It's all in the name . . . Jugiong produced a win at Bathurst last Wednesday night for trainer-driver Frank O'Sullivan.
CANBERRA trainer-driver Frank O’Sullivan made one of his infrequent visits to Bathurst on Wednesday and came away with a win in the Club Menangle Where Horses Fly heat with the intriguingly-named Jugiong.
The picturesque village of that name was a popular stop half-way along the old Hume Highway for countless travellers until bypassed by the new freeway a few years back. These days, far fewer tourists take the turn-off, and many motorists would have forgotten about it entirely.
That’s pretty much the story of its equine namesake.
Frank O’Sullivan had broken in the Always A Virgin gelding, whose owners then dispatched it to the hilly country at Jugiong to do some growing, and it got to do plenty of that because it was still there three years later, when Frank decided to turn off the Hume to go get him.
He’s subsequently bought the horse, which began racing this season, aged six. His first win came at start two, at Canberra, and this Bathurst win, qualifying him for the $20,000 final at Menangle , came at just his sixth race start.
Charging out of the gate in a 27.6s first quarter - speeding ticket stuff at Jugiong and nearby Bookham in the good old days - O’Sullivan followed up with a 58.2s middle half that had everyone off the bit.
But despite looking very vulnerable half way down the running, Jugiong kept boxing on as the challengers faltered on their runs, and he actually drew away again near the line for a most deserving victory. The slog home in 30.8s brought up a 1:56.1 mile rate for the 1730 metres sprint trip.
The win added a small chapter to some Bathurst history. Jugiong’s grand-dam Diamond Intherough was a very classy Joule youngster which won a Tiara heat and Consolation for Wayne Driscoll, and her biggest win came in the George Johnson Mares FFA in Hobart several years later.
This win was a little less spectacular than Frank’s previous win at Gold Crown Paceway back in 2017, when he showed his customary vigour to charge down the outside to victory - minus his driving helmet, which lay on the track back up the straight!
Being the good sport that he is, Frank was quick to laugh about it when reminded after this latest success.
Club Menangle director Bill Ellis was on hand to present rugs to the connections of Jugiong and the earlier Country Series heat winner Freddy Funk NZ (Nathan Turnbull), a tough effort from the death-seat in 1:55.7s, giving the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding five wins from his last seven starts.
Turnbull made a fast move at the bell in an effort to grab the front, but Neil Day, driving Arma Hotshot in the death, was having none of that and pressed on to the lead himself, leaving Turnbull parked for the rest of the race. He proved well up to the task, putting paid to the leader before holding on from Shannonstheman and a wall of challengers.
Ellis, accompanied by his wife Maureen, enjoyed a country excursion, the pair taking in meetings at both Young and Bathurst before motoring back to Sydney to help prepare for the upcoming Breeders Challenge Finals on Family Fun Day, Sunday July 1 .
Steve Turnbull took driving honours at the meeting, Always Rockin working to the death and then the lead in the opening C2-C3 race, and Shandance NZ making a successful Australian debut in a 2260 metres 3YO event, showing a nice turn of foot to come from a fair way back in the straight.
The latter winner is raced by prominent New Zealand bloodstock agent Stuart Valentine and his wife, sponsors at Bathurst and responsible for many of the Kiwi horses bought to race at that track. The Art Major daughter is a full-sister to the very promising Shandale, winner of seven races at Gloucester Park in the short time he’s been there, and more than $300,000 in earnings.
Other winners:
Thats Ideal, in the tactical battle that was the fast-class, Neil Day earning Luke Marlow’s Drive of the Night award, after a patient performance from the one-one
Monkeybusiness (Todd McCarthy for Peter Trevor-Jones) in C0-C1 grade, leading throughout in a welcome return to form after an inglorious effort at this track several weeks earlier. A welcome return also for his driver, after his Elitlopp adventure, and back to chasing premierships
Our Ultimate Mary (Jarrod Alchin) in 2YO class, living up to expectations by leading throughout at her race debut, repaying patient connections who’ve seen her through a few teething problems befojre making it to the races
Better Be Donna NZ (Amanda Turnbull) in a second 3YO event, the night’s easiest win, putting a 25 metres margin back to the pack after leading throughout, two wins from three starts since arriving here
Sports Story (Doug Hewitt for Bernie) in the second of the juvenile races, leading all-the-way and a well-deserved win after placing at four of her five starts previously. Doug accepts she’s no star, but says she’s a very genuine youngster that’s a pleasure to train.
Bathurst race again on Wednesday night, highlighted by the visit of this year’s Rising Stars drivers, competing in two heats of their series.
