Cranbre would probably qualify for a pension if he was a human but the 8YO gelding indicated he has plenty of life in his old legs with a pillar to post win at his introduction to racing at Launceston on Sunday night.
Trained at Scottsdale by Julie Johnson, Cranbre started favourite ($3.60) in the four year old and older C0 race on the back of an impressive Carrick trial win in late September. Driven Todd Rattray worked to the front early in the 2200 meters event and after a casual 64.5 for the first half, Cranbre reeled off a closing quarter of 28.6 to defeat Gottalovefridays by three meters.
Cranbre is well bred. His dam Cranleigh won 12 races including the 2000 St Marys Cup and an open discretionary handicap. She has produced five foals, the last four are winners and three look well above average – Riverboat Jasper, Grace Campbell and Cranbre.
All About Alice ($13.30) also recorded her first race win. The 5YO mare (Blissfull Hall – Rupee), trained at Riverside by Chester Bullock, was having her seventh race start and was given a perfect trip by recent Hall of Fame inductee Ricky Duggan to score narrowly from Lady Elaine ($40.10) who led until the shadow of the post for Westbury trainer/driver Michael Laugher.
The driving honours on the eight race card went to Brighton reinsman Christian Salter. Salter trained and drove Aninchofhislife in the C4/C5 race. Salter obviously has a lot of confidence in the 6YO gelded son of Red River Hanover and Ark Drifter as he was prepared to race the C3 pacer in a higher class race.
Aninchofhislife has been a consistent performer throughout with a career record of 48 – 9 – 7 – 10, but he appears to be improving with age going on his last 11 starts for three wins, a second and four thirds. Aninchofhislife looks well placed again on Sunday night at Hobart where he has drawn the pole (R4 N1) in a C4/C6 race.
Salter’s second winner was in the open discretionary handicap where the Zeke Slater trained Spot Nine came from 10 meters to win the race after the first horse across the line, Star Chamber, was disqualified for racing inside the pegs. Spot Nine won the $20,000 Hobart Pacing Cup earlier this year and the eight year old gelding has replicated that form since joining the Slater stable in late August with two wins, two seconds and a fourth from five starts. Spot Nine has now accrued $98,520 in stake money.