Turns out Urbadbou is a good boy
Veteran Two Wells trainer Keith Routley has been in the winner’s list since the halcyon days of Wayville back in the 1960s but is now on target for career-best figures.
Since the beginning of computerised records in the 1980s, Routley, 81, has a best season of six winners, achieved twice, back in 2002/03 and then last year, 2024.
At Globe Derby Park on Saturday, Urgoodboy took the trainer’s tally to five in 2025 and with more than five months left has an excellent chance of a career-high tally.
Driven by David Smith, another longtime harness racing participant, aged 67, Urgoodboy ($8) sat parked in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots Pace (1800m) but lunged late to grab a half-head win from Twin Connection ($6) with Antiguas Be Be ($34), 1-1/2 metres away third.
“It is nice to be training good horses,” Routley said.
“I have to thank Andrew (Clarke) who bred and owns Urgoodboy to giving him to me to train and he is in great form with two wins and a second from his last three runs.
“David (Smith) drove him confidently tonight and arrived just in time.”
The records show Routley has prepared 61 winners, but he now has 11 over the past 12 months.
“I have to be honest, until Give Us A Wink won on April 28 and May 5, I had never had a horse win two races in a row.
“I was fortunate that Victorian breeder and prominent harness racing official Rod Pollock gave me a number of trotters to train over the years and we had some success, but things had been quiet until last year.
“I had thought of giving it away but there is nothing like a winner to reinvigorate your enthusiasm.
“I had been doing the training on my own but recently Luke (Alcorn) has been working with me over the past few weeks, and it is making it a bit easier and more enjoyable.”
Trainer Luke O’Neill’s domination of the trotting races continued on Saturday with wins by recent stable addition Ebonys Avenger and Majestic Summer.
Ebonys Avenger has competed at the top level in Victoria, but her recent form saw owner-breeder Brad Angove sent her to O’Neill and she had her first run in the Fast As The Wind USA @ Wingate Farm Trotters Mobile (2230m).
Starting a red-hot $1.35 favourite, the six-year-old mare trotted to the front for driver Ryan Hryhorec and was never challenged dashing away to win by 11-1/2 metres from Ikigai ($5) with Wishing Star ($12), a stablemate of the winner, 3-1/2 metres away third.
Hryhorec, who himself has a string of star trotters including Doff Your Cap and Regal Attire, was impressed by Ebonys Avenger.
“She has an excellent turn of foot,” Hryhorec said.
“She arrived in South Australia with a very good rating and should win a few races before the handicaps catch up with her.”
O’Neill’s other winner was Majestic Summer in the Skyvalley NZ @ Aldebaran Park Trotters Mobile (1800m).
Stablemate Stingofawasp was backed from $3.60 into $2.60 favourite and led early from gate one with Majestic Summer ($7), driven by Danielle Hil, finding its back.
Turning for home the favourite was in trouble and faded to fifth with Majestic Summer dashing up the sprint lane to grab as six metre win from Hayoak ($21) with Muscle Miss ($6.50), a stablemate of the winner, a metre away third.
It gave Hill a running double as she won the previous event on John Vincent for trainer Ryan Hryhorec.
A red-hot $1.45 favourite, John Vincent found the front in Dine In The Paceway Restaurant On Race Nights Pace (2230m) and scored a comfortable four metre win from Night Spirit ($8) with its stablemate Roscoes Rescue ($13), nine metres away third.
The winner is owned by Port Pirie’s Chris Harvey in partnership with Mick Athanasiou and has been an astute purchase from Victoria winning six races.
The rising up the training ranks of Samantha Hill continued with a double at Globe Derby Park taking her tally to 41 placing her a clear second on the SA Trainer’s premiership behind the runaway leader Ryan Hryhorec with 72.
My Ultimate Flynn ($1.80 fav) led throughout in the opening event, the SAHRC Committee Room Available For Functions Pace (1800m).
Hill took the gelding to the front from gate three then dashed away from the 600-metre mark to win by five metres from Alby Two Chains ($6) with Rocknroll Spirit ($7), 1-1/2 metres away third.
It was Hill’s 50th driving winner for the season.
The four-year-old rated a smart 1:57.3 and has won four of his last six starts.
It was a case of “rinse and repeat” for Hill on Alive And Free in the Members Day at Globe Sunday July 27 Pace (1800m).
Again, Hill allowed Alive And Free ($4 fav) to find the front from gate two and led throughout to beat Better Be Lively ($6.50) by 1-1/2 metres with Big Black Betty ($41), five metres away third.
Hryhorec also had a driving double scoring on Places You Don’t for Roseworthy trainer Toby Ryan in the Ladbrokes Fast Payouts Pace (1800m).
He eased the mare back to last early in the field of 10 coming from gate seven before working into the race over the last lap.
Places You Don’t, bred and owned by Ryan, was backed from $2.80 into $2.15 favourite and won comfortably by five metres from Come On Sloopy ($8) with Trigger ($17) running on well for third, two metres away.
- Photo: Walter Bulyga