WITH four winners at the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Wednesday night, two of which came in heats of the annual Soldiers Saddle series, Menangle driver Robert Morris was the definite star.
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But he was not the only one smiling.
Dubbo trainer Peter Gavin was also a pleased man as Morris drove two of his runners to victory at the Bathurst Paceway.
Morris came from one out and four back with a lap to travel to get the job done with Gavin’s three-year-old gelding The Only Child ($2.90) in the Harry Robertson Pace, nudging out $2.70 favourite Mysterious River by a short half head.
But even better for Gavin was Morris’ win with Karloo Ten Seventy.
That came in the second of the Soldiers Saddle heats and qualified the four-year-old Art Major x Learjet gelding for the $12,000 December 19 final.
It was the third win in four runs at the new Bathurst Paceway for Karloo Ten Seventy, his other effort a second placing in the final of the Star Trek Series.
“His runs have been good; he was just pipped in that Star Trek Final,” Morris said.
“He is an Art Major horse, so if you rush him he gets a bit wound up, so I just like to let him do his own thing.”
Given how good Karloo Ten Seventy’s ‘own thing’ is, that tactic is one Morris was not afraid to employ.
Some 20 minutes after Morris had won the opening saddle heat with KerryAnn Turner’s Ireby Betty ($3.60 favourite), he was in the gig behind an even more highly fancied Karloo Ten Seventy ($1.70 favourite).
While the Dubbo gelding had little luck at Menangle Park in his two runs after the Star Trek Final, punters still had plenty of faith in him as Warner was second in the line of betting at $15.50.
Morris did not use Karloo Ten Seventy after going from barrier three, instead sitting back as Michael Munro was able to cross from barrier five and take the lead with Kapow Shannon.
It was into the back straight for the first time Morris guided Karloo Ten Seventy forward on a three wide move and it did not take long for the favourite to roll into the lead.
Kapow Shannon tucked into the trail with last start winners Wicker Maister and Poppy Cee on the outside as Karloo Ten Seventy came around and got the bell after a 60.7 seconds opening half.
Morris urged the favourite to pick up the tempo down the back and as Karloo Ten Seventy clocked a 28.5 split, he pulled away from his rivals.
He led by 2 1/2 lengths over Kapow Shannon as he turned from home and from there was not headed.
The Dubbo gelding clocked a 1:59.5 mile rate on a wet track as he beat out a strong finishing Regal Point ($23.70, Bernie Hewitt) by 6.8m, with a further 10.3m back to Warner (Mat Rue) in third.
Morris’ other winner for the evening came with the Turner- trained Heza Swinger ($1.60 favourite) in the Paul Hennessy Pace (2,260m).
