As the new year starts it is time to catch up on some recent Grafton trained winners late in 2021 that we have missed out on covering due to technical issues.
Chris Manson (it would have been a different result if I get another gallop into it) must have been able to do just that before the last Kempsey meeting when he was able to score with Stella Redente in the Class1 1000m
Ridden by boom claiming apprentice Bayley Wheeler Stella Redente stalked the leaders in the run before Wheeler angled in to the clear on the point of the home turn to establish what turned out to be a winning break.
It was the first win for the mare in six starts since joining the Manson yard from Victoria.
Shane Everson has been experiencing a great season and the form continued with the ever consistent Old Timing Man making it win number five for the preparation when he was successful in the BM 58 1310m at the Lismore Christmas meeting.
Ridden by replacement rider Danny Peisley when Luke Rolls was injured the gelding settled midfield before Peisley made a sweeping move coming to the turn with Old Timing Man reaching the lead near the 300m. Over the concluding Old Timing Man raced very greenly and finished nearer the outside fence but still held way too many guns for his rivals winning with ease.
Old Timing Man gave comeback rider Peisley his first TAB success since returning to the saddle after a weight enforced break of almost four years.
Everson has been saying for weeks that one day Old Timing Man will earn a spell but he has to wait until he runs a poor race. It is hard to spell them when they are going so well.
Ballina’s Boxing day programme saw Dwayne Schmidt getting a belated Christmas present when Zenia scored a very easy victory in the Maiden 1010m.
Ridden by Chelsea Jokic Zenia settled midfield before Jokic elected to whip up three deep coming to the turn and Zenia quickly sprinted around the field to establish a winning break.
The daughter of Outreach sprinted strongly to line to win with some authority after looking in a little trouble at the 100m mark.
The win by Jokic was her first for the Schmidt yard from a very limited number of rides.
The Christmas winners Stella Redente, Old Timing Man and Zenia.
