09 July 2021 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
HE has been a dominant force in the Hunter region over the past few seasons and that dominance is certainly evident tonight at Newcastle tonight where Nulkaba trainer Clayton Harmey has a huge contingent of pacers competing at the International Paceway.
Harmey has 13 runners sprinkled through the strong 10-race program and many of them are well-fancied in betting markets.
“I have 35 horses in work at the moment, which keeps us all quite busy,” said Harmey.
“Young Grace Panella recently joined our stable and is a hard little worker.
“That work is paying off for her as she is now getting a lot of drives with the benefit of her concession claim.”
Panella has six drives at Newcastle, five of which are for her new boss and all appear to be winning chances.
“When you take big numbers to a race meeting it is more likely that you will come away with at least one winner and I thought tonight for me, that could very well be Giddy Heights, a New Zealand-bred pacer that won for us first-up from a spell on June 25.
“This mare has performed well for us since coming up from Sydney last year and I do have a big opinion of her.
“She has always been a flat-out speed horse that prefers the mile distance but tonight she will start from the back row over the 2030m distance.
“Still, she does get a lovely drop in class with her mare concession and another from Jake Hughes’ driver concession.
“I guess there has to be some concern over her draw and the 2030 metres but she did win for me over this trip last November so I think she should get the distance and her class should get her home.”
Harmey is also keen on the prospects of his two three-year-olds in the opening event on the program.
Soho Brandenburg and Miss Verstappen ran the quinella in a similar race last Friday night in fast time.
“Both these horses were impressive last week and despite their ordinary draws tonight, both will be hard to beat again,” said Harmey.
Harmey concluded by suggesting that Skyfall Andy, a colt that is engaged in race nine is worth watching out for.
“He is no superstar but his work at home and at the trials suggests to me that he will be winning soon.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
