Captain Segal goes to Avoca as a last-start Ballarat winner.
CAPTAIN Segal can give Ballarat trainer Go Shigemi a share of the spring spoils at Avoca today.
Shigemi has Captain Segal as the form runner going into the $15,000 PJA & Blue Pyrenees Avoca Cup, 1860m.
The four-year-old has never raced better.
Captain Segal goes to Avoca as a last-start Ballarat winner.
He has developed a real liking for the wide open spaces of the Dowling Forest circuit.
Two wins in his latest five outings have each been in Ballarat.
He has also been placed at Stawell and Ararat between the wins.
Shigemi rarely has more than a handful of gallopers going to the races.
At the moment Captain Segal, which is on the way to becoming the most prolific winner he has trained, is one of just two he has racing.
Dean Larsson takes the ride on what might be a big finish to the seven-race non-TAB meeting.
He has charge of the Simon Morrish-trained Nippy Philly in the Avoca Community Bank Branch 0-68 Handicap, 1860m.
Sonny Wellington and South Australian eight-year-old Back Tracks are also big chances in the cup.
Sonny Wellington is part of a team NZ trainer Kevin Myers has based with long-time friend Paddy Payne in Ballarat.
Myers has been a regular visitor to Victoria over many years, with his ability to place lightly assessed horses to advantage consistently paying dividends.
He was in Victoria in winter with a team of jumpers, with Borrack putting together a series of wins.
He is returning an even better strike rate this time, with three wins, a second, third and fourth from six starters.
This will be Sonny Wellington’s first start in Australia and will have the services of prominent jockey Linda Meech, who began her career as a jockey with Myers in NZ.
Back Tracks takes more than handy form from south-east South Australia, with a last-start Mt Gambier win.
His strong form line also features a third to East Verses West and the highly consistent Love Or Gold at Warrnambool.
david.brehaut@thecourier.com.au