The second Saturday metro race meeting held at Gawler this year and it was the first time I had been back to the track since it was rebuilt several years ago.  Car parking is close to the public viewing area (overlooks the winning post) and the mounting yard is perfectly placed to see and walk to the horse area and to see the general displays in both public areas.  And you can find shelter even when sitting outside from the cold winter windy weather - I was quite happy sitting outside between races even when the hail started.

First up was race one a steeplechase to start of the day where Dumosa settled in front from Nishiazabu then Trenchtown followed by Urban Explorer then Wai Not P'Roni and Isaiah.  Around the home turn on the first lap and Dumosa lead Nishiazabu then Urban Explorer outside Trenchtown with Isaiah and Wai Not P'Roni next in a closely packed field.  Little changed to the 800m where Urban Explorer started a forward move to join Dumosa then Nishiazabu followed by Trenchtown and Wai Not P'Roni as Isaiah dropped back a little in the wet ground.   By the home turn Dumosa was in front from Urban Explorer as Wai Not P'Roni started his run around Trenchtown and Nishiazabu then Isaiah.  Over the second last Urban Explorer out jumped Dumosa with a gap back to Wai Not P'Roni as Isaiah made ground to join Nishiazabu and Trenchtown.  Dumosa found back again on the flat but Urban Explorer joined him again over the last with a gap to Wai Not P'Roni.  In the run to the line Urban Explorer proved the strongest to win by just under a length with Wai Not P'Roni third then Trenchtown just grabbing fourth from Nishiazabu and Isaiah.  After 16 starts over the hurdles for 6 wins and 5 placings it was Urban Explorer first start over the bigger steeplechase fences.

The hurdle followed where Zataglio settled in front from No Song No Supper then Compelled followed by Baklava Boy then Bold Zamour followed Flying Tap who had been slowly away.    After the third jump No Song No Supper and Zataglio shared the lead from Baklava Boy then Compelled followed by Bold Zamour then Flying Tap.  As the field went to the home turn on the first occasion Flying Tap circled the field to take the lead from No Song No Supper then Zataglio followed by Baklava Boy then Compelled and Bold Zamour.  Over the 6th jump Zataglio and Flying Tap shared the lead from Baklava Boy and No Song No Supper with Bold Zamour and Compelled at the back of the field.  Into the back straight Flyng Tap was a clear leader from Zataglio then No Song No Supper with Baklava Boy next ahead of Bold Zamour then Compelled.  By the 1000m No Song No Supper tried to take a run between the leaders but briefly lost ground as Zataglio hit the front from Flying Tap as Baklava Boy started to creep closer with Bold Zamour and Compelled.  As they went to the home turn Flying Tap had joined Zataglio in front again as No Song No Supper went up on the outside with Baklava Boy starting to run on with Bold Zamour and Compelled closing as well.  Coming to the second last fence it was nearly a line of six as No Song No Supper hit the front with Baklava Boy challenging from Flying Tap and Zataglio with Bold Zamour and Compelled moving out wider to make their runs.   Over the last it was between No Song No Supper and Baklava Boy from Zataglio and it briefly looked like Baklava Boy was finishing the stronger but No Song No Supper made the clearer jump and fought back strongly to hold the lead and win from Baklava Boy with Zataglio third from Compelled then Bold Zamour and Flying Tap.  It was No Song No Supper's 7th start over the jumps for 4 wins and 3 placings.

The third race was the 2yo event where Jacksay finished hard in the final stages to run down One for One with Burst Away third.  And then the weather came in with heavy rain turning to two short bouts of hail and the temperature dropped noticably once the rain/hail cleared.  In the fourth race the imported 3yo Thing of Nothing made it a race to race double for the Tony McEvoy stable while topweight Sir Laszlo was too strong in the next winning from King Cadel and Milkwood.   Get Pronto won by a nose and then withstood a protest to win the next race from Grancabrio while Brimming finished too strongly for Most Husbands to win the 7th race.   Daytona Grey defeated Justify That and King's Pardon in the Open Hcp before Daydream Charlie has only his second start after nearly two years away was too good in the last winning from Saturday Affair and On A Dream.