BOB MAY

LEWISTON trainer Steven Brook has a relative newcomer in his care that is setting the track alight in South Australia, and had its second Gawler greyhounds win on Friday afternoon.

Race eight on the card was a mixed 2/3/4 grade event over the 531m trip, and Jervois Bruit, from box one, got away to a flying start to lead past the post the first time around.

However, Jervois Bruit was unable to hold off Road Travelled (six), which quickly went to the front entering the back straight and opened up a convincing fivelength break by the home turn.

Spirit Of Pop (eight) finished on well to make up good ground, but Road Travelled was too strong and won by nearly four lengths in a time of 30.65 seconds.

Spirit Of Pop was second for Gawler River’s Angela Modra, and Shot Thru (seven) ran third for Lewiston’s Kevin Bewley.

Steven trains the light fawn dog for the El Dorado Dreamers, a syndicate based in New South Wales.

Road Travelled arrived in SA in June, with three wins from 18 starts.

Since running fifth at Murray Bridge at his first local start, Road Travelled has won 10 of his next 12 races under Steven’s care, which is a fantastic achievement.

Steven has had an ongoing relationship with the syndicate owners, who have sent two prior dogs to him including Magic Begins, which is from the same litter as Road Travelled.

Magic Begins has had five wins under his care.

But it is Road Travelled that has set the track alight, setting a record at Murray Bridge over 395m and last week running a very fast time of 30.36 seconds over 531m at Gawler, where the record is 30.23.

Steven put the improved performance down to ‘Ryder’ having matured, and now being able to ride out a race bump.

With Road Travelled in such good form, Steven is seriously considering having a crack at the upcoming Adelaide and Gawler Cups.

Also on Friday, fellow Lewiston trainer Troy Murray also produced a very fast runner, with Wild Marilyn recording a win in the Juvenile 400m event with a time of 22.53 seconds, blitzing the field by over nine lengths.

The black female has only had seven starts, but has scored three wins and four placings in a promising opening to her career.

Racing continues at Gawler every Friday and Tuesday afternoon.