Curly bounces back

Curly James (A Rocknroll Dance) bounced back from a disappointing Kilmore Cup performance when he caused a minor harness racing upset in the Gammalite Free For All at Melton. 

 Curly James worked to the front early in the race and was kept company by the $1.33 favorite Catch A Wave for the final 1600 metres of the race. 

Despite pulling hard mid race, Catch A Wave put his head in front around the home turn after a blistering 26.8 back straight quarter however Curly James ($6) fought back tenaciously in the home straight to score by three metres from La Captain in a race record mile rate of 1:54.0. 

“He’s a funny sort of a horse, his runs prior to the Kilmore Cup were exceptional and we were pretty confident going into that race that if he had a good run then he’d be hard to beat,” Moran said. 

“But he got really ripping and tearing at Kilmore and sort of choked himself off but his work had been good leading into tonight and it worked out very well,” he said. 

Tough effort!
Curly James withstands a serious challenge from Catch A Wave to capture the Mimosa Homes Gammalite Free-For-All for young trainer Courtney Laker and driver David Moran in a race record time of 1:54. Takes his earnings past $150,000. pic.twitter.com/TldDqojwtk

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 28, 2023

Moran admitted he wasn’t sure of the outcome when the two leaders upped the tempo in the back straight. 

“I didn’t think we had it won too far out, Catch A Wave is a great horse and we were lucky enough to get a pretty cheap lead time and the first quarter was reasonably easy for this class,” he said. 

“Half way up the straight we were probably travelling as good as each other and I had the advantage of the inside running, he kept poking his head out and did well. 

He’s got some pretty good races ahead of him.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink