Good luck charm helps break 26-month drought
LUCKILY for budding horsewoman Jamiel Magri the school holidays aren’t far away.
Otherwise given the events of the recet Cranbourne meeting Jamiel’s grades and attendance record would suffer.
With Jamiel “finally able to come to the track” with her father, David, their veteran trotter broke a 26-month drought from the winners’ circle.
Scoring with David in the cart, Columbias Deejay registered his first victory since his triumph in Ballarat in September 2018.
During the interim the consistent nine-year-old has been among the placings on 11 occasions and also lost a race on protest.
Declaring Jamiel was Columbias Deejay’s “good luck charm”, David expects the 15-year-old to be present during the squaregaiter’s future outings.
“It’s been a long time since Jamiel has come to the races,” David said. “She recently got her stablehand licence and was finally able to come to the track.
“Jamiel’s return to the track coming the same day as Deejay got a win after such a long time has to be because she acted as a good luck charm!
“Whether she likes it or not, school, friends, everything, will take the back seat when Deejay races next.”
Beginning well from his 20-metre handicap, Columbias Deejay was settled in the perfect one-one trail as Hanging On A Dream worked to the lead and Express Yourself worked in the ‘death seat’.
With Hez Coolaz breaking stride behind the leader at the bell, David made the winning move when he angled the son of Bacardi Lindy down to the pegs.
Finishing solidly along the sprint lane, Columbias Deejay grabbed the front in the last stride to score by a head from Hanging On A Dream.
Petite Love was five-and-a-half metres away third in 2:05.8 over 2110 metres.
“I know he hadn’t won for a while, but he’s run nearly a dozen placings and been fourth just as many times,” David said.
“He’s been Mister Consistent and just needing that bit of luck.
“I gave him a strong chance to be in the top four again and it was great to get his 10th win on the board.
“His earnings are just under $100,000 so breaking through that barrier is the next goal.”