High quality racing

10 May 2021

THE TAB Championships have continued to produce high quality racing with all four regions having completed the first round of heats.

Talented Narrandera trainer Ellen Bartley won two the qualifiers at Wagga on Friday night while her partner Blake Jones drove a quartet of winners on the nine-race program.

Seven-year-old gelding Nomorelying led throughout to win the second heat on Friday night, scoring by a half head in 1.58.9.

In heat five, it was a much more comfortable win for Bartley’s stable star Forever Yin, who also led but raced clear for a nine metre victory in a similar time of 1.58.6.

Their other winner was Just Ralph, which busted the clock after setting a fast pace and posting a 1.53.8 mile rating.

Jones completed his bag of winners when he combined with Matthew Painting to get Rusty El home first in the ITP Pace.

Wagga-trained gelding Swaggie Shannon spoiled the show for the Bartley stable when he held off a fast-finishing Rocky Branach in the opening heat, rating a fast 1.56.8.

But that mile rate was bettered (1.56.4) by Never Been Said in heat three.

The Michael Hawke trained, and Melissa Hawke driven mare started at the huge odds of 30-1 and got the judge’s nod by a head.

The remaining heat at Wagga was won by Father Bob for trainer Mark Fletcher and driver Will Rixon.

Newcastle hosted four of the Hunter TAB Championships heats, which were shared across the district.

All four winners are certain to acquit themselves well in the $100,000 final on May 21.

Clayton Harmey and Jack Callaghan combined to win last year’s Group 1 feature with Kanye Crusader, and they have again booked a ticket into the big dance after Major Bob scored a narrow win in heat three.

Its All About Alice for Peter Neilson and Brad Elder took out the first heat, the Geoff Harding trained, and Chris Geary driven Jasper Styles won heat two while father and son, Paul and Dan Morgan combined to win with Never Know Charlie in heat four.

Dan Morgan will be at home at Maitland this afternoon where he has three drives on a well-balanced eight-race program.

Race six sees a strong clash with four pacers vying for favouritism including Halloween, Give Me A Minute, Stealth Bomba and Eagle Uno.