SA Harness Highlights - October 22, 2007

Longshots Dominate GDP Program

Longshots were the theme last Friday night at Globe Derby Park, with three of the first four winners on the program saluting the judge with a UniTAB quote of better than $60.

Arco Baleno ($63.90 on UniTAB) got the ball rolling in the opening race, winning just his fourth race from 168 starts and his first success since a Gawler win in March. Michael Smith was in the cart for Strathalbyn trainer Betty Gilgen, and drove patiently from behind the leader before getting an inside run in the straight and holding off a fast finishing Indicative to win.

Punters where blown further out of the water in the very next race when Locky Lamp ($60.80) got a similar run to the previous winner for his trainer-driver Geoff Gee of Port Wakefield. Also registering lifetime win number four from 44 starts and his first in more than 12 months, Locky Lamp got the nod from Smoke On The Water, Young Angus and Return Fire in a tight four-way finish.

Duke Of Cornwall ($1.80 favourite) restored some normality to proceedings with a tough win in the third event, but veteran pacer Havaview ($70.80) continued the longshots theme in the next event, registering win number eight at his 236^th start.

Havaview, now trained Rodney Wise at Penfield Gardens, started racing as a three-year-old in 1999 and despite only the eight wins has still been a money spinner with an amazing 50 minor placings to his name.

Angela Chapman partnered Havaview on Friday night, landing the favoured position behind the leader before hooking out at the home turn and overhauling the leader, Exotic Spirit, to record a narrow win.

The eleven-year-old gelding has only entered the claiming ranks in his past 10 starts but proved on Friday night he has the ability to score a few wins in that company with the right run.

 

Industry Awards Function Next Sunday

The 2007 SA Harness Racing Industry Awards Function is on next Sunday, October 28.

Harness Racing SA, the SA Harness Racing Club, SA BOTRA, the SA Reinswomens Association and the SA Square Trotters Association join forces to recognise outstanding achievements from season 2007-2008.

Jim Jacques will compere the day with each association’s awards segments mixed with a Stallion Auction, door raffles and table prizes.

Tickets for the day, which includes a smorgasbord lunch starting at 12 noon in Globe Derby Park’s Paceway Restaurant, can be purchased from the secretary’s office at Globe Derby Park for just $25.

 

Fuzzy Wins By Panels

Fuzzy Logic - a big, bold, front-running trotter - used his early speed and a drop back in class to set-up an impressive 37-metre victory at Globe Derby Park last Friday night.

After recording three thirds from his five most recent starts, Fuzzy Logic was primed for a return to the winners list for his Penfield Gardens owner and trainer Geoff Neilson.

With his ability to be at top speed shortly after the start being a major advantage over his rivals, driver David Thuen had Fuzzy Logic away from his 20-metre handicap and in front by the first turn. After just one circuit, Fuzzy Logic and Thuen had opened up a 15-metre break before careering away for the 37-metre win.

Fuzzy Logic first came to SA with Zimbabwean horseman Michael Marias in January 2005 and joined Neilson’s stable later that year. The eight-year-old has now recorded five wins from his 54. 

 

Wroxton Witha Dash Breaks Maiden

Following three heart-breaking defeats, Wroxton Witha Dash finally broke his maiden status with a victory at Globe Derby Park last Friday night.

The lightly-raced four-year-old has had just 10 starts before last weekends success, with his first seven starts last season as part of the Andrew Smith stable.

Now being prepared by Greg Rogers, Wroxton Witha Dash started this season with three consecutive second placings, working three-wide over the final lap on each occasion before failing to find the line.

Rogers used a different tactic last Friday night by moving around the field in the middle stages to sit outside the leader over the final circuit. It proved a successful move with Rogers able to shake his charge up at the top of the home straight where he answered the challenge and hit the line well.

Wroxton Witha Dash was bred by Alison Stevens of Penfield Gardens and is still raced by her in partnership with Andrew Smith and Barry Godfrey.

 

Another Close Defeat for Ndizani

The Garry Connor-owned Ndizani once again finished a close second in a major lead-up race before next Sunday afternoon’s $70,000 Group 2 Kilmore Pacing Cup.

The seven-year-old faced the starter from barrier one as a $2.30 favourite in the Tooleybuc Sporting Club Nyah Pacing Cup last Saturday night, with the winner of the event guaranteed entry into next Sunday’s feature at Kilmore.

Despite finishing second to the Glen Douglas-trained and Daryl Douglas-driven Bold Cruiser, Ndizani all but assured his position in the race with a second successive runner-up cheque.

In similar circumstances to the previous weekends second to Penny Veejay where he led the event and was beaten by his rival getting an inside run, Ndizani’s trainer-driver Kerryn Manning again had the South Aussie gelding in front for a major portion of the race before Douglas urged Bold Cruiser along the pegs in the straight to gain the judges decision.

Ndizani will now step-out in the Kilmore Cup next Sunday and if he continues to snare the good barrier draws will start the event with a major chance of victory.

 

 

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Neal Conder

HRSA Ltd