Canberra trainer Norm Gardner has started 2019 with a perfect record.
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He took one horse to Gundagai on Tuesday and came home with the Adelong Cup after The Walrus proved too strong in the traditional New Year’s Day feature.
Sitting just off the speed, The Walrus ($3.50) found plenty in the straight to hold off Bondo ($2.40 favourite) to win by over two lengths.
Gardner was impressed with the ride of apprentice Courtney Gravener.
“He won well and she rode the horse very well,” Gardner said.
“She found room at the top of the straight while Bondo had the big weight on his back chasing.”
Utilising Gravener’s two kilogram claim, The Walrus only had 52kg on his back.
Bondo was the topweight with 60kg and Gardner thought it made plenty of difference in the finish.
“There was eight kilos difference,” he said.
After the good start to the new year, Gardner joked it could only go downhill from here.
However he’s looking to claim another Southern Districts Cup with Tumbarumba now on his agenda.
After winning at Cooma two starts back, Gardner believes he’s found the right level for the seven-year-old.
“That’s about his grade, the TAB 2 meetings,” he said.
“There’s a meeting coming up at Tumbarumba so he’ll probably go there next.”
Meanwhile Trevor Sutherland extended his advantage in the Southern Districts training premiership as he bookended the five-race meeting.
The Wagga trainer took out the first race of the new year with Real Key.
The four-year-old has now won two of his first five starts after winning on debut in Wagga last July.
Sutherland was also third in the cup with Tearful Kitty before taking out the last with veteran Benno’s Boy.
The seven-year-old brought up his hat-trick with a tight win in the XXXX Gold Bob Vaughan Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m).
Benno’s Boy ($3.20 fav) just held off Young Jackson ($9) to take the narrow win.
Having his 108th consecutive start since joining Sutherland’s stable in January 2016, Benno’s Boy and has raced every month, bar one.
He extended his purple patch of form, following wins at Albury and Tumut to bring up win 15 at start 125.
Former Gundagai jockey Billy Owen rode both to victory.
Gundagai trainer David Blundell also scored a winner on his home track.
Primadini broke through for his first win at start six.
Racing continues in the region with Albury racing on Saturday.
Nominations for three of the seven races are extended until 11am Wednesday.
