What a night last Saturday’s Bendigo meeting was for Bunding trainer Philip Chircop, who scored a winning a double with very smart American Ideal-Starburst Girl gelding New Shuffle and five-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Ourgirlbillilee gelding Maxnjax.
Phil, a gentleman of the sport who is unheralded in the training ranks, has been recovering at home after surgery and is being assisted by nearby neighbour Eddie Conroy.
New Shuffle, who is raced by loyal owner John Dorrington under the banner of Dorro Downs Pty. Ltd, began fast to lead from gate four and surprisingly crossed polemarker Arrhythmia ($1.35). Rated a treat, he proved too good in sectionals of 28.6, 32.2, 29.3 and 26.5 after a lead time of 2.8 seconds. The mile rate was 1-56.4.
Maxnjax, who is raced and bred by long-time associate Terry Turnbull, was first-up since December. He was given a sweet passage from inside the second line to trail polemarker and leader Cardigan Dan ($1.07), who appeared to be coasting approaching the home turn. Making full use of the sprint lane, Maxnjax ran home stylishly to register a 1.6 metre margin in a mile rate of 1-58.1 over Soap And Bubbles,(gate two second line – three pegs) who also used the lane to tip out Cardigan Dan for second by a half neck on the wire.
