GRAHAM FISCHER
IT was a day of multiples at the
Gawler races on Sunday, but unfortunately
the local trainers were
forced to settle for just minor
place money with some impressive
visitors producing big runs.
The star of the day was top trainer
Phillip Stokes, son of Gawler couple
Ron and Mary Stokes.
He came away with a winning treble
courtesy of the impressive Fall
On A Star, Mustari and Trumpsta.
Stokes, who is now based at Pakenham
in Victoria, still retains his
Adelaide base run by his son Tommy.
Fall On A Star is owned by Gilgai
Farm, managed by Rick Jamieson,
and was the original home of champion
mare Black Caviar.
Sent out as the $2.50 favourite in
the Ausbia Electrical Maiden over
1100m, the three-year-old filly was
taken to the front by jockey Kayla
Crowther and was never challenged.
She cruised home nearly five
lengths clear of Aim To Please
($61) with French Field ($3.70) a
length away third.
Jockey Jake Toeroek was aboard
Mustari ($4.20 favourite), which
finished best to win the Coopers
Brewery Benchmark 62 Handicap
(1506m).
Rounding out the treble, Trumpsta
($5 equal favourite) was ridden
by Caitlin Jones in scoring a length
win in the Holdfast Insurance 0-58
Handicap (1200m).
Successful Murray Bridge trainer
Nicole Bruggemann is currently
campaigning a team in the Northern
Territory, but her staff was able to
land a race-to-race double on Sunday.
Mug’s Game was brilliantly rated
in front by jockey Claudia Lions
for an all-the-way win in the Kingsford
Hotel Maiden (1506m), before
she also guided home Mystic Knot,
proving too good in the GJ Civil
Distance Maiden (2112m).
Mug’s Game started at $8.50,
while Mystic Knot was a $21 chance.
It was also a great day for jockey Jason
Holder, who rode a double.
He was aboard the well backed
Eyes Never Lie ($5.50), which
finished strongly to win the TAB
Two-Year-Old Maiden (1100m) for
trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew
Gluyas.
That was the opening race of
the day, and Holder had to wait to
the final event to score on Daskulya
($7) for Murray Bridge trainer
Len Jarvis in the Terrace Function
Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100m).
Don’t Dismiss continues to lend
substance to the proverb ‘horses
for courses’, with the Grant Kluske-
trained galloper winning the Adelaide
Plains Bloodstock Handicap
(1706m).
Don’t Dismiss has had four starts
over the track and trip, for three
wins and a third.
The next Gawler meeting will be
held on Wednesday, June 2.