7 April 2016
CUPS KING
Wingara has produced a mirror copy of his form from 12 months ago winning three feature country cups before his victory at Menangle on Saturday. The four-year-old won his first five starts this time last year and has made it four on end now with success in the Albury, Wagga and Wangaratta Cups before last week.
Trainer Peter Romero also took Wingara to Menangle in January when he was successful while he has also won three times at Melton. The widely travelled pacer has won 12 of his 17 starts with former local reinsman Nathan Jack in charge.
ONE IN A MILLION
For a two-year-old filly who started at odds of 8-1 at her debut behind her more fancied stablemate, Frith has come a long way. The millionaire mare won at Young as a two-year-old with her stablemate The Baggy Green starting favourite.
Frith has set some incredible records on her way to reaching the million dollar mark with her win at Menangle on Miracle Mile day. The six-year-old won again at Menangle last Saturday for her Wagga owners Bernie and Dianne Kelly.
“I thought she may have needed a spell, but she is going as well as ever,” Kelly said.
“She is a mighty mare who has just kept going.”
Frith could be a contender for the Inter Dominion later this year, but at this stage will continue contesting suitable races at Menangle.
2YO RACING CHANGES
Leeton is looking at alternatives for its Breeders Plate carnival after the announcement there will be no two-year-old racing in New South Wales prior to January 1. At this stage, Leeton is still planning to race on Boxing night and also New Year’s night, but just when the Breeders Plate is held remains to be seen.
One option is to switch the series to February.
“We will be having discussions with Harness Racing New South Wales about some options. No dates have been ruled in or out at this stage,” Leeton president Gary Punch said.
FLYING START
Calm and collected, young Cameron Hart has quickly made his mark in the early stage of his driving career. Hart won many feature races in the mini trot ranks and last week at Albury scored on debut with Ideal Investment.
The teenager won another race at Canberra on Monday night taking his record to three drives for two wins and a second. Hart’s father Mark is the course curator at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club in Wagga where he also works, while his mother Michelle is from a strong harness racing family in Junee.
Her brother is Trevor White, who trains Ideal Investment, while her sisters and other family members are also involved in the industry.
Cameron will again drive Ideal Investment at Wagga on Friday.
STAND AND GO
The standing start series conducted at West Wyalong is here to stay with club officials delighted with the response to the inaugural race. Heats were conducted at Wagga, Dubbo and West Wyalong before the $12,000 final was taken out by Oh Jonny B Good on Sunday.
Oh Jonny B Good also won his heat at Dubbo and came off the back mark of 70 metres to claim the decider for Amanda Turnbull. She also collected a race gig and $1000 cash.
“We want a signature race that recognises West Wyalong and judging by the response it will be held again next year,” West Wyalong Harness Club president Ray Moore said.
“We are very grateful to the other clubs involved and our sponsor James Clyburn who put up a lot of his own money to get this race off the ground.”
HARRY IN FRONT
The Paul Kahlefeldt trained Redbank Harry has a handy lead in the Wagga pacer of the year award. Redbank Harry leads by four on 15 points from Royal Shootout, which is no longer racing in the region, with Everyone Knows, Our Priddy Maid and Tactful Lady all in contention on ten points.
The big mover in recent meetings has been Frank’s A Legend who has won three races at Wagga including the Riverina maiden final on March 4. He sits on nine points and is the most likely of the front runners to continue working through his grades with wins or placings.
Premier trainer Shaun Snudden has a comfortable six point lead over Paul Kahlefeldt with Shane Hillier closing in for the Wagga trainers’ title. The drivers’ premiership again has Corey Bell leading the way with 71 points well ahead of Reece Maguire (43) and Trevor White (35).
It’s a busy period of racing at Wagga with three meetings in both April and May plus four in June. Wagga will return to Friday afternoon racing this week with eight races. The club will also race on April 15 and 29.
Meanwhile, an additional $1500 in prize money has been added to the Princess Series race for three-year-old fillies at Wagga on April 29 taking the total to $7650.