Double the fun at Geelong for the Ganges

There is a case to suggest that the husband and wife co harness racing training team of Terry Gange and his wife Jacinta should embark on an overseas holiday more often.

It’s good for the horses.

The Ganges landed a winning double at Geelong when the favored pair Mister Jimaringle (Modern Art) and Bullapark Beno (Changeover) both saluted in their respective races.

First up since October, Mister Jimaringle was backed in from $7 to $2.30 favorite as the lone runner off the second row in the Evolution Lodge Pace.

Driver James Herbertson displayed his significant expertise in the sulky when he was able to extricate Mister Jimaringle from three back along the pegs with 600 metres to travel and the seven-year-old did the rest scoring by a neck from Otis Rising.

Later in the day Bullapark Beno gave a faultless display of trotting after leading throughout in the Haras Des Trotteurs Trot.

Sent out a $2.60 favorite, Bullapark Beno stepped safely from the front row and James Herbertson was able to dictate the terms of the race to suit himself during the middle stages of the race in a 65 sec first half of the last mile.

With Herbertson barely moving in the sulky, Bullapark Beno cruised to the line holding a 10 metre margin over Floating Mountain.

In two runs since the Ganges returned from Europe late last year Bullapark Beno had been runner up at Cobram prior to his Geelong success and Mister Jimaringle saluted first up.

Terry Gange has a simple explanation for the revitalized demeanour of Mister Jimaringle and Bullapark Beno.

“Back in October we needed a rest and so did the horses,” Gange said.

“So we went overseas for five weeks and the horses went into agistment while we were away,” he said.

Gange reluctantly revealed the spell was long overdue in the case of Mister Jimaringle.

“Mister Jimaringle had raced for 14 months without a break,” he said.

“And he went into the race at pretty fresh because he hadn’t even had a trial.”

The win of Bullapark Beno was no surprise according to Gange.

“Beno always races well fresh so we thought he may as well go straight to the races rather trialling,” he said.

“And he is trotting a lot better since we’ve toned his feed down, also he used to pull in his races but he is settling a lot better since we’ve put a Crescendo bit on him.”

The Ganges boast an enviable strike rate since forming a training partnership 10 months ago with the stable has producing nine wins with 11 placings from 50 starters

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink