) was given a perfect drive by Cavallaro to score a three-metre win in the 1800-Got-Junk? Pace (2070m) beating Tonkawaikon ($4.60) with Treacherous One ($3.20), five metres away third.
“Next week’s Derby is his next goal,” Cavallaro said.
“He wanted to knock off today when he got to the front, but the run will tighten him up.
“It was only his second run back from a break and he is a horse that takes a few runs to reach full fitness.”
Gawler trainer Aaron Bain prepared a winning double courtesy of ex-New Zealanders Man United and Lady La Salle.
Man United ($1.35 fav) turned in a superb run to win the Angle Vale Hardware Fodder & Landscaping Pace (1609m).
The five-year-old was having his first run since June 19 last year having had a tendon injury as well as hoof issues.
Despite giving the leader Moops ($4.60) a start and coming wide in a fast 27.8 second final quarter, Man United, driven by Wayne Hill, came quickly to win.
Lady La Salle ($1.20 fav) gave Bain and Hill a training and driving double sitting parked in the Thank You All Gawler HRC Volunteers Pace (2070m) before drawing clear to win by seven metres from Emrites ($8).
With Globe Derby Park’s reopening delayed until October 12, the Gawler Harness Racing Club will hold another metropolitan meeting on Friday while the Kapunda Harness Racing Club will hold its Cups meeting on Sunday, October 6.
