Ararat’s Cooper Stables is continuing its strong form with positive performances at the Maryborough Gift earlier this month.
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A group of four travelled to the event on January 1 with all athletes showing positive signs ahead of a big two-month period before the Stawell Gift.
Coach Marcus Cooper said he was happy with how the group went and saw lots of strong signs on the track.
“Paddy Turner ran really well across the events he competed at,” he said.
“He copped the fastest heats which is unlucky for him but that is the way it is sometimes.
“So as a result, he missed out on making the finals but there is still a lot to work on.
“I am happy with where he is, we have a plan and we will just keep going with that.”
Turner was not the only one who performed well in the heats with another up-and-coming athlete continuing his run of good results in recent times.
Cooper said Angus Burns was another one who performed well with the hard work on the training track starting to pay off.
“Angus made the final of the restricted 120m, which is a really good warmup for the restricted Stawell 120m race,” he said.
“A lot of guys compete in Maryborough then put the cue in the rack but I will keep working Angus in the coming weeks to fine tune some things.”
Danielle Segedinski also performed well and much like Turner, was stuck in the fast heats and was unable to qualify for any finals.
Cooper said she just needs to continue to remain positive despite the lack of finals appearances.
“She is capable of making finals, it is just the luck of the draw and which heat she gets in at the moment,” he said.
Long distance runner Tom Walker again qualified for the final in the 800m and 1500m events.
He did not win either but continued to make progress with an eye on the end of season meet on Easter weekend.
The group will race next at St Albans on January 20, then Castlemaine the day after.