NZ HARNESS NEWS
AGEING superstar Lennytheshark is being set for an emotional tilt at smashing through the $3 million stakemoney barrier.
Part-owner Martin Riseley confirmed the Inter Dominion, Victoria Cup and Miracle Mile winner would next race in his “home town” Cup – the $50,000 Group 2 Shepparton Cup on April 28.
“He’s on $2,995,085 in earnings and we couldn’t think of a better place to break the $3 million than in his and our home town,” he said.
“We’re putting on a marquee called the ‘Shark Tent’ as a fundraiser for the local footy club, Shepparton United and we’re hoping the local community will get right around it.”
Lennytheshark’s last run was a fifth placing in that record-breaking Miracle Mile at Menangle on February 24.
Despite being deep into the twilight of his career and not the force he was, the entire has still earned $336,600 this season with 12 starts returning five wins and three placings.
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FORMER star Kiwi filly Partyon landed a huge betting plunge winning the Group 3 Jodie’s Babe at her first run for new trainer Dean Braun at Melton last Saturday night.
Driver Greg Sugars made the most of gate two to lead and kept rolling for a 4.2m win in a slick 1min53.7sec mile rate for 1720m, capped by closing splits of 55.8 and 27.3sec.
Kiwi trainer Mark Jones had two runners in the race with Delightful Memphis finishing fourth and Rocker Band ran last.
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A BRILLIANT and confident Chris Alford front-running drive helped emerging star Shadow Sax turn the tables on Soho Tribeca last Saturday night.
In contrast to the epic Kilmore Cup a week earlier when Soho Tribeca outstayed a gallant Shadow Sax, this time Alford dictated on his terms.
He reeled-off splits of 29.1, 28.6, 28.0 and 29.0sec and didn’t allow Greg Sugars the chance to apply pressure with Soho Tribeca.
Shadow Sax roared away to win by 7.6m in a scorching 1min53.1sec mile rate for 2240m.
Soho Tribeca did all the work, but still raced flat, finishing 9.4m away in fourth spot.
The other Melton feature went to Andy and Kate Gath with their recent Kiwi import Tornado Valley.
The six-year-old made it two wins on end when he led throughout from the pole to easily win the Group 3 Scotch Notch Memorial in a 1min57.2sec mile rate for 2240m.
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SIDELINED star Lumineer is back in work and on target for a Sydney raid for the NSW Breeders Challenge.
Lumineer won his first eight starts before spending too much early petrol and tiring late for sixth in the Victoria Derby final on January 27.
“Afterwards we found he had bad muscle tears so his back end, which is why he hung up the track so badly,” trainer Ange McDowall said.
“It’s amazing he ran so well considering the issues we found he had and the formline from the race is so strong.”
Poster Boy ran second in the Victoria Derby and went on to win the NSW Derby, while his stablemates Tam Major and Major Times filled the NSW Derby placings after finishing ninth and seven respectively in the Victoria Derby.
“He seems well now. He’s actually grown a bit again, which is good. He’s on target for the NSW Breeders Challenge at this stage,” McDowall said.
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TIM Butt’s improving filly Glenledi Babe looks as hard to beat as any in the Bathurst Gold Tiara final.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere looked good winning her heat in a slick 1min56.8sec mile rate for 1730m last Friday night.
The biggest shock of night one of when buzz filly and nominal Gold Tiara favourite Desirable Stride was upset in her heat.
Trainer-driver Mick Stanley had compared her with former juvenile star Petacular and expected to breeze through the heat and win the final.
Desirable Stride seemed to get a bit keen on Stanley down the back straight the last time in a 27.7sec split, but turned for home with a huge lead before wilting late to beat beaten by a nose by Writeaboutjess.
They went a 1min56.7sec mile rate, the fastest of the night.
Major Kiss impressed with an easy 12.3m win in heat one in a 1min58.5sec mile rate, while the other heat winners were: Ally Rogan (1min57.9sec) and No Win No Feed (1min58.9sec).
The standout from the Crown 2yo colts and geldings heats was the immensely talented College Chapel, a son of Mach Three.
Trained and driven by Bernie Hewitt, he scorched to a comfortable win in a 1min54.6sec over 1730m with Nathan Jack’s Animal running a gallant second.
Jack won an earlier heat when Abouttime upstaged First String in a stirring battle in heat four, but they went a much slower 1min57.8sec mile rate.
The other heats went to Uncle Jord (1min57.7sec), Tactical Response (1min57.1sec) and Soho Thunderstruck (1min55.9sec).
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THE big Bathurst Carnival might be in full swing, but the best two-year-old we’ve seen in Aussie so far this season raced at Ballarat last Friday night.
American Ideal colt Centenario made it two wins from as many starts for the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin with Chris Alford aboard.
In contrast to a cakewalk on debut, this time the heavily-spruiked debutante Fides led, kept Centenario on his outside and made him earn.
Centenario powered clear late in a flying 1min54.7sec mile rate for 1710m and closing splits of 56.6 and 27.5sec.
The Australian Gold is his first major aim.
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BECHERS Brook is certainly a good WA Derby second-stringer for trainer Mike Reed.
Stablemate Golden State looks the main threat to Gary Hall Sr’s buzz Kiwi import King Of Swing now he’s back on target for Friday night’s $200,000 feature.
Bechers Brook had little go right from an awful draw when ninth in a WA Derby prelude to Golden State, but looked a strong stayer winning the $50,000 Western Gateway in a 1min56.4sec mile rate for the long 2536m trip last Friday night.
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WHAT a difference a week makes.
This time last week trainer Gary Hall Sr was almost resigned to missing Friday night’s $200,000 Group 1 WA Derby with his latest buzz Kiwi import King Of Swing.
Now it’s full-steam ahead after a sparkling Pinjarra trial today (Sunday).
“He worked really on Wednesday which gave me enough confidence to trial him,” Hall Sr said. “And he couldn’t have trialled any better.
“He went a 1min55.6sec mile rate and it was blowing a gale. He thrashed Angel Of Harlem after she really poured the pressure on him down the back straight.
“And he came through hardly blowing at all.”
King Of Swing won the trial by 16m and ran the splits of his last mile in 31.0, 28.9, 27.4 and 29.1sec.
“Gaz (driver Gary Hall Jr) said he felt fantastic when he asked him to sprint,” Hall Sr said.
King Of Swing looks sure to start favourite, but just how short will hinge on Tuesday’s barrier draw
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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