GAVIN Groth and Sue Bigg ended a dry spell in the red hot heat at Moree on Saturday.
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The Gunnedah trainer and his stable apprentice won the first two races on a searing day at Moree when The Early Bird won the North West Ginning Benchmark 60 Handicap (2175m) and Iron Mistress hung on to snare the B& B Harvesting Maiden Plate (1300m).
“Gees it was hot out there,” Groth said from the cool interior of an air-conditioned vehicle as he sipped on a cold beer.
“I thought being in the first two might be better for us, get in and out, but it was just so hot.
“The two wins made it easier and it feels a lot better now.
“We had a pretty good day – a terrific day.”
The Early Bird, who was Groth’s first winner on the day, claimed a seventh career win.
“I thought he could win it at the weights,” Groth said.
“If he couldn’t beat Tara Brave he’d never be able to do it.
“Sue rode him well though and he won well.
“The little filly (Iron Mistress) has a few barrier manners.
Today was the first time she’d drawn a gate though and she did jump.
“She just hung on.
“It was good for Sue – her first couple of winners for a while too.
“Actually, it’s been a long time between drinks for both of us.
“They were good Christmas presents.”
While The Early Bird pulled up well, Iron Mistress was “a little distressed”.
“She’s only a lightly-framed little thing,” he said.
“She’s done well this time, had a win and a placing.
“We’ll have a look at her and then maybe give her a spell.”
Moree trainer Peter Sinclair also finished with a double when he bagged the final two races of the meeting.
While Peter was in John Hunter Hospital giving a kidney to his son Nathan, his father, Phillip Sinclair, looked after the stable’s runners.
And Phillip finished off the day with a swooping win by Lady Cinnamon and then Mind You’s victory.
Lady Cinnamon flew late to win by a short head and Mind You, who had been beaten by the narrowest of margins at his previous start in Armidale, had a deserving length and half win in the Simply Stuck Painting Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m).
It was a good day for apprentices too, with Matthew Powell winning aboard the George Woodward-trained Cheeky Princess and Samantha Clenton winning a second Moree race for Ron Buckpitt’s Summa Cum Sadie.
