Marburg Weekend Roundup

2009 August 15 Marburg Harness Racing Results
Race 1 Welcome Wayne Wendt MP Ipswich West Mobile Pace
1 Dusty Roman - Peter Grieg ($2.10 fav.)
2 Unwanted Cargo - Steven Doherty
3 Shakenloose - Bruce Cameron
Time 2:22.5; MR 2:04.6
Race 2 Thank You David Pahlke Ipswich City Councillor Handicap
1 Eclipses Ace – Ron Sallis ($2:10 fav.)
2 Boston Road – Tim Gillespie
3 Jeans Promise – Dan Russell
Time 2:28.6; MR 2:09.3
Race 3 Harness Talk Van’s $500 Trainer’ Products Trophy Mobile Pace
1 Sam McCool - Nicole Hanrahan ($5.00)
2 Amazing Oliver- Chris McGuire
3 Rocket Empress - Daniel Anforth
Time 2:55.3; MR 2:06.8
Race 4 Hometurn Bar Happy Hour Begins At 2:20pm Mobile Pace
1 Watchandwonder – Dale Chalk ($1.65 fav.)
2 Silent Promises - Scott Neaves
3 Cocktail Legend – Barry Hoare
Time 2:23; MR 2:04.4 (Won on protest Second against First)
Race 5 Dean Jones Marburg Racecaller Mobile Pace
1 Claim And Conquer – Jennifer Learoyd ($3.00)
2 Signor Salvatore – Peter Grieg
3 Ourscottishprince – John May
Time 2:21.5; MR 2:03.1
Race 6 Come Harness Racing September 5th and 19th Discretionary Handicap
1 Jimmy Ultimate - Greg Elkins ($1.80 fav.)
2 Sutton – Scott Neaves
3 Eightgreatmates – Glenn Walsh
Time 2:50.1; MR 2:10.6

Marburg Return Mail
Race-goers had a field day at Marburg last Saturday in glorious sunshine and generous bookmaker odds to even tempt the moderate once in awhile punter. Our Brisbane raider Peter Grieg, gave the favorite punter no reason to worry with an impeccable patient drive to win on the Burwood Stud, Pittsworth bred 3yo Dusty Roman. Steven Doherty rated the heavily-backed Unwanted Cargo in front to perfection, but experienced guile of Peter Greig at the rear of the field waiting to the last minute made the sprint home a nail biter & a winning move.
A little bit of luck and Ron Sallis expert training first –up fitness polish, gave the well-backed Eclipses Ace the win for his new owners with a bright future ahead as a 3 and 4yo under Ron’s care. Second placegetter Boston Road was a little stiff in running and is the horse to follow wherever Tim Gillespie may start him, especially if at Marburg next month.

Bookmakers were reeling are the first two races and were looking to lengthen odds in the markets to attract a wider range of bets to receive some respite from the massive punter’s winning run. Nicole Hanrahan driving Miles McCool gelding Sam McCool in the Harness Talk Trainers Trophy Pace gave bookies their wish and in doing so, her winning drive was full of class and a matter of her knowing ability of the stable star and judging the drive to the line to perfection with a head to spare over Amazing Oliver and Jeans Promise filling third with favorite Im Troy in fourth. The bookies got the lot, but Nicole receives the main race trophy and the stable follower’s appreciation.

The expected fireworks and race tension of Race 4 did not let the large number of new patrons and punters to the Marburg track down as the action continued off the track in the stewards room with a protest fired in by Second placegetter Dale Chalk (Watchandwonder, heavily-backed odds on $1.65 favorite) against the original winner Scott Neaves (Silent Promises, who lead, with Watchandwonder outside leader and the margin was a half-head on the line).
After a long deliberation with some anxious odds-on punters sweating out the result, the placings were reversed with Marburg’s Wayne and Dale Chalk’s Watchandwonder declared the winner. The effort by the runner-up was a huge effort with trainer Chris Knack doing a great job with him and is certainly another one to follow.

The win by Watchandwonder at the new race meetings at Marburg was as good as winning at Albion Park for my family and myself, Dale Chalk was quoted as saying, and he paid tribute to the local newspaper coverage and crowd response the race days at Marburg receiving and his victory was a wonderful boost for his town of Marburg and the local watering hole , the Marburg Hotel.

Karrabin’s Claim And Conquer (by 3 time Inter Dominion winner Our Sir Vancelot) made it 2 from 2 at Marburg for gifted female trainer/driver Jennifer Learoyd and husband Matt by leading a smart field all the way, holding out the fast finishing heavily-backed Signor Salvatore (Peter Grieg). In her short career Jennifer has attracted the attention of some smart harness racing people and they all agree, she has ability to go all the way with the right horses she has the right attitude and dedication that is missing in some industry participants.