Robbo Fires For Markwell
Illawarra Mercury
Monday November 17, 2008
GWENDA Markwell is ready to put a slow start to the season behind her after a winning double with an unlikely pilot at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Allan Robinson steered La Vedette and Melana to victory for Markwell as part of a riding treble, which he completed with Dooley Jones in the final event."We don't use Robbo that much but with Craig (Agnew) and (Grant) Buckley in town and a few other boys suspended, we were lucky to get Robbo for the day," said Markwell's racing manager Len Fownes."He did a good job and I think we might look back on this week as the starting point of a good run."We have turned over a few horses lately and have some good ones coming into the stable at the moment."These two mares have a bit of upside to them as well."Markwell won with Receding at Wyong on Thursday and La Vedette started a good day at Kembla. Robinson got the best out of the four-year-old mare to beat odds-on elect Rim Of Fire by a head in the Balgownie Beauty and Medispa Class 1 Handicap (1300m).Fownes, who shares in the ownership, believes the daughter of Danehill Dancer will only get better in longer races."She took her time to get to Gai (Waterhouse's) horse but it was a very strong win," Fownes said.'Melana was the second member from the Markwell stable to get the better of a Waterhouse runner when she beat favourite Poinciana in the Lawrence Hargrave Private Hospital Maiden Handicap over 1200m.
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