Brobenah Boy took advantage of the sprint lane at Wagga's new harness racing track to provide a real bonus for connections on Monday. Drawn out at the start of the meeting as the jackpot horse, the ghostly grey delivered owners Phil and Jeanette Dempsey an extra $800 after taking out the Kids Bikes March 10 Heat 2 (1730m). He finished too strong for group one winner Molly Kelly ($2.10 fav), downing Bruce Harpley's new stable addition by 2.1 metres. The son of Modern Art has now won three times this season but hadn't been placed in any of his last three runs. Leeton trainer Guy Retallick thought the good draw made a big difference. "He went nice and the draw made the difference for us this week," Retallick said. "He's been drawing bad nearly all season and that was a key factor." He also believes the five-year-old benefited from racing on the bigger track. "I think the track suits him too," Retallick said. "He sorta doesn't handle the tighter tracks as much so that was a key as well." It was Brobenah Boy's seventh win in 45 starts as part of a real family operation. Owned and bred by Retallick's parents-in-law, Phil Dempsey also does plenty of work to get Brobenah Boy to the races. "Phil does as much work as I do and deserves as much credit," Retallick said. "It's like any partnership really." Utilising Will Rixon's concession claim Brobenah Boy ($5.50) to get into the race, the five-year-old drew two and quickly found his way to the peg line behind leader Indiana Angel ($8.50) before accelerating down the straight. It's a combination that seems to work well. "He goes good for Will obviously," Retallick said. "Will has had two drives for two wins on him." Rixon has already been booked to drive in the final on March 10 as part of the grand opening of the new track. Retallick is hoping to draw well in the $15,000 feature. The sprint lane was a popular method for victory on Monday. Three of the nine races were won by horses sitting behind the leader and then using the cutaway lane up the home straight. Wagga's new track is just the third in the state with the facility following Bathurst and Goulburn. Blake Jones took out overall honours with three wins on the card. He drove a double for David Kennedy with Jive Dancing and Shes Sporty both leading all the way to win heats for next weekend's big meeting. Rocky Branach also dictated from in front after a midrace move to win for Ellen Bartley. Major Roll was just outside the track record when he clocked a mile rate of 1:54.7 to win for Mirrool trainer-driver Stephen Maguire. El Aguila holds the record at 1:54.6. Wagga trainer-driver Brett Hogan produced the upset of the day in the opening race. He took out the two-year-old with Roll On The Beach, who used the sprint lane to win at $51. READ MORE
SHORTEST WAY HOME: Brobenah Boy and Will Rixon took advantage of the sprint lane at Wagga's new track to win on Monday. He was also the jackpot horse for the meeting. Picture: Emma Hillier
Brobenah Boy took advantage of the sprint lane at Wagga's new harness racing track to provide a real bonus for connections on Monday.
Drawn out at the start of the meeting as the jackpot horse, the ghostly grey delivered owners Phil and Jeanette Dempsey an extra $800 after taking out the Kids Bikes March 10 Heat 2 (1730m).
He finished too strong for group one winner Molly Kelly ($2.10 fav), downing Bruce Harpley's new stable addition by 2.1 metres.
The son of Modern Art has now won three times this season but hadn't been placed in any of his last three runs.
Leeton trainer Guy Retallick thought the good draw made a big difference.
"He went nice and the draw made the difference for us this week," Retallick said.
"He's been drawing bad nearly all season and that was a key factor."
He also believes the five-year-old benefited from racing on the bigger track.
"I think the track suits him too," Retallick said.
"He sorta doesn't handle the tighter tracks as much so that was a key as well."
It was Brobenah Boy's seventh win in 45 starts as part of a real family operation.
Owned and bred by Retallick's parents-in-law, Phil Dempsey also does plenty of work to get Brobenah Boy to the races.
"Phil does as much work as I do and deserves as much credit," Retallick said. "It's like any partnership really."
Utilising Will Rixon's concession claim Brobenah Boy ($5.50) to get into the race, the five-year-old drew two and quickly found his way to the peg line behind leader Indiana Angel ($8.50) before accelerating down the straight.
It's a combination that seems to work well.
"He goes good for Will obviously," Retallick said.
