PO Box 227, Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: (02) 9660 3688
Fax: (02) 9660 5417
Email: trotguide@haroldpark.com.au
Freecall: 1300 665 401
Phone: (07) 3875 1333
Fax: (07) 3875 1344
Email: ausbred@bigpond.net.au
LUKE McCARTHY will not be frightened to vary his driving tactics to win Saturday's Group One $100,000 Sky Racing Queensland Derby at Albion Park.
Aware the Blue Riband is over the 'marathon' trip by Queensland standards of 2680 metres, the in-form McCarthy said he won't be frightened to attempt an all-the-way win in the testing feature.
"Fortune favours the brave and I've got the right colt and the right barrier (three)," 'Cool Hand' Luke said.
"We should clear those inside of us pretty easily, and I won't be too timid to shoot out of the gate.
"Then, it's up to me, and I'll have options, of course, but the best option is to hold the lead."
Although he is racing in his best form, with wins at his past six starts, including the New South Wales Derby at Tabcorp Park Menangle, For A Reason's worst effort was in his only run over a similar distance to this weekend's trip.
He finished a disappointing eighth in the Victoria Derby Final at Moonee Valley last February, over 2575 metres.
"He's on top of his game now, though," McCarthy said.
"He has never looked better, been in better shape, or raced with such heart."
At his last start, McCarthy took the son of Art Major off the gate before he 'monstered' his rivals with a personal final quarter of 26.8 seconds to beat Motu Crusader and Lanercost in the Gold Coast Derby.
Motu Crusader, a high-priced Victorian-owned son of Courage Under Fire, is prepared by Luke's father, Albion Park's premiership-leading trainer, John.
The gelding will attempt to emulate the deeds of his sire in winning the Derby, and will start alongside For A Reason from gate four.
Lanercost, Darrel Graham's son of Courage Under Fire, was expected to offer stern resistance, but is out of the classic with a hamstring injury.
It is not expected to prevent him from starting in the upcoming Australasian Breeders' Crown series.
Trainer Bill Dixon is dually-represented, with New South Wales Derby placegetter Karter Brown to begin from six and Matai Zinga, which has drawn barrier 10.
Rising star Bathurst-based trainer Peter Russo and partner, driver Ashlee Siejka, will depend on back-rower, Henrik Zetterberg.
Crowd favourite, one-eyed pacer Two Eye See, will start from the inside of the back-row for trainer-driver Mark Hewitt, coming out behind Leigh Wanless' Pub Blitz.
The other feature on the second night of the Winter Carnival is the Dave Knudsen Retravision Four and Five-Year-Old Championship.
The Group Three event, over 2138 metres, includes in-form Sydneysiders Rockets Reject and Rohan Home.
FORMER classy juvenile Runaway Red proved he is a serious contender for the Stallion Station Chariots Of Fire with his comeback victory at Harold Park last Friday night.
Runaway Red was first-up for almost a year.
The son of Red River Hanover showed he has lost none of his two and three-year-old gloss by leading throughout in 1:57.9 in the Personal Guarantee Pace over 1760 metres.
Driven by one of New South Wales' leading reinswomen, Amanda Turnbull, Runaway Red dictated terms from the pole.
After going through the first half in 59.3 seconds, the gelding posted the final two quarters in 29.5 and 30.3 seconds, despite feeling the "pinch".
The $2.30 favourite crossed the line with three metres to spare as Our Armbro Vale and Spooky Leigh fought it out for the minors.
Trainer Steve Turnbull was satisfied with Runaway Red's performance.
"I was very happy with his run considering he had 11 months away from the races," The Lagoon mentor declared.
"He had been trialling well against Slick Bromac, so I expected a good showing from him.
"The tank was empty when he crossed the line, but it was entitled to be.
"He seems to have gotten over the run well, and if all goes well, I'll hopefully aim him at the heats of the Chariots Of Fire."
Runaway Red is owned by R E D Harness Racing Pty Ltd and boasts earnings of $175,438 as a result of 10 wins and 11 placings from 26 starts.
After placing in major juvenile features such as the Bathurst Gold Crown, the Australian Pacing Gold and New South Wales Breeders' Challenge Finals, Runaway Red was spelled after an unsuccessful attempt at the Australasian Breeders' Crown at the end of his three-year-old season.
He was then gelded and also found to have chipped cartilage in his fetlock joint.
"Once we had him operated on it took me a while to bring him back because I wasn't happy with him," Turnbull recalled.
"Touch wood, the horse seems to be doing well now."
INDUSTRY and Club administrators will meet at Penrith today to determine the prizemoney structure for the financial year.
