New South Wales visitors take out both Redcliffe Oaks and Derby

Talented Riverina filly Seaside Boulevard (Downbytheseaside) surprised her more fancied harness racing rivals when she outstayed the field in a gripping Group 3 $52,000 Redcliffe Oaks on Saturday evening.

In a scrappy start, local filly Stripes easily won the start while Sunset Boulevard’s driver Jackson Painting took a trail behind the leader with Bernie Hewitt’s filly Swift Code settling down in third placing.

Favourite Ripples was on the second row but driver Amanda Turnbull eventually moved up to race outside the leader. Stripes stablemate Alwaysbjoy moved up into the one out and one back position.

SEASIDE BOULEVARD 20 JUN REPLAY

Pete McMullen on Stripes would have felt quite confident down the back straight on the final occasion as Ripples started to give ground and in the process took Alwaysbjoy back with her.

Sunset Boulevard was poised to make a run while Swift Code started to gather both Stripes and Sunset Boulevard and the stage was set for an exciting finish. Painting went for the inside run as Stripes continued to fight back as Swift Code was still finishing on. However Sunset Boulevard finished the best and prevailed over Stripes by half a neck with Swift Code two metres away in third.

The run of Yirradiva was full of merit as she missed the start and from the rear made up plenty of ground to finish fifth.

Sunset Boulevard is trained by popular Narrandera identity Jackson Painting who has up in Queensland for the carnival. On that run Sunset Boulevard should obtain a run in the Queensland Oaks to be staged on 18 July at Albion Park. Sunset Boulevard continues to improve and won the Go Girl at Menangle. Lightly raced with just eight race appearances Sunset Boulevard looks set to get better with age.

New Zealand bred gelding Nymbal (Lazarus) now in the Kerry Ann Morris stable could not have been more impressive when he stormed down the outside the take out the Redcliffe Derby.

NYMBAL 20 JUN REPLAY

As expected Berocca Bernie showed exceptional speed to take up the running while local favourite Fire and Passion was wide early before having to race outside the leader. Timmyteo was behind the leader with Shankys Shot enjoying the one out and one back trail.

Nymbal was four back on the rails. Fire And Passion despite the hard run moved closer to Berocca Bernie but he was a sitting shot for Shankys Son who had by far the easier run. Meanwhile Robert Morris was able to extricate Nymbal off the fence and once he was clear he simply swamped his rivals to record an outstanding win over a game Fire And Passion with Shankys Son in third.

Nymbal ran 1.55.8 for the 2240 metres. He’s extremely well bred as his dam Glenferrie EJ  was a capable mare winning at Melton and with a best time of 1.55.1. At stud she has produced the prolific winners Ananais, Get Back and Skye Mary Mac. In addition she also has a two year old colt Mighty Crunch who is by Captain Crunch.

Nymbal will obviously face much harder company if he contests the Queensland Derby on 18 July but he looks a very smart horse who will win his fair share of races.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink