Late phone call pays dividends

Chapple, in his first drive on the four-year-old mare, tasted success in the $12,240 decider having been called up to replace unavailable Josh Osborn in the sulky.

“Josh Osborn is the normal driver, but he was at work (mines). I was pretty happy to get the call up. I’ll definitely take that,” Chapple said.

Dancinginthedark, which joined the Sawyers Gully stables of trainer Cameron Davies last month, settled back in the field on the pegs for most of the 2030m trip.

Chapple made a move along the back straight and despite being four wide on the run home, reeled in place getters Its Inevitable and A Paradigm Shift.

“From how far back we were, she still hit the line pretty strong. She’s always had the ability, Cameron’s just brought out the best in her,” he said.

Dancinginthedark, which finished 3.2m clear, paid $18.70 on the TAB tote.

Elsewhere on the card, Ellalong’s Michael Formosa saluted three times – once as a driver with Clayton Harmey’s Abdicate, once as a trainer-driver with Rocknroll Swinger and another combining with daughter Chloe who steered home Ultimate Force.

Hot Jiving made it three wins on the trot for Denman trainer Kevin Warby, My Classy Mate snuck home for Robin Hosking while Stephen Kilroy and Grace Panella linked in the last with Mike Orr.

By Josh Callinan republished from The Advertiser