GOLD COAST WRAP WITH LADBROKES’ TOM HACKETT

WINNERS

■ Akage (Race 2)

Akage didn’t do much on debut at the Gold Coast and there was no money for her on Saturday but she won like Chautauqua! She was still several lengths off Signoria at the 100m mark and showed a dazzling turn of foot to record an eye-catching victory.

■ Jest Excel (Race 5)

There were a host of big bets for Jest Excel and the money proved to be spot-on. The margin wasn’t particularly big in the end but she always had her rivals covered and it was a fairly soft win. She now has two wins from as many starts over 900m.

■ Plucky Girl (Race 7)

Plucky Girl ($2 out to $2.70) was a big drifter in betting as the support came for Desmon’s Pride ($3.40 into $2.50) but Plucky Girl was always in control of this contest. She took up the running early and bolted away.

LOSERS

■ Vanell (Race 4) Punters are surely running out of patience with this Chris Wallertrained galloper. He was hard in the market once again but showed little in the straight. He has started at $6 or shorter eight times for just the one win.

■ Desmon’s Pride (Race 6) Punters that backed Desmon’s Pride to beat Plucky Girl would have been kicking themselves at the end of this race. He got a lovely cart into the race but took an eternity to wind-up and just sneaked into the placings. NEXT TIME

■ Signoria (Race 2)

Signoria looked home at the 100 metre mark and it took a freakish performance from Akage to run her down. Her overall record is poor, but there was plenty of merit in that effort and a maiden race win is surely just around the corner.

■ Dauphin de France (Race 4) Nothing went right for Dauphin de France in the run. He was caught wide early and Darryl McLellan tried to loop the field six wide from the 600m mark. There is no doubt that cost him the race and the fact that he went so close is a testament to his toughness.

BIG BETS

Race 1

Lulu Express ........................... 4th

$4000 @ $3.60 Race 2

Foxleigh .................................. 8th

$900 @ $9 Race 3

Let’s Go Champ ...................... 7th

$1000 @ $6.50

Race 4

Mr Attitude ............................ 4th $1300 @ $4.30

Race 5 Jest Excel ............................. Won $4000 @ $2

Race 6 Witness .................................. 6th $3000 @ $7.50

Race 7

Desmon’s Pride ...................... 3rd

$3000 @ $2.60 Race 8

Coulthard ............................... 4th

$1000 @ $3.80