06 July 2022 | Ashleigh Paikos
Battling niggling issues in recent weeks, Tevarich caused an upset in the Trayning Cup at the Central Wheatbelt Harness Racing Club on Sunday, taking out the $7,250 feature for Maryann White and Kyle Harper in a thrilling finish.
Flashing home for a narrow victory in race six, the $14 shot flashed home to win by a short half head, bringing up the six-year-olds 11th career victory in 82 starts. The 2022 Training Cup was lead up by the $1.32 favourite Be Rock Hard NZ, but Tevarich was able to come around three wide late to claim the win over the 2130m in 2:00:1, after settling three back on the pegs throughout.
“Last couple of starts he has had a few issues, so I was worried if we had sorted them out, but we’re back on track,”
“Three weeks ago, I would not have been surprised with the win, but today I was just hopeful,”
“Being Richard and Laura’s horse, it has sentimental emotions.” White said.
Owned by Richard Polak and his sister Laura Polak (Van Der Meulen), the win means that much more for White, with the 52-year-old a carer of her partner Richard since a training accident in 2007 left him permanently impaired with a brain injury.
Other winners on the day included Heaven Knows I Try claiming the first on the card for trainer Paula Petricevich. Giving Kyle Harper his first win in the cart on the day, the two-year-old won first up on debut, eventually facing the breeze to win by 1.4m in 2:05:7 over the 2130m.
Gota Good Warhol also broke his maiden status, with the three-year-old leading all the way in race two for Hayden Reeves and Shannon Suvaljko. With his form indicating a win was near, the $1.90 favourite made Suvaljko work for it, winning by a head over the 1730m sprint trip in 2:02:6.
American Dutchess made it a race-to-race double for Shannon Suvalko, with the $1.20 favourite leading all the way in race three for trainer Sam Torre. In a winning mile rate of 1:59:8 over the 1730m, the four-year-old broke a 30-start losing sequence and over 13 months since her last win.
Armarockstar spent some time away from winner’s circle, with the five-year-old getting up in the fourth for Kyle Anderson and Kyle Harper, his first win since March 2021. After leading all the way, the $2.30 favourite went on to win by 2.2m in 1:59:7. The win gave Harper his third and final win in the cart on the day.
It appeared to be a day for favourites, with the Greg and Skye Bond trained Doctor Steve NZ taking out the fifth for driver Deni Roberts. The four-year-old led all the way over the 2130m journey, claiming the win by 4.5m in 2:02:8.
Trainer/driver Chris Playle had a great day on Sunday, with three runers engaged for a first, second and third on the program. His win came up in race seven with Celebrity Chef proving too good, coming from behind the leader to win comfortably by 7.7m in 2:00:0 over the 1730m.
Tenacious George took out the last on the card for Graeme Collins and Kyle Symington, with a comfortable win over the 1730m in 1:59:7. With his previous win almost a year earlier to the day, Tenacious George made his way to the stables of Collins in more recent times, bringing up the win at just his seventh start for his new trainer.
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