Youthful Lady makes a lonely sight as she beats the steward’s car around the Tamworth turn last week. She’s third emergency at Coona tomorrow. Photo: Barry Smith 010213 BSA01
SOMETIMES luck just doesn’t seem to run your way in the racing game.
Just ask Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien, who had hoped to start Just Milly in today’s $25,000 Woodie Wonder Racing OK Earthmoving Ron Martin Memorial Maiden Handicap (1000m) at Walcha.
The three-year-old filly, who had impressed when fifth on debut to Up And Over at Tamworth last month, drew barrier 14 in the Ron Martin Memorial Maiden.
“14 out of 14,” O’Brien said yesterday.
“It looks a pretty hard ask from out there.
“I haven’t spoken to the owners yet but I’ll probably scratch.”
Just Milly was a 20-1 chance in the main support race to the Walcha Cup.
Tim Martin, who has won the Maiden four times previous, has the pre-race favourite Bonsai (3-1) and has not drawn much better in 13.
Bad luck has dogged O’Brien the last week or so.
Last week at Tamworth another of his runners, Youthful Lady, broke through the barriers as they loaded, completed a lap and was scratched.
O’Brien then nominated her for both Walcha and Coonabarabran tomorrow, opting to accept at Coonabarabran but finishing as the third emergency in the 2013 Bushfire Appeal Sole Impression & Starlight Cottage Fillies & Mares Handicap (1100m).
“Yeah, not having much luck are we,” O’Brien laughed.
“I don’t know what happened to Youthful lady at Tamworth – she got a bit fractious and bumped the gates, they opened and she took off.
“These things happen.
“Now she’s third emergency at Coona.
“I looked at them the other day and thought she might be a half a chance of getting a run at Coona.”
While she struggles to obtain a start at Coona, O’Brien does have a runner.
“Groover Girl,” he said.
“She’s in the 900m. It might be a bit short for her though.
“ They could go a bit quick for her but if she’s anywhere near them after the first half she might be a chance.”
Tamworth trainer Sue Grills has a good chance in today’s Ron Martin Memorial Maiden with Just Cooking.
Yesterday she had the winning recipe at Grafton where Monashee Woods, who had been nominated for the Walcha Cup, won the $15,000 XXXX Gold Benchmark 60 Handicap (1406m) for the Tamworth trainer.
The five-year-old gelding carried 61.5kg, with his Tamworth stable apprentice, Sophie Young ,claiming 2kg.
Grills almost made it a double when 10-year-old Studio Star finished second to the Toby Edmonds-trained Spot On Target in the next race.
Spot On Target set a new course record of 55.71secs.
