Three times two at Cranbourne

– Brad Kingsbury

THREE doubles were achieved at last Friday’s Cranbourne races, with two riders and one trainer enjoying a fruitful day at the Geelong Racing Club meeting, which was transferred to the track at the last minute.
The meeting was originally scheduled to be held at Geelong and then transferred to Werribee before a further change was required after the Werribee surface was deeded unsatisfactory during a track inspection early last week.
Cranbourne Turf Club officials offered to hold the meeting at short notice and produced a track rated dead (5) with the rail out four metres.
Talented jockey Mark Zahra opened the meeting with a win and made it two after triumphing in the fourth event.
His effort was equalled by fellow hoop Daniel Moor, who booted home a double for city trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith in races two and five.
Cranbourne-trained runners were down given the nominations were originally called for Werribee, and only one locally prepared galloper saluted with John Cooper’s lightly raced four-year-old mare Courageous Heart taking out the final event.