Moonee Valley - Short Stories

EURELL WINS FOR THE WIFE

Two-year-old debutant winner Explosive Witness was an impressive winner over 1000m for trainer Greg Eurell, who made wife Danielle and also co-owner Norm Saade happy as a result. Gelded only six weeks ago, Eurell said he felt the horse had matured and flicked the switch as a result; hence he was able to run down Speed Street in the Johnnie Walker Plate. "Looking at that run, the 1200m will be right up his alley next start," Eurell said post-race. Eurell added there had been interest from Hong Kong prior to the horse's debut, interest that will no doubt have been bolstered after Friday night's win. It was Craig Williams' 53rd city winner of the season, putting him 16 clear of Beau Mertens (37) in a one-sided premiership picture.

WATCH: Explosive Witness surges late

IRISH-BORN LATINA DELIVERS AT VALLEY

There was plenty of green trackside for the St. Patrick's Day meeting at The Valley, and on the track itself, there was a bit of synergy with the Emerald Isle, too. Fastnet Latina, an OTI-owned import, made it three-from-three in Australia for trainer Archie Alexander. The Irish-born horse raced in the US, and couldn't win a race before doing a tendon, but after some recuperation spent with Lee Evison at Longwarry, not only did the horse get to the track, but he's dominating on it.

WATCH: Fastnet Latina still unbeaten in Australia

PENULTIMATE 55-SECOND CHALLENGE HEAT

Trainer Russell Bell has just one more heat to survive to secure $50,000 worth of horse flesh to spend at any Inglis sale this year, after the running of the penultimate 955m race of the Moonee Valley night racing season. Winning the Benchmark 78 on Friday night was the Pat Cannon-trained Punt Club in 56.21s - slower than his 955m heat win on February 3 when he ran 55.63s. So if they can't beat Sirbible's benchmark of 54.84s on William Reid Stakes Night next week, the Colac-based Bell will be able to happily flick through his Inglis catalogues with some bonus cash in the kitty.

WATCH: Punt Club wins over 955m again

BLUE JANGLES STEALS SHOW

The odds-on favourite Wangaala was about to cap a telling day for trainer Danny O'Brien when leading on turning for home in the Foodworks Handicap (2040m). Then it was going to be city winner number 100 for the season for Darren Weir as other market fancy Bloodlette loomed large in the straight. Instead, it was $31 roughie Blue Jangles who split them for a fine win for Echuca trainer Daryl Archard and jockey Chris Symons. "Any winner is great, but it's better winning for the battlers," Symons said. Maybe the one to watch out of the race was fourth-placegetter Prescience, who barely got a crack at them in the straight, beaten just over a length and was well in front not far after the winning post.

WATCH: Blue Jangles out-sprints more fancied rivals

THE TERRORS OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION

Balancing Act 'corners like a greyhound' according to Luke Currie who rode him to a narrow win in the IPrint Kerry Gillespie Plate (1000m). But for those who didn't quite catch Greg Miles' call of the Paul Banks-trained horse winning, and couldn't see the silks, it didn't help when the trackside screen at The Valley flashed up with number six Essence of Terror the winner, especially if you backed the latter at the juicy each-way odds. Essence of Terror was finishing off down the outside strongly for third. The gaffe fooled at least one punter by the sounds of it, when some screams went around the stand at the sight of the screen - and one bloke in particular endured some short-lived celebrations. Even some Balancing Act punters second-guessed themselves for a moment. Then again, you could have backed the favourite Athena Lass - who knuckled out of the gates, Ben Allen did well to stay on and the filly's winning hopes were severely dented after the mishap.

WATCH: Balancing Act wins for Banks