12 April 2011 Report: Morpeth - Tranwell
by Peter Burgon
MISS VIVIAN: initiated a double for Daryl Millar
photo: Grace Beresford
The going was near perfect for last Sunday's Morpeth Point-to-Point at Tranwell, which had 74 runners on an eight race card and a bumper sun-drenched crowd. Mordon-based jockey, Daryl Millar, 24, took the honours with the first double of his career on Miss Vivian and Triggers Sun.
Miss Vivian didn't see another rival from flagfall in the 2m4f Dyke Neuk Inn Open Maiden Race for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds, and still had six lengths to spare at the line over Coquet Head. This was a welcome first winner of the season for owner Bianca Dunk, who combines training the 5 year old mare with her job as a waitress at the Manor House Hotel in West Auckland.
Millar said of the winner: "She's very game and what she lacks in size, she makes up for in heart."
Deputising for the injured John Dawson, Millar completed his double on last month's Tynedale Maiden scorer, Triggers Sun, in the UAP Agricultural Restricted Race. Always in the leading pair, his mount finally got the better of Perellie after the last but had to dig deep to repel his fast-finishing stable companion, Taras Joy by a head. The six year old winner, owned and trained by John Wade, is likely to go under Rules next season according to Wade's assistant, Maria Myco.
The odds-on favourite Bafana Boy provided Drew Holmes with his third winner of the season in the Brewin Dolphin Morpeth Hunt Members Race. This eleven year old gelding, successful seven times under Rules when trained by Nicky Richards and Howard Johnson, finally overhauled Reef Dancer two out and stayed on well to score by three lengths. Holmes, a sales and distribution manager for leading menswear fashion designer, Nigel Cabourn, said of his charge: "I might give him a break now and then go for a Mens Open."
The former Nicky Richards and Rose Dobbin-trained gelding Tyrrhenian had shown no form in six outings over hurdles in the last couple of years, but made an instant impact for Mindrum handler Jane Jeffreys by landing the 3 mile DCS Group Ltd Open Maiden Race on his debut between the flags. After collaring Naughty Diesel approaching the last, the eight year old forged clear on the run-in to win by eight lengths.
He kept bursting blood vessels under Rules but has had no problems since being bought privately out of Dobbin's yard six months ago, and looks a real chasing type.
Winning rider David Jeffreys said: "He travelled like a dream and apart from hitting two out, didn't make a mistake."
Greystoke-based owner/trainer/rider, Joey Richards, 25, made her first visit to Tranwell one to remember by landing the Get Smart II Ladies Open Race on Itzacliche. Always prominent, her mount disputed the lead with Sacred Mountain from four out before edging in front on the flat to secure a neck verdict. The eleven year old heads to Balcormo Mains on Saturday week in a bid to repeat last year's victory at the Fife meeting.
There was a popular success for Dix Villez in the hands of Morpeth Hunt Joint Master, Adam Waugh in the Metnor Group plc Mens Open Race. Back to his best after being affected by a virus earlier in the campaign, Waugh's mount cruised past the favourite Moment Present two out and recovered well from a mistake at the last to score by a couple of lengths.
Trained by Waugh's niece, Amie, the twelve year old was visiting the winner's enclosure for the first time since dead-heating with Lord Who at Alnwick in December 2009.
Flaming Clint ended a barren spell for Cornhill-on-Tweed permit holder Stephen Marshall in the 2m4f Chisholm Bookmakers Open Maiden Race for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds. Owned and bred by Liz Annett, this five year old Milieu mare kept all challengers at bay from the fourth under a positive ride from Grant Cockburn and found a bit extra close home to beat Barachois Silver by a head, with the promising Merry Eric a further two lengths away in third.
The closing stages of the Ace High Flyers NPPA Club Members Race were dominated by the Fife raiders, Almost Blue (Jamie Alexander) and Commercial Express (Kit Alexander). They disputed the lead from five out until the latter pulled a length clear going to the last, before surrendering the initiative close home to Almost Blue, who snatched a neck verdict.
The nine year old winner, who was following up last month's Crossford victory, is likely to reappear, along with the runner-up, at their home meeting at Balcormo Mains on Easter Saturday. Jamie said of him: "He was suited by the steady early pace, which kept him interested and just stays and stays."
