By Adam Hamilton
YOU simply have to love the Avonnova story
And now there’s a chance it could roll-on to New Zealand Cup week.
Just a refresher, Avonnova is the ex-claimer Ian Gurney plucked from a nothing race at Goulburn almost two years ago and has turned into one of Australia’s best pacers. Since joining Gurney’s stable, the rising nine-year-old pacer has won almost $500,000.
On face value you’d say the Perth Inter Dom is a “no-brainer” for Avonnova, but Gurney suggested otherwise. He’s thinking very seriously of an NZ Cup raid instead.
“Given how my horse is and how he races best, I think the New Zealand Cup might be the better option for him. The long staying distance will suit him while the stand-start isn’t any concern, it’s a one off event and as a trainer, you can really map your schedule around it,” Gurney told harness.org.au
“The Inter Dominion series switching back to its original format may not entirely suit my horse. I know he goes best when he races on the fresh side so the hard racing in a short window of time may catch up with him pretty quickly.
“And with the New Zealand open class ranks thinning out considerably this year owing to several retirements, now might be the time to head across the ditch. Nathan (Purdon) is convinced I should consider it strongly so I’ll keep tossing it around.”
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the wonderful story that Avonnova is.
STILL on the Inter Dominion and the underrated My Hard Copy continues to stake his claim as a major contender for the series.
A surprise WA Cup winner back in January, the Gary Hall Sr-trained entire is now three-from-three this campaign.
Most notably, he looked awesome swooping from a mile back to easily win a cracking free-for-all at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
My Hard Copy loves the frantically run race and to stalk his rivals. He got it all on a platter last Friday.
Stablemate Soho Highroller led with WA’s best pacer David Hercules outside him as they ran through very slick sections.
It was clear David Hercules, sent out a $1.50 favourite, was in strife on the home bend and as bravely as he fought, the swoopers overpowered him. He finished a close fifth.
My Hard Copy was the widest running and, with a burst that rivalled his WA Cup win, he stormed to victory in a 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2130m.
More glamorous stablemate Machtu was slightly disappointing in third spot after having the one-one trail on David Hercules throughout.
It was part of another monster night for Hall Sr, who won half the card – five of the 10 races.
His other wins came with Run Oneover, recent Kiwi import Cyamach, Vapour and another exciting recent addition, former Victorian Thats Rite.
Cyamach, having his first run for Hall, had to dig deep after sustaining a long three-wide run and just clinging on to win.
That’s Rite, a Tatlow Stakes winner at Melton as a juvenile, is now a rising five-year-old and looked fantastic winning by 11m in a 1min56.5sec over 2130m.
TWO of WA’s juvenile stars strutted their stuff at Gloucester Park last Friday.
Bettors Delight filly Dodolicious made it five wins from just seven starts for owner/breeder/trainer Greg Bond in the 2YO Bracelet. She led throughout and won by 15m in a 1min58.7sec mile rate for 2130m.
Earlier in the night, Mach Three gelding Sprinter posted his fifth win from just eight starts.
ONE of the great disappointments of trotting in recent times was the premature retirement of emerging superstar Let Me Thru.
He raced just 30 times for 19 wins and over $450,000 before a unsuccessful breathing operation ended his racing days.
So it’s great to see his half-brother Lord Liam showing the sort of potential to go onto to exciting things.
Lord Liam continues the amazing record of his dam, Invasions Pride, who as well as Let Me Thru has also produced: Miss Bullion (nine wins, $75,075), Class Of Her Own (eight wins, $45,025) and Sammy Charles (four wins so far, $26750).
Lord Liam always looked a promising type, especially for sheer speed, with Chris Lang Sr, but has clearly matured.
Now in the care of Nicole Molander, the rising six-year-old posted his 12th win and edged past $100,000 with a dominant display at Melton last Friday night.
TASMANIA has such a rich harness heritage so it’s always great to see the state produce another nice horse.
Think back to the likes of Halwes, Halyer, Sinbad Bay, Almeta Boy, Jane Ellen and so many more.
More recently of course, Beautide has been a flagship for Tasmania, even though he moved to NSW long ago.
Tassie mare El Jays Magic came to Melton with big wraps and four home state wins on end last Friday and punters splurged on her to beat some of Victoria’s better mares in the appropriately-named Jane Ellen.
She delivered, leading throughout to win easily in a slick 1min56.3sec mile rate in cold, windy conditions over 2240m at Melton.
ONE of harness racing’s most influential families is in mourning.
The Craven and Lee clans lost their matriarch with the sudden passing of Alice Craven in Terang last Friday.
Alice was the grandmother of young driver stars like Matt and Glen Craven and Jason Lee.
Just recently Craven made the long trip to Melton to cheer home Jason Lee for his first Group 1 win aboard Jilliby Jitterbug in the Australian Gold final.
Alice’s death came just six months after her husband, Harold, passed-away
Harness Racing New Zealand