SA Trots -Summerdays gives her all on a summer night
Top South Australian reinsman David Smith has been involved in harness racing all of his life but is continually amazed by the heart of Summerdays, a winner at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
“She loves racing, and she loves winning,” Smith said.
Summerdays led throughout in the Kevin and Kay Seymour Pace (1800m) to score a head win from the fast-finishing Boulder City ($6) with Ubetcha ($34), 3-1/2 metres away third.
Trained by Smith’s wife Ingrid at Penfield, Summerdays has now won 14 races and took her stakes past $50,000 on Saturday.
“She gives her all every race, and the day after she is always as bit flat,” Smith said.
“Give her a few days and she is ready to go again.”
Smith said Summerdays would back up next Saturday in the $14,000 Mares Classic Final (1800m).
“It will be a tough race but if she can sneak a place the prizemoney would be good.”
He said the eight-year-old mare had shown she had ability from the time she arrived at the family’s stable.
“She came from Greg and Ronald Caldwell from Kyabram in Victoria back in 2021 and was a first up winner for us at Globe Derby Park in June that year.
“We won four races with her but unfortunately she broke down at the end of October and went back to the Caldwells.
“After a long break she had a few runs for them without any success and returned to Ingrid early last year.
“I have to admit I thought her best might be past her early on, but she slowly started to work her way back to form and had two really good wins at Gawler in September.
“Then, at the start of December, she went up another level again and is racing in superb form.”
Summerdays has won three of her past eight starts with two seconds, a third and a fourth.
Trainer Reece Moore has made a strong start with his move to South Australia and had a double at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Neds Beach won the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (1800m) then Classic Line took out the Ladbrokes Southern Cross Pace (1800m).
“I relocated from Mildura towards the end of last year and have had 15 winners, so things have been good,” Moore said.
“I gave myself about six months to make a go it and am happy with the way things are going.
“I have 13 horses in work at my Penfield stables with most of my Victorian owners coming with me and I have been fortunate to pick up a couple of local owners as well.
“Most of my horses are in the low ratings but are picking up stakes and that is what has to happen.”
Neds Beach ($3.50) led throughout to win by a metre from Lil Miss Crocker ($16) with Trigger ($101) eight metres away third.
The win was significant for driver Kaela Hryhorec was it was her 149th victory in the sulky.
Only a part-time driver in recent times because she is employed as a heavy machinery driver during the week, Hryhorec said it was a goal to reach 150 winners, so she is keen to reach that milestone.
Classic Line ($7.50) was beautifully driven by Ryan Hryhorec to come with a perfectly-timed run to score a head win from Buzz Bomb ($7) with Kuhio Crest ($13), two metres away third.
It was the five-year-olds second win from his past three starts.
The win of Franco Landy in the K&S Electrical Pace (2230m) was a family affair.
The 10-year-old entire is owned by husband-and-wife Ali and Dean Girardi and was trained and driven by Dean.
Post-race, Girardi was happy to credit his dad Don, with the success.
“Dad does most of the work with him, he loves the horse and the horse loves him,” Girardi said.
“For a 10-year-old stallion he is pretty chilled but Dad and him have a special bond and if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
“But I admit I have been wanting to have a drive on him because he has been going so well.
“Tonight I was happy with the way the race panned out and I was able to have a trail on the favourite Budding Caesar and he brought me right into the race.
“We sprinted quickly down the back and by the home turn Budding Caesar found the front and I was right on his back. I pulled the (ear) plugs and my bloke raced away.”
Franco Landry ($9.50) scored by three metres from Budding Caesar ($2.60 fav) with Clarenden Express ($5), 4-1/2 metres away third.
South-East pacer Springfield Affair notched another Globe Derby Park success with an all-the-way win in the Globe Bar & Gaming Pace (2230m).
It was seven-year-old’s 24th win, of which 14 have been at Globe Derby Park.
Driver Gaita Pullicino drove hard on Springfield Affair ($4.80) to find the lead from barrier six and kept running to score by six metres from Premonition ($2 fav) with Maharajah ($5), a neck away third.
Part-owner-trainer Kevin Von Duve, from Glencoe, said the winner was enjoying his life.
“He spends his days out in a paddock and when I work him it is through a pine forest.
“He doesn’t mind the float travel and with the increased prizemoney here in Adelaide, I’ll be back.”
- Story: GRAHAM FISCHER
- Photo: Walter Bulyga
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