Graham Fischer

TWO track records were broken at Thursday’s Ladies Day race meeting at the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club, while some prominent SA figures also showed their faces at the track.
Promising three-year-old Mr Pocket, trained at Morphettville by Travis Doudle, smashed the 2121 metre record in the opening event, the Sanders Fodder Distance Maiden.
Mr Pocket clocked 2:13.10 to take a massive 2.71 seconds off the previous best recorded by White Heath on December 4 last year.
Incredibly, his time only stood for four races, until Floriano, trained at Victor Harbor by Jake Stephens, won the Adelaide Plains Bloodstock Benchmark 58 Handicap in 2:12.14 to take .96 seconds off Mr Pocket’s time.
Both winners are worth following according to their trainers, with big plans in the future.
Doudle said he was hoping Mr Pocket would measure up for a run in the Group One TAB South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 8 next year after running home clear by more than five lengths as a strong favourite on Thursday.
“He was purchased with the intention to see if he could stay,” Doudle said.
“We have brought him along slowly and today was a great win.
“I intend to give him one more run in town, then send him for a break and get him ready for the Derby.
“I won’t give him a traditional lead up, but focus on bringing him up slowly and looking to do it at the provincial meetings.”
For Floriano, Stephens said his team had considered sending her to the breeding barn this year.
“She is very well bred being a half-sister to Alcopop,” Stephens said.
“We have had issues with her during her career, but earlier this year she started to improve.
“She had been a fussy eater but now is devouring her meals and I think she is finally starting to come good.
“Her win today was very good, and I think we will race her on for another year.”
Floriano, ridden by Paul Gatt, was a $6.50 chance, and scored by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Free Atbara ($11) with Tuff Cat ($26) a half-length away third.
Later in the card, Siyaadeh indicated she was a filly of potential with an authoritative maiden win.
Having just her second start, Siyaadeh raced away from her rivals to score a two-length win in the Fabhats Maiden over 1100m.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy in Angaston, and ridden by Barend Vorster, the daughter of Written Tycoon started the $2.70 favourite and beat My Golden Chain ($6.50) with the heavily backed Montepulciano ($2.80) a similar margin away third.
Siyaadeh began nicely from gate two, but Vorster allowed her to balance up just behind the leaders before asking her to extend over the final 400 metres.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said Siyaadeh was a three-year-old filly with undoubted potential.
“She looks to have a big engine under the bonnet, but so far has lacked the maturity to deliver her best,” he said.
“She still doesn’t really know what she can do, but I was really happy with her win.
“At home, and at the track, she can be a bit of a handful and was a bit on edge in the yard before going out to race.
“But at the gates she went in well, then stood calmly while a few other runners proved difficult to load and jumped beautifully.”
While plenty of action was happening on the track, many eyes were under the marquees where two members of SA’s Labor Shadow Cabinet joined in the Ladies Day affair.
Opposition spokesperson for recreation, sport and racing Katrine Hildyard and opposition treasurer Stephen Mullighan enjoyed a few hours at the meeting on their way to the Barossa Valley for the full meeting of the cabinet.
The pair met with the committee of the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club and took a tour of the racetrack.
Ms Hildyard and Mr Mullighan asked the committee about the club’s plans for the future and any items on a wish list to develop the racecourse.