By Adam Hamilton
SOME of the biggest names in Australian harness step-out at the Melton trials on Tuesday.
Leading the way is sidelined superstar Hectorjayjay, who hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park almost 11 months ago.
Hectorjayjay looked sharp winning a Geelong trial last Monday and could head back to the races if he impresses new trainer-driver Gavin Lang on Tuesday.
Some of the other big names set to trial on Tuesday include WA Cup winner Soho Tribeca, NSW Derby winner Poster Boy, Australian Gold 2YO winner Centenario and former Grad Circuit star Philadelphia Man.
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THE already lucrative Queensland Winter Carnival just became even more attractive for Kiwi raiders.
There are four Group 1 races across 10 weeks and more than $1.1 million up for grabs.
Now you can throw in another $120,000 in bonuses across the biggest races thanks for Ubet (the Queensland TAB).
The Ubet bonuses are:
- $50,000 Ubet Grand Slam bonus – for any horse who can win the Sunshine Sprint (July 14) and Blacks A Fake (July 21) double
- $15,000 Ubet Slam bonus – to the connections of any horse who can place in both the Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint … or win one and place in the other.
- $20,000 Ubet Trainers’ Slam Bonus – available to any trainer who wins two or more of the following feature races: Queensland Derby, Blacks A Fake, Queensland Oaks, Queensland Trotters’ Cup
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KIWI filly Sociable looks set to be a key player in that Queensland Carnival after her easy all-the-way Redcliffe Oaks win last Friday night.
John Caldow took the reins for trainer Andrew Stuart and buzzed Sociable out of gate four to find the front, dictate the terms and win easily by 5.1m from local glamour pair Fame Assured and Aqua Miss in a 1min59.5sec mile rate for 2040m.
Aqua Miss was the run of the race after coming from the back to sit parked around the tight Redcliffe track.
Driver Gary Whittaker and trainer Bill Crosby teamed-up with six-year-old Constantly Sideways to win the $30,540 Group 3 Redcliffe Cup from former Kiwi pacer Alleluia.
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THERE was some nice symmetry to the fact WA juvenile Bletchley Park brilliant won two races in the space of three days last week.
Bletchley Park is a brother to Bling It On – by Americal Ideal out of Alldatglittersisgold – and the Gloucester Park wins last Tuesday and Friday nights came in the week Bling It On was retired after racing at Menangle last night.
Trainer Mike Reed declared Bletchley Park “a bit special” before he raced and his four starts for three wins and a second suggest he’s on the money.
Last Friday night the colt sparkled with a 1min53.6sec mile rate for 1730m to win by 12.2m and dash home in splits of 56.7 and 28.5sec.
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EMMA Stewart’s feature race dominance continued at Melton last Friday night when she snared the quinella in the Group 3 Alabar Silver Chalice.
With nominal favourite Carlas Pixel scratched, buzz mare Tell Me Tales started and hot favourite and was simply too good for her improving stablemate Flying Moth in a 1min55.3sec mile rate for 2240m.
Chris Alford drove Tell Me Tales, one of his staggering five wins on the card. He also teamed with trainer Chris Svanosio and Anywhere Hugo to win the Group 2 Holmfield 3YO Trot.
Former Kiwi pair Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt combined to win the free-for-all with the emerging Moonrock, who led throughout in a 1min54.6sec mile rate for 2240m.
Australia’s best mare Ameretto could only manage fourth after trying to outsprint them from last in a leader dominated affair.
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GAVIN Lang’s re-emergence as a training force continued when improving trotter Save Our Pennys upstaged a good field to win the Group 3 Bendigo Trotters’ Cup last night.
Lang opted to trail the leader Any Old Way while favourite Tough Monarch sat parked and Save Our Pennys zipped home too quickly to win well.
Lang is up to 15 horses in training, headed by comeback superstar Hectorjayjay.
The other buzz winner at Bendigo was the untapped three-year-old Bonus Play, who is trained by Bruce Morgan and John Caldow took the reins.
Bonus Play galloped on debut and lost all chance, but could not have been more impressive winning all three runs since and looks feature race material.
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FORMER Kiwi pacer Celestial Arden snared his biggest win so far when he thrashed a good open-class field in the Group 3 JD Watts Memorial at Menangle last night.
And, just for good measure, he blazed a scorching 1min53.9sec mile rate for 2300m to win by 12m over rejuvenated veteran Ultimate Art with the in-form Match In Heaven third.
The biggest talking point of the race was the below par run of former Hunter Cup winner Bling It On, who ran ninth and was subsequently retired from racing to resume his stud duties.
Also at Menangle, owner-breeders Emilio and Mary Rosati landed another feature win when their two-year-old trotting filly Emerald Stride gapped her rivals in the Group 3 Foundation final.
She won by 38m and trotted the 2300m in a 2min2.5sec mile rate.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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