Von Duves success with Springfield Affair
South-East trainer Kevin Von Duve will make a decision later this week as to the next run for his tough pacer Springfield Affair.
The eight-year-old scored his first win in 10 months at Globe Derby Park on Saturday taking his stakes past $250,000 – a great return for an $8000 buy.
Driven by Bernadette Page, Springfield Affair sprinted home powerfully to grab a long head win in the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (2230m).
A $7.50 chance, the gelding came from second last in the field of six to beat Places You Don’t ($2.80) with Le Spartacus ($4.40), a metre away third.
“He is still only 80 per cent fit,” Von Duve said.
“He had a good break of three months after his last run in October.
“I could have run him in trials or bring him to the races which I have done for the past two weeks and tonight picked up nearly $5000 for my trouble.
“Bernadette drove him perfectly, giving him an easy run to the 500, then sprinting home and he was good enough to win.
“I believe the stock of his sire Shadow Play don’t reach their best until they are eight, so I am hoping his best is still yet to come.
“I have picked out the Cups circuit here in South Australia in March and April as his main immediate target and he will be 100 per cent for those races.”
Von Duve said he was possibly going to run Springfield Affair in the $20,000 Ararat Cup (2195m) next Friday, February 27.
“I will look at the nominations and where he is likely to draw before making a decision.”
His fall back will be the $11,000 Kadina Pacing Cup (2050m) at Port Pirie on Sunday, March 1.
Angle Vale trainer-driver Dean Girardi came up with a double in consecutive races scoring with Captain Barnato in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m) then My Ultimate Harry in the #getrealsupportteal Pace (*1800m).
The two wins took Girardi to 299 career driving victories.
Captain Barnato ($6.50) lasted to grab a head win from Ruthless Offender $2.50 fav) with Ozzie Joybell ($51), five metres away third.
My Ultimate Harry ($10) scored by two metres from Midnight Pirate ($4.80) with Feisty Jane ($7) a long head away third.
Girardi said Captain Barnato’s win was the first since he and wife Ali purchased the seven-year-old from his Victorian owners for $3000.
“He has toughened up since coming to us,” Girardi said.
“I looked at his replays and saw he was being driven sit-sprint but with us he has developed more stamina and can do a bit of work in his races.
“But pretty much I have adjusted some gear at each of his runs to get him to race truly and I think we are nearly right.
Girardi said he and his father Don had purchased My Ultimate Harry in January.
“He is by Sweet Lou, which is also the sire of Don Arthur and that was a key reason in buying him.
“But when he arrived he was so quiet I thought he had lost his desire for racing.
“However, it proved to be the opposite and he really puts in.
“I currently have 10 in work.”
Girardi’s days are busy as he and his father Don are in the process of building a training property on 25 acres at Two Wells.
It started with a house on bare land but with the addition of fencing and a horse shed plus plumbing the property is starting to come together.
“Ali and I are looking forward to eventually moving in, but I think it won’t be until August until we have the property completed.”
Trainer-driver Kevin Weidenbach admitted Rolling Remona, a winner of the Ray White Commercial Adelaide Pace (1800m), was a frustrating performer.
Weidenbach gave Rolling Remona ($4.40) a fantastic drive to score a five-metre win from Abishek ($41) with Giant Jackson ($6 into $2.30 fav), 1-1/2 metres away third.
“I love her, but she can be very frustrating,” Weidenbach said.
“Dad (Paul) and I got her as a yearling from Joanne Justice, broke her in and have had her throughout.
“Tonight was her 16th win and she has collected more than $70,000 in stakes.
“But she can be inconsistent, like last week.
“She led and dropped out to run last. Maybe she doesn’t like leading, we can go with that.”
On Saturday, Weidenbach was able to drop down and trail the leader early before coming off down the back straight and sprinting strongly to establish a race-winning lead.”
- story Graham Fischer
- Photo Walter Bulyga