It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Bob’s A Dazzler is starting to live up to the wraps first touted by his original trainer Sheila Arnold.
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The son of Red Dazzler started his career in the Northern Territory under Arnold, a multiple Alice Springs and Darwin Cup winning horsewoman.
Bob’s A Dazzler ran a game fourth in the 2013 NT Derby during his three-year-old days, but would prove a frustration for Arnold.
Sold with a record of one win (and six minor placings) from 17 starts, he arrived in New England and discovered the winning touch which had eluded him since breaking his maiden status in the Top End.
Robert Knight appeared to have the happy knack, enjoying back-to-back victories at Muswellbrook and Port Macquarie in late 2014, but an injury saw Bob’s A Dazzler spend 16 months off the track.
“He hurt his hock pretty bad and we had to operate,” Justin Blanch said.
Armidale-based Blanch became the third trainer to have a crack at Bob’s A Dazzler and sealed the biggest win of his career at Tamworth on Monday.
Bob’s A Dazzler ($4.60) proved the superior stayer as he overhauled plucky customer Uncle Sugar ($5.50) in a driving finish to the $20,000 Advanced Inland Security Mornington Prelude (2100m).
The win continued his wonderful record at Tamworth, now three wins from as many appearances and secured a berth in the Mornington Handicap, the main support race to the Tamworth Cup on April 30.
Winning jockey Greg Ryan was impressed with the half-length success, his second in as many rides after being aboard at Coonamble on March 27.
“He did a good job,” Ryan said post-race.
“He’s going well and fit enough too, it was a nice win.”
Blanch asked post-race to ride him in the feature and Ryan agreed.
“He’s going all right this time in,” his happy trainer said.
“He just loves Tamworth.
“The track has been hard too (when he’s raced at Tamworth) and that suits him.
“He doesn’t like the soft tracks. Took him to Brisbane and he didn’t race well.”
Bob’s A Dazzler lifted his career record to seven wins from 40 starts on the back of Monday’s triumph, while his prizemoney earnings climbed through the $110,000 barrier.
Despite going down narrowly, Uncle Sugar (Jean Van Overmeire) was brave in defeat, while He’s Dreamin (Matthew Paget) turned in a top run to round out the trifecta.
He’s Dreamin, trained at Scone by Rod Northam, was supported from $10 into $8 with on-track bookies and stuck to his guns late.
Favourite Quartermaster ($3.80) could not continue the golden run for Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, finishing fourth, beaten 3.94 lengths.
Perry did enjoy Tamworth success earlier in the day when I Am The Fox ($10) took out the opening maiden thanks to a great Jake Pracey-Holmes ride.
- With assistance from Racing NSW
