LONGFORD trainer Peter Luttrell has only five horses in work so he doesn’t get many chances to land a double.
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But he made the most of his opportunities at Mowbray last night when he won with Mygreyhorse and Geegee’s Clang.
Both were short-priced favourites and both were ridden by Ismail Toker who had a treble after only four races.
Mygreyhorse raced near the lead all the way before proving a shade too strong for Geegee Hot Novel in the Coates Hire Maiden.
‘‘He’s been a bit unlucky not to win before now,’’ Luttrell said.
‘‘He’s copped a few wide draws and missed the start a couple of times.
‘‘There have been some hiccups along the way so it’s good to see him finally crack it.’’
Luttrell isn’t expecting too much of the six-year-old gelding, describing him as ‘‘just a grinder.’’
‘‘But his blood hasn’t been 100 per cent so he might have a bit of improvement in him.’’
Geegee’s Clang had run five seconds before his easy win in the Steves Liquor Maiden.
‘‘He’s been narrowly beaten a couple of times so he also deserved to break through,’’ Luttrell said.
‘‘He’s not pretty to look at it and he’s a chronic wind-sucker but he is a lovely natured horse – a real gentleman.
‘‘And, he always tries.’’
Luttrell said that his dwindling numbers followed a stable clean out.
‘‘I got rid of a few slow ones,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m looking for a few more now – but the phone isn’t ringing.’’
Late scratching
HOT favourite Sh’bourne Bel was withdrawn from the race won by Mygreyhorse when he cast a shoe on the way to the barriers and could not be re-plated.
Trainer Bill Ryan said that, until a recent rule change, the farrier would have been allowed to remove the other hind shoe and let the horse race barefoot.
‘‘But you can’t do that any more,’’ Ryan said.
‘‘It’s a pity because one of his owners came all the way from Kingaroy [Qld] to watch him run.’’
Fred fires
TRAINER Barry Campbell was pleasantly surprised by Just Call Me Fred’s debut win in the Toll Tasmania Maiden.
The first leg of Ismail Toker’s treble, Just Call Me Fred raced outside the leader before hitting the front in the straight and holding off the late challengers.
‘‘I told the owners that he couldn’t win on his trackwork but maybe he’s one of those horses that saves his best for race day,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘He’s a well bred horse and we won’t rush him.
‘‘He might just have one more run before going to the paddock.’’
Gee Gee no.3
OWNERS Paul and Elizabeth Geard had three runners in the Carlton Draught (Bm62) Handicap and won with the outsider of the trio, Gee Gees Snowhill.
It was a welcome return to form by the Stuart Gandy-trained mare who had failed at four runs since a spell.
Jockey Kim Moore believes that the five-year-old can now go on with the job.
‘‘She raced a bit keenly early but then settled and got a nice cart up behind (runner-up) Mundine,’’ Moore said.
‘‘She finished off nicely and I think she can win more races.’’