By Duane Ranger
Warwick-based horseman, Dayl March, has just experienced his most memorable three days in a lifetime of racing.
The 49-year-old’s weekend panned out like this:
Friday: March trains his first galloping winner at this first attempt with 3yo grey filly, Secondofmay.
Saturday: The Richard March (father) trained Clintal Do wins the feature pacing event at Albion Park with (Dayl) March in the bike.
Sunday: The Richard March trained and Dayl March driven Our Major Day wins the last race at Armidale as a $2.25 favourite.
“It’s been a few days I won’t forget in a hurry. The galloping win was a bit of a surprise really, especially after the filly got back in the running at the 400m when she was squeezed out of it.
“Then our best pacer, Clintal Do, came out of the trail to win the ‘Slipnslide’ Open Pace the following night. That was a good effort considering he hadn’t raced for three weeks.
“Then on Sunday we quinella-ed the last race at Armidale (NSW), when Artful Maid and Lola Weidemann ran second to us. I also ran second the race before with Ykikafil,” March said.
He said be was buoyed by his first-up galloping win, and was now tempted to train another galloper or two in the future
“A mate of mine (Ray Bunch) bred Vegas Luck, the dam of Secondofmay. When she broke down he needed somewhere to agist the foal, who was born on our property.
“I actually broke her into sulky until she got too big. Paul Moody raced her initially and then Mitch Norton won first up with her as a 2-year-old.
“Then when they didn’t think she would make the top city and metropolitan class she ended back with us. So I got my licence about 10 weeks ago and have been jogging and swimming her.
“She’s such a relaxed filly. I’ve got my own track work rider, who does a great job. The filly has now had 10 starts for two wins and three placings,” March said.
Meanwhile, Clintal Do, has come through Saturday night’s 2,138m pace, very well, and could now head south to contest the Group One $100 Bohemia Crystal Free-For-All at Tabcorp Menangle on March 7.
“It’s an option, but we will look more into it after this week. If he can get the run like he did on Saturday he would be a chance, but it all comes down to the draws, but at this stage we couldn’t be happier with him,” March said.
Clintal Do came out of the trail to notch up his 26th win in 75 starts in Saturday’s Open Pace. He’s also placed 19 times. His nose victory over Rock With Sam and Brendan Barnes also took his stake earnings to $227,763.
“We were rapt with the run, considering he’s been out a wee while and still managed to beat a good field with a 1:53.7 mile rate. That’s a good effort over 2,138m.
“We might nominate him if there’s an open class race this week, and then assess Sydney after that,” March said.
Meanwhile, March and Our Major Day, were not the only Queenslanders to win in New South Wales last weekend.
The Chantal Turpin trained and Peter McMullen driven Watch Pulp Fiction, won the Cordina $24,480 Pace at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night.
McMullen shot the $8 third favourite out to the lead and then handed up to runner-up, Galactic Star, with a lap-and-a-half to run.
In the straight McMullen slowly wore down the pace-maker to get up on the outside by a nose.
Watch Pulp Fiction stopped the clock in 2:42.7, which equated to a 1:53.8 mile rate for the 2300m mobile.
It was the 8-year-old Art Major entire’s 25th win from 96 starts. He’s also placed 23 times for $288,397 in purses.