By Mac Henry
Where less than a year ago, rows of macrocarpa trees provided a barrier of protection between gales from the west and the Central Southland Raceway in Winton, on Sunday there was just empty space.
But wind wasn’t the only factor in play. A relatively tough winter and static or declining stakes has meant less locals are racing in October than normal.
Fields were small. In recent years, Mile Day has had to compete for profile with the Methven Cup meeting and lost.
There was a lack of higher class horses. Sadly, Wairio ‘Mile Day’ 2015 was just a shadow of its previous self.
As recently a 2011, 49 starters went under 1:58, 19 of them under 1;56, eight of the winners went under 1:59, four under 1:56, Hannah clocked 1:54.4 and Ohoka Texas 1.54.1. On Sunday, 16 of the 74 starters cracked 1:58, only three of the winners were among them.
Honours were well spread, eight races, eight winning sires, four males four females, four four year olds and one each at three five six and seven.
Clark Barron was the only trainer or driver to score twice and one of his charges Rakarazor clocked 1:58.3 in the first of the day. The time was never bettered.
A filly by Rocknroll Hanover, Rakarazor was bred and raced by Brendan Fahy who also bred and raced her dam Rakarach.
She was trained by Alex Milne and at her second start in May 1999 when outsider in a 12-filly Sires Stakes two-year-old heat at Forbury Park, finished fourth.
Milne had been eying the consolation with her but was required to run in the Addington final. Outsider in the 13-filly field, Rakarach again finished fourth and won $3500, a stake she only bettered once during the rest of her career.
Barron said Rakarazor had improved markedly from two to three, pointing out she had no speed at two and even when she qualified, had finished last of the eight runners.
Smiling Armarda in 1:59.2 was the second fastest winner. The five year old is trained by Hamish Hunter whose employee, junior driver Tyler Dewe, took the reins. It was Dewe’s first win on raceday.
Third fastest winner in 1:59.3 was C4 pacer Titan Banner, the most tightly assessed runner on Mile Day. His next mission is the Tuapeka Cup at Forbury Park on October 25.
Barron returned to bookend the programme by winning the last on Tight Lipped in 2:00.7, fourth fastest time of the day.
The southern-bred Macardo, who changed hands earlier this year and was raced in the North Island by Art Shirley, was having his fourth start back home when winning in 2:01.2.
Tactical VC, raced by Diane Dynes and trainer Trevor Proctor took 2:01.3 for her win. The four year old is a grand-daughter of Tact Boyden, winner of seven of her 19 starts.
“She follows speed well and showed a bit of pop at the finish,” Proctor said of the mare who was starting for just the second time.
Jen Jaccka, bred and raced by Charlie and Ailsa Smaill and a member of the great family of Janine Jaccka, was fastest of the two trotting winners.
Trained by Brett Gray and driven by Nathan Williamson, the four year old mare by CR Commando was fresh-up since March when recording her second win. Moa Bones recorded 2:05.1 when registering her third win in the day’s other trot.
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