Morphettville races: Trainer Travis Doudle eyes Port Adelaide Guineas with Casino Seventeen

Promising three-year-old Casino Seventeen could be heading towards the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas in April following its gritty win in a $52,250 3yo Benchmark 68 at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

Heavily supported at $2.25 the Travis Doudle-trained runner had to pull out all stops under desperate riding from Paul Gatt to nose out a diving Morty ($10). Early leader Showusyourmotor lived up to its name by battling well in third place.

Casino Seventeen captured the attention of race followers with a cruising 3.8 lengths victory at Balaklava in February but Saturday was a different story.

Doudle said he wasn’t worried about Casino Seventeen’s position early in the race.

“I was happy enough where he was,” Doudle said. “I gave Paul (Gatt) three instructions, lead, sit outside the leader or sit one-one and then peel out. They were going pretty quick early.

Trainer Travis Doudle has stakes-race plans for Casino Seventeen. Picture: Matt LoxtonSource:News Corp Australia

“It was a tough win. Potentially now he could go to a Port Adelaide Guineas, where with the better races and bigger fields, there will be a quicker temp which should suit.’’

Doudle also looks to have a promising type with the unbeaten Brother’s Shadow, which won the opening race on the card, a 2yo handicap.

“He is really promising,’’ Doudle said. “I have never seen him beaten in a jump out, trial or barrier work. He always does enough to keep in front. He is a nice type.’’

Debutant Zero Inn, with rider Anna Jordsjo riding it boldly, gave training combo Sue and Jason Jaensch a winner when it held out a charging Point Blaze in a 3yo and upward 1250m maiden. Skilled Bunch gave the Jaensch team and jockey Gatt a double in the final event.

Spanish Heirloom ($5.50) made it four wins on end (two wins Port Lincoln, one Bordertown) when it streeted its rivals in a 1000m handicap, trainer Doudle’s third win for the day.

Long-time SA media and racing identity Ray Fewings cheered on his charge which was confidently ridden by Ryan Hurdle.

Monraaj ($31) gave the Ryan Balfour/Barend Vorster combo victory in a 1550m handicap, a big turnaround from the gelding’s last-start eighth.

Victorian Propelle, from the Ellerton/Zahra yard and the Jon O’Connor trained Angaston also won their respective events.

Meanwhile, Adelaide’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale proved an outstanding success last week, highlighted by the $525,000 purchase of a Fastnet Rock colt by Hong Kong’s Tony Fung and Annabel Neasham.

The price tag for the full brother to the promising Sneaky Five smashed Adelaide’s previous high of $360,000 for an individual sale set 15 years ago.

The new-found confidence in South Australian racing also was to the fore with SA breeders enjoying strong support. Local trainers and connections hit the sales ring, trainers Will Clarken, Ryan Balfour, David Jolly and expat Mark Kavanagh among the most active.

Balfour’s $370,000 for a Palentino yearling was the most expensive filly sold at a Magic Millions in Adelaide.

Originally published asDoudle cashing in on Casino’s good form

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