Above: Host Dave Whalen, front, organised a punters club for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal at last week’s Local Trades Services race day at Cranbourne, and sponsors Rob Flanigan, John Grist, John Bolch and Mark Alder were chosen as the day’s celebrity punters.– Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE Turf Club’s Local Trade Services race day was highlighted by five locally trained winners that included the first victory of Nevin Eades’ four-year-old mare Lady Buccaneer at her 32nd start.
Eades has persevered with the perennial placegetter that, until last week, had been runner-up five times and collected a third prize cheque on eight occasions.
The long-awaited win was welcome, as was the honest galloper’s price of $7 for astute punters.
Ray Cleaver saddled first emergency Chairmanoftheboard to win race six, the $35,000 Winning Edge Presentations feature.
The talented three-year-old colt earned a start after the early scratching of Furious Dee and saluted for the third time in only his fifth race start.
Another emergency runner in Tully Layo saluted at the massive price of $44.50 in the second race for Matthew Hyland, while the other Cranbourne victors on the afternoon were Xenial Ruler for Judy Mawer in the fourth race and last race winner Doin’thehardyards for Michael Kent.
An off-track feature on the afternoon was the club’s donation of $100 to a group of trade services punters in an attempt to win a decent quaddie dividend with the aim of donating the proceeds to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Host and Cranbourne identity Dave Whalen selected four representatives from a group of sponsors with Rob Flanigan from Gippsland Plumbing, John Grist from BJ Electrics, John Bolch representing CPM and Mark Alder of Alder Heating and AirCon making four selections in each leg.
Unfortunately the plan backfired in the opening race after $7 chance Keep It Brief saluted, but was not included in the group’s selections.
As often happens, the experts tipped the other three winners and the quaddie dividend paid a handsome $2035.
