Winners to the fore

CRANBOURNE Turf Club’s Sunday race meeting was highlighted by doubles to jockeys Mark Flaherty and Craig Newitt, together with a training double to local mentor Mick Kent.
After Flaherty booted home maiden Short Memories in race three, he combined with Cranbourne trainer Ken Keys to win the fifth event on Kolatina’s King. Newitt won the opening race on Sacred Surmardi and the final race on Ray Cleaver’s gelding Dawnstorm, which was a pick-up ride after original rider Michael Guthrie was unable to take the mount.
The good day for racing folk with connections to the local area continued with leading Cranbourne trainer Colin Alderson preparing outsider Batik to win the second race and Kent taking out the feature Open Handicap with Allambie, riddeen by locally based hoop Peter Mertens. Kent followed that up with victory in the following race seven when Partiva saluted for rising apprentice jockey Ibrahim Gundogdu.
Melbourne’s leading jockey Craig Williams also rode a winner on the day when he combined with leading trainer David Hayes to steer Royal Robbery to the line in race six.
-Brad Kingsbury