Tom Bamford and Sam Thornley go back to back at Cromwell

By Jonny Turner 

A big week got bigger when Tom Bamford trained a winning double at Cromwell on Friday.

The victories of Light Me Up and Ebury Street in successive races came just days after the Canterbury trainer secured his first purchases at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales. 

Driver Sam Thornley had both pacers in front and out of trouble and neither looked like being captured down the long Cromwell straight.

Ebury Street added to her outstanding record in Central Otago when winning Friday’s feature pace, the McNulty's Transport Handicap Pace.

The six-year-old won at Omakau and Roxburgh early in January before running second at Cromwell on the final day of the Central Otago New Year circuit. 

Thornley stacked his rivals up and outsprinted them as Ebury Street went one better in her Cromwell return.

“She is going as good as she ever has,” Bamford said.

“I don’t know why, but whatever we are doing is working.”

“It was a great drive by Sam, they didn’t go a quick time but she was able to rip home in a pretty nice last quarter.”

Earlier Light Me Up put a frustrating last run behind him in the best possible style in the Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series Mobile Pace.  

The pacer broke and took no part in his last start after an ordinary effort at Addington.

After a freshen-up and a slick trial, the four-year-old was able to show the kind of form he produced previously.  

“He went good at Nelson then I backed him up at Addington, it was trainer error and he was disappointing,” Bamford said.

“But he trialled good last week and Sam was pretty happy with him today.”

“He is a bit of a funny horse, some days he is not there, but when he is in the right mood he can be pretty good.”

Bamford will back both of his winners up at Cromwell on the second day of the Wyndham club’s two-day meeting on Sunday.

After that, Bamford has plenty to look forward to.

The trainer is preparing his stable star Rakero Rocket for a big northern campaign.

“He is trialling on Monday, whether we have one trial or a couple of trials we will see.”

“There is a Group 3 at Addington, then he will be on the plane up north for the slot race at Cambridge. 

Bamford will also have his two newly purchased yearlings to break in soon, too. 

“I managed to get a Sweet Lou colt in Auckland that was actually passed in, but we were keen to get him and we were able to.”

“He looks like he could go early, he’s a full brother Im A Gigolo who has done a great job.”

“Then I really liked the Always B Miki filly we got in Christchurch, she reminds me a lot of Treacherous Gall who was at Regan Todd’s when I was there.”

“They are both really nice types.”

Bamford said he welcomed enquiries from anyone interested in taking a share in his two youngsters.