Jeff Hanson, Narrandera Argus
Nick Souquet has found his way back to the winner’s circle after landing good victories at Canberra on Saturday and Narrandera on Monday.
On Saturday at Canberra, the Tumbarumba product and Wodonga-based hoop emerged victorious in the 1600m TAB Federal aboard the Mitch Beer-trained Scarlet Prince.
Souquet rode the Casino Prince gelding patiently, then pulled out everything in the final furlong, with the $4.50 chance winning by 0.32 of a length in the $34,000 feature event.
Souquet went to Canberra for two mounts and finished fourth when riding the Mitch Beer-trained Still in Fashion in the 1400m Class One Handicap.
“The horse I won on (Scarlet Prince) is a nice sort of horse and it should win a few more races for Mitch,” Souquet said.
“The other horse (Still in Fashion) is very good. He is a big horse and the race wasn’t run to suit, but I think he will win next start.”
Souquet then made the trip to Narrandera on Monday, taking just one ride for Tim Donnelly when jumping aboard Lipstick Swing in the 1000m Maiden Handicap.
The four-year-old mare was first-up from a 59-week spell, but Souquet had no issues finding the front from gate three and running away to win by 1.61 lengths in the soft seven conditions.
Souquet said he went to Narrandera confident he was on a winner. “When Tim Donnelly says one can win, they don’t get beat. He is probably the best judge of horse I’ve ridden for,” Souquet said.
“He was confident, and all I had to do was keep it out of trouble and it won really well.”
Wet weather has been cruelling the racing scene in recent months, with the Southern Districts Racing Association losing meetings at Albury (twice), Gundagai, Corowa, Griffith and Jerilderie, while across the state there has been a spate of washed-out meetings in the early stages of this season.
Narrandera traditionally races well in the wetter months, and despite the recent rain, Souquet said the track held up well once again.
“It was really good. The track has that sandy base, and it can handle a fair bit of rain,” Souquet said.
“I thought it raced really good, and if anything, I think they could have upgraded it (from a soft seven) to a soft six.
“It is an underutilised track and I think they should race there a lot more, especially during the wetter months.”
Narrandera Race Club will race against on Sunday, and readers can turn to the back page of Narrandera Argus for the full story.
Day out for Duffy
Jake Duffy enjoyed a good day in the saddle at Narrandera, with the Victorian hoop riding two winners on the seven-race-program.
Duffy rode the first winner on the program, combining with Craig Weeding when guiding Francesco Ben ($2.10) to victory in the 2100m Class One/Maiden Plate, beating the Andrew Dale-trained Sir Phoenix (Billy Owen, $2.20) by 0.27 of a length, while in third was the Weeding-trained Hoodoo You Love (Jason Lyon, $14) 1.24 lengths off the pace.
Duffy again teamed up with Weeding when riding his second winner, this time guiding Big Day Out ($1.90) to victory in the 1200m Open Handicap sprint, beating the Bryan Dixon-trained Ecker Road (Molly Bourke $9.50) by 0.41 of a length, while 0.85 of a length off the pace was the mitch Beer-trained Seventh Seal (Fiona Sandkuhl, $3.20).
Nick Souquet won the second on the card for Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly when jumping aboard Lipstick Swing ($6) in the 1000m Maiden Handicap, beating the Mitchell Beer-trained Magnolia Belle (Jordan Mallyon, $14) by 1.61 lengths and in third and 2.12 lengths off the pace was the Phil Sweeney-trained Hi Poppy (Cameron Quilty, $7.50).
The Andrew Dale-trained Shooting For The Stars (Josh Richards, $2.80) was too classy in the 1200m Maiden Plate, cantering in by 2.97 lengths from the Tim Donnelly-trained Cliff House ($7.50), while in third and 4.02 lengths off the pace was the Mick Travers trained and ridden Tokoyo ($5.50).
Goulburn trainer Danny Williams quinella’d the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap, with Rent A Rock (Nick Heywood, $3.30) beating My Blue Jeans (Billy Owen, $3.40) by 1.45 lengths, while 1.36 lengths off the pace in third was the Mitch Beer-trained Medal (Jordan Mallyon, $6).
Beer broke through for a winner in the 1000m Bench-mark 58 Handicap, with My Bold Boy (Jason Lyon, $3.90) winning by 1.25 lengths from the Phil Sweeney-trained My Brown Fox (Jake Duffy $5.50), and in third and 3.25 lengths behind the winner was the Scott Spackman-trained Chillie Cod (Nick Heywood, $3.90).
In the final race of the day, the locally owned Miss Elsie May (Brendan Ward, $5) won for Wayne Carroll in the 1200m Class Two Handicap, beating the Bryan Maher-trained Little Miss Grace (Hannah Williams, $2.20) by 0.31 of a length, while 1.34 length away in third was the Gino D’Altorio-trained Soul Benefit (Jason Lyon, $20).
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 29 September 2022.
