Simply Splashing shines in tight race
RACING: Toowoomba sixyear-old Simply Splashing underlined his “bread-andbutter” value when he delivered his supporters a tasty Clifford Park victory yesterday.
The former Victorian gelding notched his second Clifford Park victory since joining trainer Mark Currie earlier this year with a game performance in the Luke Brookman Electrical Class 4 Handicap (1300m).
Simply Splashing ($3) raced in fifth position for Josh
Oliver before rounding up his rivals on straightening and hitting the lead inside the final 150 metres.
Runner-up Scherzare ($7.50) found a good kick in the home straight for Emma Ljung but Simply Splashing responded when challenged near home to score by a short neck.
Race favourite Rosendahl Red ($1.85) raced behind the early leaders but was outsprinted in the home straight before finish 3¾ lengths back third.
Simply Splashing’s win continued Currie’s winning surge for the week after previous wins from stablemates Soxagon at Eagle Farm the previous Saturday and Ankara and Write The Rules at Kilcoy on Friday.
“We’ve got some nice horses coming through and we’ve had a good trot this week,” Currie said.
“This horse is very honest and tries his heart out carrying plenty of weight.
“He’s got to be ridden right, which Josh was able to do today.
“He’s a good bread-andbutter horse and he’s got a couple more wins in him.”
Currie brought up number five for the week and his second on Saturday’s card in style when Better Than Ready filly Ready Babe made a slashing debut in the Millmerran Flyash QTIS ThreeYear-Old Maiden Plate (1000m).
Ready Babe ($1.70 fav) travelled in second place for Emma Llung before slipping to the lead near the 400metre mark and motoring away in the home straight under quiet riding to score by 6¾ lengths.
Spinning Spirit ($9.50) battled on okay for second with Adamdeeant ($3.80) another length back third.
Ready Babe’s race time of 59.36 carved more than half a second off Outback Storm’s class record set in 2016.
Toowoomba mare Evamac ($4.20) proved her previous drought-breaking win was no fluke when she made it back-to-back wins for trainer Eric Ropiha in the Vision Exercise Physiology Class 2 Plate (1100m).
Evamac’s career resurgence continued when she burnt off co-leader Accumulated on straightening before finding plenty over the closing stages for apprentice Madeleine Wishart to outlast solid-finishing $2.90 favourite In Fiore by a short neck.