As reported in National Trotguide last week, the meeting is being labelled by some as a 'Crisis Meeting', with many participants imploring administrators not to decrease prizemoney.
The Club officials will be addressed by Harness Racing New South Wales Chairman, Graeme Campbell, Chief Executive, Sam Nati, and other members of the Board in what is expected to be a lengthy meeting.
It is understood that HRNSW has a number of alternatives which have been conveyed to the Clubs, however, the board will consider other proposals which are circulating in the industry.
Harness Racing Clubs Committee Secretary Danny Dwyer confirmed there was considerable discussion among the various Club delegates, who will attend the meeting.
"Hopefully the clubs will rally together and get a positive outcome to this meeting," Dwyer declared.
"The last thing we want to do is cut prizemoney, and hopefully with a few ideas from Club representatives, we can go around it and come up with a few ways of saving money.
"This might require cutting back Tier 3 prizemoney, which still gives participants a chance to race for good money with Tier 1 and 2 racing.
"I'm hopeful the outcome of this meeting won't be as bad as anticipated."
One delegate, Brian Ingram of the Young Harness Racing Club, has put considerable thought into the problem and believes he has any easy solution.
"I've spoken to all the Clubs this week and everyone seems to have a positive outlook on the situation," Ingram stated.
"This is a time where the industry needs to band together as one and work as a team, not individually as Clubs.
"We need to try our hardest at maintaining the prizemoney levels and this might require delving into all the Clubs' reserve funds."
Ingram is also the TAB Clubs representative on the powerful Harness Racing Industry Consultative Group.
Ross Gigg, General Manager of Newcastle, the club which conducts the most meetings in the state, stated he will not be surprised if prizemoney is cut.
"Considering the RFL (Race Fields Legislation) wasn't successful, it's no surprise that $500 will be cut from races across the board," Gigg said.
"If this is the only outcome, it shouldn't come as a shock to participants, as we will only be going back to the money we were racing for a week ago.
"There are a few other options which weren't brought up in the discussion paper HRNSW handed to clubs, such as borrowing money, and hopefully we can all work together to get something positive out if this meeting."
It is expected representatives from the recently formed Owners' Association and the UHRA will also be in attendance.
A RARITY happened at Albion Park last Saturday night - a last-placed odds-on favourite was clapped and cheered and given a standing ovation when he left the track.
Such is the adulation for Blacks A Fake, which finished more than 'a furlong' behind fast-class winner, Washakie.
Chairman of Stewards Martin Knibbs instructed the course vet to check the gelding, with cardiac arrhythmia the diagnosis.
In layman's terms, it is when there is abnormal electrical activity in the heart, when it is irregular, too fast, or too slow.
Trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen noticed something was amiss with her champion when he was at the back of the six-horse field, as the $1.60 public elect.
'Blackie,' who was first up from a spell, "wasn't himself" after 200 metres, Rasmussen reported, and said he "felt terrible" at the half.
Consequently, Rasmussen eased the superstar down to a walk as he finished a distressed last at his 83rd start.
Rasmussen stated she was "shocked" by the performance, but was relieved that the gelding's heart had returned to normal soon after the race.
"That's a plus," Rasmussen said.
"He ate and drank up well, and they're good signs for complete recovery."
The 'poster boy' of Australian harness racing, Blacks A Fake was being prepared for this month's Albion Park Winter Carnival features - the Garrards Sunshine Sprint and SEW-Eurodrive Winter Cup.
Blacks A Fake will be rested, with an electro cardiograph test to be taken this week.
"I've always said when he tells me he's had enough, that will be it," Rasmussen said.
"Blackie's health and well-being is paramount. We will never jeopardise that."
Long-range plans for Blacks A Fake include the Queensland Pacing Championship in October, the Victoria Cup in December and the Inter Dominion series in Christchurch early next year.
TALENTED young reinsman, Robert Morris, is harness racing's latest million dollar man.
The 18-year-old starred at Tabcorp Park Menangle's Breeders' Challenge meeting last Sunday, with his victories catapulting his earnings past $1.1million.
Morris drove half the winners of the eight-race program, which included two Group One triumphs.
Registering his first quartet, Morris has passed seven figures in prizemoney in less than two seasons.
His successful 'home track' assault kicked off in the final heat of the New South Wales Rising Stars Championship, in which he piloted former top juvenile, Greg Kelly.
The gelding clocked a career best 1:58.7 to remain unbeaten from four starts since returning from a two-year injury enforced lay-off.
As for Morris, he was the defending champion of the Rising Stars series, however, he finished sixth behind Ashlee Siejka.
