Past the Post with John Elsegood:Doubles to Erkelens and Knuckey

Doubles to Erkelens and Knuckey

Trainer Justine Erkelens previous double victory was at Kojonup –a far cry from racing headquarters at Ascot where she triumphed in consecutive races with Disco Bling and Goose on January 21.

The Ascot trainer runs a cricket side of gallopers (11) and her two winners last Saturday are definitely 'birds of a very different feather.'

Disco Bling is a galloper that comes home strongly from well back while Goose likes to be at, or near, the lead –and he had both of those roles in his most recent victory.

Erkelens admitted that Disco Bling's penchant for dropping out to the rear has cost him winning in the past so she was pleased to see him within striking distance and he simply cut Striking Guru to shreds in the concluding stages when that horse had appeared a winner halfway down the home straight.

In addition the mile journey (1600m) was also a factor. In his most recent runs Disco Bling has raced over the 1400m journey and the extra 200m was definitely to his liking.

However, it was the stayer Goose that really impressed with a tigerish win over 2100m.

With Russell Hanson back in the saddle (after Goose had run second at his previous start with Takahide Ikenushi) the grey quickly went to the front before surrendering the lead and taking a sit at around the 1200m mark.

When he recaptured the lead, for home, he gave his usual never-say-die performance in refusing to surrender when it looked as if first Taqwaa (ultimately third) then Svara (second) would run to him.

The win gave the lightly raced Blackfriars 5yo gelding his fifth win from only 12 starts.

The win was satisfying for Erkelens because she has been concentrating on teaching Goose to settle in his races, giving him long trotting work in the company of stablemates.

Big and awkward, the trainer regards Goose as a work in progress.

"I called him Goose because that is what he was early on, clumsy and always tripping over himself."

KNUCKEY

Trainers Brendon Fitzgerald and Simon Miller both have high opinions of jockey Peter Knuckey and the rider showed why with a winning double on Final Cut and Durrahmoore.

Always a cool rider he demonstrated their faith in his ability with both of his winning rides.

The Buster O'Malley- trained Final Cut was last for home in the 1000m sprint but simply cut the opposition down after being asked the question by Knuckey.

It is not usual in such a dash that a trainer wants his jockey to drop back and finish on from the corner but that was O'Malley's instructions to Knuckey –and it worked to a tee with a comfortable one and a half lengths margin to spare from Dual City. Knuckey said afterwards he had it won on the turn.

Final Cut had been racing over longer distances between 1400 and 1800m. Since running over the latter journey on December 3 last year O'Malley has freshened the Mosayter 3yo gelding whose turn of foot gives the trainer some versatility in planning, including Derby prospects.