Julie Maughan's Raceday Report Thursday 21st July - Sullivan Does It Again

SULLIVAN DOES IT AGAIN

Forbes reinsman Murray Sullivan made the return trip to Tamworth last Thursday and was once again in the winner’s circle – twice in fact!
Sullivan drove a double at the Tamworth meeting two weeks prior and with the prospect of 10 hours travel time for the round trip he certainly wanted to go back home a winner.
“It is a long trek and I said last meeting that if I don’t win two races I’m not coming back and I said the same thing today – so I will be back again next time for sure”
Swaggie Shannon was the first leg of the winning double for Sullivan – trained at Bathurst by Peter Bullock who also elected to make the long trek to the north west– certainly showed some swagger in taking out the Wests Entertainment Group Lordship Pace (1980m).
Raced by Rayngold P/L the Kenneth J USA-Matilda Shannon four year old was having win three from 41 starts with Sullivan also in the spider for the gelding’s prior win at Young back in June.
“I thought this win was good” added Sullivan of the Tamworth success.
“When he (Swaggie Shannon) got checked I was a little worried he would be too far back but that is why I went at the bell - try and get him up there as he doesn’t handle the turns real well”
“I had a win on him a couple of starts back and we were a bit worried today as there was interference in the straight - it wasn’t entirely his fault”
“He got run up the track a bit and we got out of it (interference) so I was real happy with the run” added Sullivan of the interference in the home straight.
Sullivan describes the run of Swaggie Shannon in the 1980 metre event.
“I was sitting third last and I took off coming into the bell - got a three wide cart up and then I was four wide from the 400 mark - he still felt strong and I knew once he straightened he had them covered”
“If they hadn’t shifted out he (Swaggie Shannon) would have won by eight or ten metres”.
“I really like the horse - the last four or five weeks he really has been putting it together and becoming a real nice racehorse”.
Swaggie Shannon – who commenced as race favourite - had a 2.6 metre win over Queensland pacer Rib And Roll (Dave Russell) and Benji M Brogden (Maddi Young) 1.3 metres away third.
“I love driving Peter’s (Bullock) horses as I can usually drive them pretty tough and I know they will get home. He is one trainer that is spot on”
The pressure was then on in the final event for the day – Millenium Signs Pace – to see if Sullivan could make it back to back wins for Dehillman.
“Jarred said the horse had come on a bit from the last run” added Sullivan who took the drive for Narrabri trainer Jarred Hetherington – who has achieved two wins out of the Live Or Die USA-Renroc Dream gelding from two starts.
“I probably had to get off a bit earlier than we wanted – the horse was travelling too good down the back but he stuck it out” added Sullivan.
With Pepperall (Julie Weidemann) leading the field and the bell sounding Sullivan sent Dehillman three wide to take the lead and then had to hold off a late challenge by Fours Enuf Tas (Lola Weidemann).
“I came back to drive him” said Sullivan of Dehillman “as I thought he was a good chance and he has proved that”
Dehillman had a 1.2 metre win over race favourite Fours Enuf Tas and Clementsorrell (Maddi Young) 2.6 metres away third.

by Julie Maughan