Club's Youngster Catches Older Rivals At Big Odds

Illawarra Mercury

Monday July 21, 2008

By CHRIS ROOTS

THE Illawarra Turf Club's venture into racehorse syndication made a successful start when Bilgola got the better of his older rivals in the Waldean Industries Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The Catcher In The Rye two-year-old gave away age and experience to most of his rivals but, aided by a top-shelf ride from Jeff Penza, he got the money at his second start.

"There were a couple of false starts because of EI but this is what we wanted to achieve to get a winner," ITC racing manager and syndicate manager Michael Craig said. "It was hard to find people to go into these horses, but now we have had some success it should encourage a couple of other members to race a horse and it's something we will look at again."

The ITC put together two syndicates last year in partnership with bloodstock guru Les Young, with Bilgola placed in the Bede Murray yard, while a filly, Grange Girl, was given to Gwenda Markwell.

Bilgola was the first of the pair to get to the track and ran fifth in a 1000m two-year-old maiden at Kembla on July 5 but was better suited by the extra trip on Saturday.

Penza had to bide his time on the two-year-old and was back last on the turn, but in a blanket finish the hoop was able to chart a course along the fence to win.

Bilgola ($15) scored by a half-length from Encore, with Business Plan a long head away third, and the majority of the field within a length or two of him.

Paul Murray, deputising for his father Bede who was in Sydney winning with another two-year-old Lavished, said Bilgola was a miler in the making.

"I thought that was going to be a bit short for him because he has always shown he would be best at 1400m and beyond," Murray said. "He might just be a nice horse for the club."

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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