PETER MORGANTI
RACING
COMMANDER Harry defied his long odds to take out the $60,000 bet365 Bet Boost Coleraine Cup on Friday.
Starting $21, the Paul Preusker trained seven-year-old settled last and was still in that position with 400 metres to go.
Jockey, Cian MacRedmond, was forced to make a wide run around the home turn, but once balanced the big grey produced a withering finish at $25, to blouse runner-up Any Luck trained by Wayne Walters, at the post.
Preusker also had the third placegetter, Chairman.
Having his first run since March, it was a great training performance by Preusker in landing his first Coleraine Cup.
It was the gelding’s second win for the stable having only raced for the Horsham-based stable since January this year.
He was formerly trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, before a stint with Ciaron Maher.
Ironically the Busuttin and Young team saddled up the $3.30 race favourite, Flossing, who could only manage a disappointing ninth.
Four career wins and over $270,000 in prizemoney from 36 starts, includes a city win at Caulfield and based off this impressive victory it may pay to follow him over longer trips back at metro level, possibly in Adelaide.
Eight races across the day produced a nice spread of winners, jockey Neil Farley the only multiple winner with a double.
Farley steered home back-to-back favourites, Viperion and Deficit, to win the Ronnie Mc’s Diamond Dash 0-56 Handicap and Patrick Sherlock 0-56 Handicap, respectively.
Viperion made it a good week for trainer Charles Cassar who landed his first Flemington winner with Per Sempre last Sunday.
Deficit is trained by popular Mount Gambier veteran, Dean Saxon.
South Australian trained gallopers figured prominently, winning half the card.
Mr George (Darryl Dodson), Hasta La Oriental (Sue Murphy), Sandpiper (Garret Lynch) along with Deficit all took home a large share of Victorian prizemoney.
Victorian trainers did have their moments with the well-backed Tavistock Dancer getting the money for Flemington trainers Michael and Luke Cerchi, a surname synonymous with Coleraine.
Starting $2.25, Teo Nugent rolled to the lead and never looked back in the Look Cabling Solutions 0-56 Handicap over 2250m.
Warrnambool trainers dominated the final race, Mr Businessman leading the charge for regular combination Matthew Williams and Dean Yendall.
He’s Godspeed (Daniel Bowman) and Alcoshare (Simon Ryan) filled the placings in the Vickery Brothers BM66 Handicap.
The club must be commended for another day filled with great racing, food and entertainment that produced a fantastic vibe for all patrons on course.
AFL Grand Final eve at Coleraine is a date that is circled on the calendar for many racing folk.
