Hall leads the charge for women in racing

By Isaac Murphy

It was ladies night at Albion Park on Thursday night with all eyes on the feature women trainers race with some of Queensland’s top kennels represented.

It was Leanne Hall and Extra Malt who stole the show with the bitch scorching away from her competition in a breakout week for the chaser.

Extra Malt turned heads when she clocked 29.6 seconds winning at Albion Park on Monday night.

That was a time that’d be competitive in any grade and just three days later she did it again with a gallop a tenth quicker than the Best 8 contest.

Hall was doing her best to soak it all in.

“I don’t want this week to end. I was happy with her 29.6 win on Monday, but we saw this race and being a female who’s been involved in the industry for a long time we had to be a part of it and she’s run time again (29.61),” Hall said.

“It wasn’t as clear cut as Monday, she had to come out of the squeeze box and was able to absorb a bit on contact and run on just as well against a tougher field, she’s a little beauty.

“We’ve got aspirations of winning much bigger races down the track but to win a female trainer’s race with a bitch is pretty special.”

Hall is hoping to keep the good times rolling with another quick backup and also has higher aspirations on the horizon.

“She’s just loving her work at home she’ll be back on Monday for a final and we might give her a Thursday off after a heavy week of work,” Hall said.

“We’re entertaining taking her to the Golden Easter Egg in Sydney, it will depend on what she does he next few weeks.

“It’s not the end of the world if we miss it, this was her first Fifth Grade win on a Thursday night, she’s got plenty of grades to go through before races like the Group Three Flying Amy and Young Guns arrive.”

RICHARDSON PLEASED WITH BARSANDI

David Richardson was expecting his gun bitch Barsandi to win on debut at Albion Park last week.

But, the bitch didn’t have to wait long rattling home in a smart 29.79 at start ten as he looks in for a good ride with the gun litter (Barcia Bale/Sandave Sapphire).

“The whole litter (Barcia Bale/Sandave Sapphire) are going great guns; she’s been low flying down at Lismore and her sister won at Wentworth Park last week," Richardson said. 

“I’ve done a bit of work with her here and she’s lit up the trial track, I thought she could win last week but she found some trouble down the back, so when she got into the clear tonight, I was pretty confident.

“She’s a mad chaser and Born to Run gave her a great sighter out in front and her run home has always been exceptional, I’m hoping she’ll be up to open company come Winter Carnival time.”

MOO MOO ON WAY UP 

Maggie Moo Moo has had a quick ascent to the top of the staying ranks and stamped her dominance again for Darren Johnstone with a brilliant nine length win in Free for All company.

“It all went to plan tonight she was able to lead the kennel mate (Blame Brendan) who just held the field up a bit when the whips got cracking,” Johnstone said.

“She’s been known as a bitch who comes with a swooping run late, so to add another string to her bow and see that she can lead and run time will help her going forward.

“That’s the first time she’s run under forty-two seconds (41.91) since the Gold Cup Heats, I wanted to see that time on the board, and she’s delivered.”

It’s a fine art keeping a stayer fit and Johnstone finds himself with some decisions to make on her immediate and long-term racing future.

“I’m stuck in a bit of a tough spot with her, she’s not going to get a free for all here every week and I don’t really want to drop her back to the 600m now, she’s used to the longer trip,” he said.

“I thought about taking her to the Association Cup and coming up against the real Group 1 dogs, but it’s a big trip for a bitch who hasn’t travelled.

“I think the best option is to keep her racing while she’s fit and in form and probably give her a little let up before our Winter Carnival races, a few more months of maturation and they’ll have to beat her on her home track.”

BIG MOMENT FOR BOURKE

It was a watershed night for Churchable trainer Matt Bourke who ticked off a major goal with Dustification giving him his first Thursday night winner.

The former Victorian is thriving in the Sunshine State.

"Before I bought her I watched plenty of her replays running good placings in Melbourne and knew if I could get her up here and in the right grade she’d win races,” Bourke said

“I picked her up predominantly to be a brood bitch for future litters, but I think that’s four wins in a row now and she’s given me my first Thursday night winner at just my second crack.

“She’s only three and a half and seems to be getting better and better we might have to put breeding plans on the backburner if she continues in this vein.”

SWAIN ON SONG

Another week, another Best 8 win for All Hands Off and trainer Fred Swain.

She went right on by down the back in trademark style storming to the line in 29.71 and now looks well on track for a Group 1 Golden Easter Egg tilt.

“I’m just looking for little signs of improvement in her every week and she was much better at the jump this week, if she didn’t take that slight hit early, she might have led,” Swain said.

“She’s put herself in a winning position and run time against a good field for the fourth week in a row, the Easter Egg preparation is on track.

“She’s not a great traveller and has already had a trial at Wentworth Park, so I’ll probably bring her back here next week and then head to Sydney the week after.”