Spirit Downunder gets a change of luck

After casting a shoe and jumping a marker peg at his last start at Westport on Friday, the Regan Todd trained Spirit Downunder (Downbytheseaside) had a clean sheet today and duly won the $20,000 Dawsons Hotel Inangahua/Grey Valley Cup at Reefton.

“Liv (driver Olivia Thornley) said when she went to pull the plugs he jumped sideways at the same time. He did bloody well to pick himself up and finish where he did,” Todd said of Friday’s run.

In today’s race Thornley settled Spirit Downunder sixth on the inside. The shape of the race changed dramatically when Still Rockin galloped at the crossing with a lap to run and put paid to the chances of favourite Bruntwood Brigade.

That incident allowed Spirit Downunder to move off the rails to be four back on the outside.

Turning in, Thornley brought Spirit Downunder six wide and he stormed home to win in a blanket finish by a neck from The Coalman with a half a length back to Mystery Beach in third.

“It was a good effort coming round wide there (at Reefton) I reckon.”

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER REPLAY

The four year old had great credentials going into today’s pacing feature, having been placed in Two Listed races as a three year old.

“He’s not a big robust type of horse. He’s just got better every time he’s come in.  If we can space his races, look after him a bit and manage to get him in the Country Cups Final, it’ll be great. He’s a good follower of speed. He’s got a good turn of foot which will take him a bit further.”

Spirit Downunder is owned by Trevor Casey, David Phillips, Steve Pool and Amy Hawthorn.

The same ownership group raced the horse’s full-brother Spirit Of Anarchy, which won six races for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink