Graham Fischer
A VENUE switch resulted in Gawler trainer Donna Ormerod having her first win on her home track last Wednesday, with Lucy Diamonds getting the chocolates.
The meeting had been scheduled for Balaklava, but after acceptances the races were switched to Gawler because of track issues at the mid-northern venue.
As a result, when Lucy Diamonds finished best to win the Atlas Event & Party Hire Maiden over 1100m, it gave the popular trainer her first home winner.
Sent out as $3.10 favourite, Lucy Diamonds was slow to begin for jockey Jess Eaton but finished strongly to score by a neck from Witchel ($3.40) with Zipadee ($3.90) two lengths away in third.
Ormerod, who has an equestrian background, said she decided about five years ago to have a go at training thoroughbreds.
“I had a short stint as a stable hand for Gary Searle here, I liked the environment, so decided to take out a licence – I’ve always loved horses,” she said.
“My husband Dan and myself went to the Adelaide Magic Millions Sales and paid $5000 for a yearling filly by Shrapnel, which is Lucy Diamonds.”
Ormerod admits she has been learning as she goes and has been very patient with the mare, with
Lucy Diamonds not making her race debut until she was a six-year-old in December 2020.
“I have been giving her plenty of time to get it right, and I also found it hard to get track riders,” she said.
“A lot of credit for the win has to go to fellow Gawler trainer Brett Campbell who rides the mare work.”
Another to celebrate their first win on Wednesday was Mark Johnson, of Roseworthy’s Ausbia Electrical.
He is a part-owner of Call Me Archer which won the Adelaide Galvanising Industries Maiden across 1500m.
Call Me Archer ($7), trained by Shayne Cahill, finished strongly to score a length win from Amer Haze ($3.40) with Another Whine ($12) a half-length away in third.
Johnson was on course with fellow owners Jason Cowling from Penfield, and Scott Thompson of Andrews Farm to enjoy
the victory.
Late maturing four-year-old Siberian Route was also back to winning form at Gawler for Angaston trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
Jockey Barend Vorster made good use of gate one on Siberian Route to settle in front, and rated the gelding perfectly in the TQCSI Class Two Handicap over 1200m.
The four-year-old, backed from $2.05 to run the $1.85 favourite, dashed away in the home straight to score by two lengths from Glory Game ($5) with Centre Scoota ($8.50), three-quarters of a length away third.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said Siberian Route was now ready for a step up to city company.
“That was the horse we have seen in trackwork,” McEvoy said.
“He has just been a slow maturing galloper who has shown potential but taken a long time to get to the races.”
Races continue at Gawler today.