HRNZ MEDIA BITES, JANUARY 23, 2012
Kiwi onslaught about to get real in Oz: Some big names are already in Australia to compete for their riches but in the last week or so they’ve been joined by reinforcements. The first focus for ‘team kiwi’ is the Ballarat Cup and Victorian Derby heats this week. We have five horses battling to gain starts in the $200,000 Derby on 2 Feb at Melton. They are Ohoka Punter, Arden Rooney, Bit Of A Legend, Cyamach and Three Pints. The Victoria Derby heats will be run at 10.30, 11.02 and 11.30pm on Saturday night from Melton. Kiwi interest starts in heat two with Two Pints but peaks in the third heat, which includes Cyamach (3), Bit Of A Legend (4), Arden Rooney (5) and Ohoka Punter (7). Smolda also makes an appearance on the undercard 10.00pm our time.
The Ballarat Cup on Friday night worth $150k has attracted a hot field. Sushi Sushi looks the horse to beat from one though. Kiwi interest will surround Mah Sish and Auckland Reactor. There are some other Kiwi horse dotted around Aussie cards in the weekend too. Highview Tommy & Four Starzzz Flash go around in the Pure Steel two races before the Ballarat Cup. The Tim Butt-trained Askmenow runs in the race after the Ballarat Cup. While Dr Hook and Vulcan will run in the second of two heats in the Austalasian Trotting Championship
West Australia Cup surprise: (Im)Themightyquinn had his colours lowered in the WA Cup last Friday night. For the second week in a row we saw a titanic battle in a state’s feature and it was dasher VC, the omnipresent Dasher VC that did the damage on the unbackable favourite. Dasher VC led throughout around the tight Perth circuit and with Quinny forced to make his move midrace to sit parked he couldn’t reel in the leader.
The week prior we should have been given some coverage to. The battle between Smoken Up and Caribbean Blaster in the South Australia Cup. It was Bonecrusher/Waverley Star-esque but this time the horse on the inside won. If you haven’t seen it I implore you to have a look at the following link. Great race! Great call and it captures the essence of what makes our sport enjoyable. http://media.harness.org.au/sa/GDM12011301.wmv
What’s hot this week?: Invercargill Cup – (Saturday afternoon (4.15pm) stars Franco Ledger, Ohoka Texas, Flyover, Artiface, Bettor’s Fire) – Ballarat Cup (Friday night 10.54pm, stars Sushi Sushi, Melpark Major, Mah Sish, Auckland Reactor, Smoken Up) – Victorian Derby Heats (Saturday night see above)
Pure Power runs hot at Menangle: Just as long-time mentor Dave McGowan predicted Menangle appears to be Pure Power’s happy place. After a seventh first-up the hulking son of Grinfromeartoear turned in a classy display to sit parked for half a mile and prove too strong in 1.53.2 for what seemed a nice field. Another former Kiwi Stormy Sirocco chased hard in second. Trained by expat Nicole Molander and driven by Blake Fitzpatrick Pure Power impressed and he looks destined to compete in some big races in the coming months.
Betty back to basics: The great story that is Bettor Cover Lover keeps on giving. Of course last week we saw another Group win for the mare whose life hung in the balance after an accident two years ago on an livestock crate in Melbourne. The win last week was Betty’s seventh Group race win but her first at Group 2 level. In a little over a week she’ll be back at Addington striving to go one better than her second to Carabella last year in the NZ Breeders Stakes (G1). Two dark horses for the race have come to light in recent days. Firstly, Talaspring caught the eye getting home well late in the piece. She always ran well at Addington when trained by the late Doug Mangos (Brent’s father) near the start of her career. The second was Flyover. She never her side down and was forced to race parked again. She lines up at Ascot Park in Cup on Saturday with Ricky May in the sulky. She must rate a live chance to gain a much deserves win. Franco ledger must give her a 30m head start.
After discussing the Wanaka Challenge we then on to the horses. In Melbourne right now are Bit Of A legend, Four Starzzz Flash and Dexter Dunn. Cran will join them on Thursday. Bit Of A Legend is reportedly sharp and ready for his Vic Derby heat this Saturday, while Four Starzzz Flash continues to please the team and looks poised to line up in the Pure Steel. The stand start race a good lead-in to the Hunter Cup the following week. “The Ballarat Cup was a tempting carrot but the Pure Steel works best from a Hunter Cup perspective”, Dalgety reported. One of the other stable stars continues his build up for a Chariots Of Fire bid and while Christen Me can’t be granted an invite, under the rules set in place by the NSWHRC, he looks certain to earn a ‘Wild Card’ spot in the Chariots Of Fire on March 3 if he makes it to Sydney in one piece and runs up to expectation in the one or both of the lead-up events.
Smiling Star succumbed to virus in classic: Smiling Star failed badly in the Pelorus Classic two weeks ago but subsequent vet tests revealed the promising horse had a virus. Another notable horse with vet notes to cover was Tatijana Bromac – a late scratching from Addington last week. She was found to be lame in the near fore in the morning of last Friday’s race.
Far Too Rusty up for big payday tomorrow night: The winner at Addington Raceway tomorrow night will be the connections of Far Too Rusty, regardless of the result. She is just one start away from cashing in on the Met Multiplier, an incentive scheme to get horses to races at Addington more regularly. All a horse has to do is start 15 times in a year and win at least one race. Far Too Rusty is poised to be the first to cash in on the $7,500 bonuses. There is a total of 20 bonuses up for grabs or $150,000. Next in line are the The Lutts (13), Westmelton Willie (13) and Advance Anvil 12. All have won their race to be eligible. Far Too Rusty runs in Race 7 at 9.20.
Young Guns: Great to see Auckland has split its Young Guns fillies’ heat this Friday night. The 17 fillies have been given two chances by the club, which is great news for connections. Should make for two interesting races with some well related and smart looking stock on display. The key highlight on Friday will be the Open FFA. Sir Lincoln battles Golda Ace, Easy On The Eye and others. Steven Reid looks to have a stranglehold on the even given he has four of the six runners.
Courtesy of Andrew Morris, Marketing and Communications Manager, Harness Racing New Zealand