Trots Centre: Bec’s dream run continues as Murphy steps up

Bec Bartley has a real love for M&M’s.

In her case, it’s not the chocolate or peanut variety, but rather two horses called “Murray” and “Murphy.” They are the stable names for the two best horses Bartley has co-trained and driven – Murray being San Carlo and Murphy is Western Sonador.

San Carlo, who Bartley co-trained with Steve O’Donoghue, changed her life. He won 30 races (from just 63 starts), not far shy of $600,000 and contested three Inter Dominion finals, two Hunter Cups and two Victoria Cups.

But we can’t talk of San Carlo in the past-tense. Despite the fact he hasn’t raced for almost a year and is a rising 11-year-old, he is well into a comeback campaign which will hopefully take him to a fourth Inter Dominion series in NSW in November/December.

“He’s been in work about three or four months and he just had his first dash-up the other day. He’s huge after the time out, but we’ve still got time to have him ready for the Inter Dominion,” Bartley said.

The Inter Dominion is also the big target for Western Sonador, who has taken the stable star baton from San Carlo during his time out.

Western Sonador has won nine of his 23 starts, banked $114,490 and resumes from a short break in the TAB Our Maestro Free For All (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night.

“I thought Murray (San Carlo) was a once-in-a-lifetime horse, so I couldn’t believe it when Western Sonador came along straight after him,” Bartley said. “They are different horses in that San Carlo is so laid-back, but Western Sonador gets really fired-up when he goes to the track.

“What they do have in common is their ability and strength. I remember thinking how incredible it was that I hadn’t got to the bottom of San Carlo as he raced through the classes and it’s the same with this guy. We certainly haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“It would be incredible if we got to take them to the Inter Dominion together.”

Western Sonador tasted Group 1 racing earlier this year, including finishing second in the Newcastle Mile, and was to go to the recent Blacks A Fake in Queensland before the travel restrictions of COVID-19 kept him at home.

“That’s why he had that run (a Bendigo win) at the start of July. When we couldn’t get to Queensland, we backed-off him, but he’s raring to go again now,” Bartley said.

“He’s drawn well (gate two) this week, but there looks to be plenty of speed off the front so we might just let him balance up early and let the speedsters go. He’s versatile and he’s tough.

“We’ll just keep him at this mark for now and tighten him closer to the Victoria Cup (October 9), which is the target before we take him to Sydney.”

* story courtesy of News Corp

Meanwhile, trainer Anne-Maree Conroy continues star trotting mare Margaret Ruth’s return to the track in the Group 3 Alamora Tarneit Now Selling Lightfoot Laurels (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night.

Margaret Ruth won the Lightfoot Laurels in 2018.

The Conroy family has had considerable success in the feature, also winning with Lucy Lastic (1997) Miss Universe (1999 and 2001) and False Gem (2008).

Margaret Ruth has been plagued by hoof and leg issues throughout her career, with Conroy describing her as a “little bit fragile” and consequently difficult to get a lot of work into.

The 13-time winner had her first race start since November last year with a ninth to Maori Law in the Group 3 John Slack Memorial Trotters Cup in Ballarat on July 20.

“She pulled up well,” Conroy said.

“She’s been in work a long time, on and off.

‘We’ve persevered. Hopefully she’ll get going and back to the form she showed a few seasons ago.

“There’s nowhere for her to hide. I just have to get her in among it and see how we go.

“I don’t believe in giving up.

“She’s the only one we’ve got of that class and I’m prepared to wait.

“She belongs to Mum and we can take her time.”

– by David Brehaut