31 July 2018 | TERRY NEIL
A BITING westerly wind might have played its part in driving tactics but it didn’t diminish the bumper crowd in attendance following the highly successful Alabar Breeders Challenge Regional Finals at Bathurst on Sunday.
And the outstanding race card, featuring six $30,000 Group 3 Finals provided a perfect opportunity for the official re-naming of the complex -complete with an impressive new winning post – as “Gold Crown Paceway, Bathurst”.
New South Wales Racing Minister Paul Toole was joined for that announcement by Harness Racing NSW Board members Rod Smith, P. Nugent and Ken Brown, Alan Galloway and Paul Robinson from series sponsor Alabar Bloodstock, HRNSW Chief Executive John Dumesny and Bathurst Club President Wayne Barker.
No-one was sporting a wider smile at day’s end than HRNSW chairman Rod Smith.
In large part from the outstanding success of the meetin, but made even more personally satisfying when Lexus With A View, which he co-owns with John Starr, took out the Auckland Reactor 3YO Colts and Geldings Final.
Driver Sean Grayling and the Paul Fitzpatrick – trained gelding, followed Premier Joy across from a wide draw on the front line to initially occupy the ‘death seat’ outside that horse, and his tactics played out perfectly when Brads Luck, and subsequently Squire, moved around to that position.
He was content to remain in the trail for as long as possible, especially when the third quarter was dispatched in 27.5s – into that energy-sapping wind – before launching a strong run down the centre of the track to reel in Premier Joy and Squire close to the line.
As with each of the finals, the race itself was extremely competitive and the winner boasted excellent bloodlines – by Somebeachsomewhere out of a NSW Broodmare of the Year in Panoramic Lady, whose eight winners, six in 1:55, include Derby winner Make Me Smile, Sires Stakes champion Cant Bluff Me and outstanding racemare Lady Lexus.
Racing Minister Toole, in making the presentation, spoke of the absolute dedication shown by the Chairman who “turns up unannounced at race meetings big and small right around the state. His commitment to the harness racing industry is just outstanding.”
Alabar principal Alan Galloway, on his first visit to the new Bathurst complex, was very impressed to learn about Smith’s Lexus-named horses, having driven against the likes of Craig Lowndes in motor-racing some years ago. Unsurprisingly, he did a lap of “The Mountain” and paid a visit to the Motor Racing Museum on this present visit.
Finals winners were:
Art Major 2YO Fillies – Taylors Mill ( Bernie Hewitt ), a very tough win, sitting in the death seat for most of the race, and a deserved one as well, placing fifth in the Group 1 final and fourth in the Blues final in her two previous starts.
Betterthancheddar 2YO Colts and Geldings – Major Roll ( Stephen Maguire ), a lovely drive from the Mirrool ( near Narrandera ) reinsman, working into the race courtesy of a three-wide trail, to score his fifth win from eight lifetime starts.
Shadow Play 3YO Fillies – Art Series (Amanda Turnbull for Steve ), another driver to obtain a three-wide trail in a race where the speed was on throughout, with the daughter of champion mare Sheezallattitude backing up to take the 2YO/3YO double for this series.
Lincoln Royal 4YO Mares – Million Dollar Gem ( John O’Shea for Wagga trainer Brett Woodhouse ), a patient drive on the mare which took out the Honouree Stakes Final at this track back in March, and which brought up a double for Million Dollar Cam after the earlier win of Taylors Mill.
Sunshine Beach 4YO Entires and Geldings – Geldof (Blake Jones for Ellen Bartley ), improved from an excellent third in the semi-final to lead throughout, in a 1:53 clip, easily the day’s quickest and outstanding in the conditions, for a most deserving Canberra owner-breeder Don Spedding.
Congratulations to all the connections and breeders of the Regional champs, and to HRNSW and the Bathurst club whose staging of the event – down to gorgeous winners’ garlands and owners’wine packs with labels showing the horse’s victory – was first rate.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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