Trainer Greg Grainger lands first city winner as Sarah Eilbeck strikes again

SARAH Eilbeck continued her amazing week of longshot success when providing Gympie hobby trainer Greg Grainger a thrilling maiden city win at Doomben on Wednesday.

Sarah Eilbeck backed up her double at Doomben on Saturday with another long-priced winner on Wednesday. Picture: Darren England

SARAH Eilbeck continued her amazing week of longshot success when providing Gympie hobby trainer Greg Grainger a thrilling maiden city win at Doomben on Wednesday.

Eilbeck piloted $21 chance Fire Within to a convincing win over well-tried $2.60 favourite Sharpe Hussler.

Fire Within improved off a last start sixth at Doomben, which was his first run off a 58-day let up. He attracted the attention of a few punters, firming from $26 to $21 in betting.

The win followed Eilbeck’s Saturday Doomben double on Frequendly (a $74 tote chance) and Rough Eddie, who was backed from $17 to $13.

“I think having a 3kg claim makes a big difference to some of these horses,” Eilbeck said. “Just having that extra weight off can help them sometimes find a bit of form. I’m happy to have been having a bit of luck and hopefully it can continue.”

Grainger said he only ever has one horse in work, despite having held a trainer’s licence since the 1980s.

“That feels pretty good,” Grainger said. “I’ve been coming here a long time and have won races at places like Ipswich and Caloundra, but never in town before.

“It’s just a hobby for me, but I love having one in work and to win a race here (at Doomben) is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Sarah Eilbeck steers Rough Eddie to victory at Doomben last Saturday. Picture: Darren England

Former Kiwi trainer Paul Duncan led in a winning double with Cobarchie and Johnhro, who survived a protest. Duncan made the move from his home of Cambridge in New Zealand to the Sunshine Coast four years ago.

“I used to have twice as many horses in work back home, but since moving here I have kept it down to about 15 and it is much more enjoyable,” Duncan said. “I spent 35 years at Cambridge and being on the Sunshine Coast is easier than what it was back home.”

Johnhro is owned by Greg Ingham, son of the late ‘Chicken King’ Jack Ingham and he races in the second set of the famous Woodlands Stud colours.

“I have six horses for Greg at the moment and it’s working pretty well because we get the ones who they decide can’t go any further in Sydney,” Duncan said.

Both of Duncan’s winners were ridden by Sunshine Coast apprentice Tiffany Brooker.

Originally published as Trainer Greg Grainger lands first city winner as Sarah Eilbeck strikes again