Dark Image (5g Dane Shadow – Brown Eyed Girl) has returned to the winner’s stall with a strong win in the Gawler South Bakery Class Two Handicap over 1512m.
The lightly-raced gelding has always shown he has his share of talent not having missed a placing in his first five starts. An extended break saw him resume in late July at Mildura, and whilst it was clear that he was always going to need racing off such a break, his best work was his last 100m, and was an indicator that he was back to his better self.
Having won his maiden on a soft track, the wet surfaces were of no concern and Dark Image stepped up to the 1512m at Gawler last start, and hit the line well, running a good placing behind L’amarybelle, who subsequently went to town and franked the form by proving too strong for her city rivals.
After racing a bit keenly early, Matthew Neilson was able to find a nice spot in midfield with cover, and Dark Image travelled well within himself to the turn. Approaching the corner, one of the main dangers in Walkaboutcreek shunted the gelding five wide, and they settled down to fight the race out.
Whilst Dark Image was forever looming, it looked like Walkaboutcreek had his measure, with the Minervini-trained geldng only gaining victory with a late lunge, right on the line.
Today’s victory was only the second time that Dark Image had ventured out beyond 1500m, and as the gelding has now returned to his prior good form he can be winning around this distance range in the near future.
Congratulations to the ownership group – Gerry Harvey, Gary Gifford, Est Of Mrs Ros Inglis, Rob Sagasser, Carmine Alvaro, Steve & Cathy Horn, Mark & Michelle Minervini, John & Margaret Ray & Stooge Racing Syndicate
Daniel Borg
Minervini Media