Champion reinsman Ricky Duggan was at his brilliant best at Carrick on Sunday steering home four winners on the seven-event twilight card.
The first of Ricky’s quartet was enough to floor punters in the opener, charging home out in the centre of the track on the Adrian Duggan trained five-year-old mare Forever Ours ($17.90).
“She’s a good little sit-sprinter, they went hard down the back which took care of most of them and she has a zippy 300 metre dash up her sleeve so when we were close enough on the home turn I was thinking we were going to be in the finish.”
The Hall Of Fame reinsman provided punters with the smelling salts to lift them off the canvas in race two when he piloted the Rodney Ashwood prepared Sutter Hanover – Crystal Still three-year-old filly Still Hungover ($1.50) to the post five-metres clear of second favourite Our Wonder Woman.
“Rod (Ashwood) had her primed for a first up tilt, he’s worked hard on her giving her four trials in the lead-up to Carrick so he deserved to reap the rewards” said Ricky.
“It’s the first time I’ve driven her and she gave me a good feel, that’s her second win now from five starts and I’d say there are more wins ahead for connections.”
Duggan made it three-straight to start the day with Ima Ginger Rogers ($4.80) saluting in race three over 2150-metres.
“Ima Ginger Rogers did a great job to come off the 20 metre handicap and win like she did, it was a drop in class for her but she had to pull out something special to win,” said Ricky.
“They dropped us off coming off the back but she rallied to the cause when she needed to and she hit the line strongly, it was her first win for season but I’d say she will pinch another one or two on that run.”
Trainer Rod Ashwood completed a winning double in the last on the card with the consistent Miss Superbia ($10.20) leading all the way for victory.
“She’s not a star but she is consistent, she hasn’t missed a place in eight starts this season and now she has put two together on the trot,” said Duggan.
“We got away with an easy first three quarters of a lap and she had enough in hand to hold off the in-form Twenty Two Karat which finished powerfully.”
Shane Yates