One of Australasia’s best pacers has committed to racing in Brisbane at this month’s Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, with star New Zealander Christen Me targeting the UBET Picket Fence bonus.
In a major coup for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, trainer Cran Dalgety has confirmed a trip to Brisbane for the seven-year-old gelding, which will be targeting the $50,000 UBET Picket Fence bonus for Open Class pacers that culminates in the Group 1 $200,000 Blacks A Fake on July 16.
In order to collect the bonus, Christen Me must win two eligible lead-up races during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival between June 18 and July 16, as well as the feature Blacks A Fake.
Dalgety said the UBET Picket Fence bonus, a joint initiative developed by Racing Queensland and UBET, had swayed connections from their initial plans to target feature races in both Sydney and Brisbane over the Winter.
“A feather in Racing Queensland’s cap is the UBET Picket Fence bonus, it definitely has drawn us to that incentive,‟ said Dalgety.
“It has definitely swayed us from our original plan.”
Christen Me is no stranger to Australian success, having won feature races such as the Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup and Chariots Of Fire.
However, his trip to Brisbane will mark the well-travelled campaigner’s first ever trip to Queensland as he looks to add to his $2 million in prizemoney.
“I’ve told him it’s nice and hot so he’ll enjoy that,‟ joked Dalgety.
“The bonus with this horse is that he’s had plenty of trips away and been out of his comfort zone so much, that the travel won‟t be an issue.
“This guy has travelled more than me, so I don’t see that as an issue.”
Dalgety is in the process of finalising travel plans to Queensland for the next fortnight, which will determine his target races over the course of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
A likely option is the Group 2 Sunshine Sprint worth $50,000 on July 9, with Dalgety also to determine a suitable lead-up race prior to that.
Respected racecaller Chris Barsby has been engaged by Racing Queensland as talent scout for the concept and he is currently in NZ trying to lure other Kiwi pacers for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
Other prominent pacers that have also committed to targeting the UBET Picket Fence bonus include the David Aiken trained Hectorjayjay and Bling It On for Belinda and Luke McCarthy.
Racing Queensland Acting CEO Sam Adams said the recruitment of some of harness racing’s best pacers was an exciting first step for the Picket Fence concept.
“This is looking like it’ll be one of the strongest Queensland Winter Racing Carnivals on record,” said Adams.
“The Picket Fence bonus has already attracted interstate and overseas interest and that ensures that these great horses are going to stay in Queensland for longer periods over the course of the Winter Carnival as they chase that elusive picket fence.”
Racing Queensland Harness Operations Manager Brett Rail said interest in the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival had spiked with the announcement of the Picket Fence Bonus concept and the increase in prizemoney of the Blacks A Fake.
“We’ve been fielding phone calls from a number of trainers, looking to plan their pathways for the Picket Fence Bonus,” said Rail.
“The fact that Blacks a Fake is worth $200,000 this year has also generated great interest in the race.”
The likely list of visiting horses from interstate or overseas that have already indicated they will target the Picket Fence bonus will include:
| Horse Name | Trainer | Age/ Class |
| ALL EYES ON US | BELINDA AND LUKE MCCARTHY | OPEN CLASS |
| BLING IT ON | BELINDA AND LUKE MCCARTHY | OPEN CLASS |
| CONDAGEN | DENNIS PICKER | OPEN CLASS |
| HECTORJAYJAY | DAVID AIKEN | OPEN CLASS |
| TACT TATE | AMANDA TURNBULL & NATHAN JACK | 4YO/OPEN CLASS |
| OHOKA PUNTER | NATHAN PURDON | OPEN |
| CHARLAVAL | KERRY-ANN TURNER | 3YO |
| CHRISTEN ME | CRAN DALGETY | OPEN |
| SPARE ME DAYS | BRAD HEWITT | OPEN |
| MY MASTERCREAFTSMAN | ADAM SANDERSON | 3YO |
ABOUT UBET PICKET FENCE
The UBET Picket Fence offers trainers and owners the chance to win a whopping $111,000 in bonuses for any horse that can win three races in a row during the eligible Queensland Winter Racing Carnival races between June 18 and July 16.
To be eligible, a horse’s first two Picket Fence victories must be obtained while racing in Queensland, leading up to the UBET Picket Fence finale night.
The final picket must be obtained by winning one of the four UBET Picket Fence finales on Blacks A Fake race night at Albion Park on Saturday, July 16
UBET Picket Fence races will be held for 2YO, 3YO and Open Class pacers at Albion Park Harness Racing Club and Redcliffe Paceway, with the following bonuses offered:
$50,000 for the Blacks A Fake Picket Fence winner
$20,000 for the Queensland Derby Picket Fence winner
$20,500 for the QBRED Triad 2yo C&G Final Picket Fence winner
$20,500 for the QBRED Triad 2yo Fillies Final Picket Fence winner
HOW DOES THE UBET PICKET FENCE WORK?
UBET PICKET FENCE races will be held at Albion Park and Redcliffe Harness Racing clubs from 18 June – 16 July 2016 for 2YO, 3YO and Open Class pacers. To be eligible, your first two victories must be obtained while racing in Queensland, in any lead up race to the UBET Picket Fence finale night.
The third and final picket, can only be obtaining by winning one of the four UBET PICKET FENCE finales on Blacks A Fake race night at Albion Park 16 July.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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