This obviously did not deter the young horseman, as two races later, he captured his first Group One.
Piloting Excel Stride, Morris secured the Alabar New South Wales Breeders' Challenge Two-Year-Old Colts' and Geldings' Final.
Owned by Emilio and Maria Rosati, Excel Stride covered the 1609-metre sprint in a fast 1:55, which was only two-tenths of a second outside of Captain Joy's Australasian record.
"It hasn't hit me yet," a smiling Morris declared after winning the race.
Morris had no time to reflect on the feat as he had a driving duty in the following race - the Alabar New South Wales Breeders' Challenge Three-Year-Old Fillies' Final.
This time around Morris was paired with the David Wilkins-trained Bonnie Mahoney.
Rating her to perfection, Morris led throughout with the daughter of Art Major to claim his second Group One success in the space of half-an-hour.
Then to top it all off, Morris sealed the day with a confident drive behind Tipsy Tollgater.
Always in control, the pair took out the Number 1 Club Carnival Of Cups Pace over 1609 metres in effortless fashion.
"I was confident that my two main drives would perform well," Morris stated.
"I didn't expect to win two Group One races in a day.
"It's a great achievement and luckily I have a lot of help from my sponsors Cordina Chickens."
GREAT rivals Koala King and Pure Steel were locked in another battle - but this time the result destined to be fought out away from the racetrack.
The two Grand Circuit stars, which dominated the scene with four victories each from eight events, stood head and shoulders above the opposition as candidates for Australian Harness Horse of the Year honours.
For the record, Pure Steel captured the coveted title.
NIATROSS maintained his unbeaten record by winning the $300,000 Cane Pace at Yonkers Raceway.
He won his elimination in 1:57.6, beating Storm Damage and Stone Racer. Trenton Time won the other elimination in 1:57.8.
Niatross then won the Final by three-quarters of a length from Trenton Time and Stone Racer in 1:57.8.
Niatross took his streak to 19, with his prizemoney tipping past $840,000.
His last 17 starts have all been under two minutes.
TROTTING historian, John Moore, wrote a reflective article about the attempt to poison Lawn Derby leading into the New South Wales Derby.
Lawn Derby was given "Atropine Toping" which blinded him, but luckily for posterity the dose was not sufficient to cause permanent disability.
Lawn Derby was poisoned in Sydney while grazing and it was reported to be "touch and go".
The best veterinary attention available was rushed to Lawn Derby and the fight went on for two hours, nobody knowing what would result.
Fortunately the champion's great will and strength won through.
THE NSW Harness Racing Club announced a revamp of its flagship race, the $400,000 Miracle Mile.
Chief Executive, Peter V'Landys, revealed the club's Board discussed the Miracle Mile at length after each edition, and although the previous year's win by Smooth Satin was considered one of the most exiting, the club decided the conditions of the race needed to be more flexible.
The formula of an invitation-only event was not changed, however, directors opened the door to increase the field to a maximum of eight starters.
Open class pacer Zyuganov Leis was retired.
IT WILL be a State of Origin of a different kind at Harold Park tomorrow night.
Victorian visitor Charleys Dream will go head-to-head with one of New South Wales' in-form pacers, Rockets Reject, in the Super Strounis Pace over 2160 metres.
Charleys Dream comes into this event with six consecutive wins.
Prepared by astute mentor Dean Braun, Charleys Dream has only had seven starts since changing stables, with his only defeat coming as a narrow margin to Shardons Rocket.
Braun will utilise the driving talents of star local reinswoman, Ashlee Siejka, for the six-year-old, and the pair will begin from barrier nine.
"My bloke is racing very well," Braun stated.
"He has just clicked with the way we do things and is absolutely flying.
"I brought him up to Sydney to try and find some easier racing, but we have bumped into Rockets Reject.
"Rockets Reject is a very nice horse and won very impressively at Melton a few weeks ago and is the one to beat in Friday's race."
Rockets Reject caused a major upset when beating Captain Joy in last month's Four and Five-Year-Old Championship at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The son of Klingon Hanover clocked a career best 1:56.5 to take out the Group Two on June 4.
He has not raced since and will once again be steered by Jim Douglass.
"Rockets Reject has drawn off the front (six), and whether he goes forward or back, it will work to our advantage," Braun claimed.
The talented Slick Bromac faces a tough task first-up from a spell.
Before spending time in the paddock, Slick Bromac raced competitively against the likes of Grand Circuit pacer Karloo Mick.
Slick Bromac will have to overcome barrier seven to make a winning return.