Greg Hayes
What has two-time New Zealand Cup winner Monkey King, the Miracle Mile winning Iraklis, the brilliant Christian Cullen and the great Mainland Banner got in common? They were all driven at some stage of their careers by Ricky May and while the leading Kiwi driver could be excused for finding it tough to decide on which horse was the best, he has thrown another horse into the mix after the New Zealand Oaks on Friday night and has suggested Carabella COULD be the best he has ever driven.
That is a massive wrap from an experienced driver about a lightly raced filly that has only been beaten once in her career. It was only twelve months ago that the New Zealanders were claiming De Lovely to be the biggest thing since sliced bread and now this filly has been placed on an even higher pedestal.
Her trainer Brendon Hill has confirmed that we will see her in Australia before the end of the season and is tossing up about two possible targets. The first would be a trip to Queensland for the Gold Coast and Queensland Oaks the second and more likely option is a trip to Victoria for the Australian Oaks. I am tipping there will be a number of rival trainers watching with great interest on which way she goes. Obviously it won’t worry the local trainers too much but I am sure that trainers in New South Wales will be heading in the other direction when she turns up.
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Excel Stride was so short in the Newcastle Derby on Saturday night that he was not a betting proposition and while he dismantled his rivals as most expected and broke Sovereign Hill’s long standing track record, I wonder whether the win has left trainer Lizzy Heath and driver Greg Bennett with more questions than answers?
The Aces N Sevens three year old took off inside the last 1000 metres and Bennett looked to be a mere passenger up the back as he raced away from his opposition. Racing against his rivals on Saturday night his class and ability got him through but when he takes on Sushi Sushi in the Breeders Challenge series he will need to be better than he has been in the past to continue on his winning streak.
He needs to relax in his races and conserve energy especially over the longer trip so I look forward to seeing what Lizzy does with him until the end of the season. It is something that will definitely need addressing once he turns four and steps out with the older horses.
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Lance Justice could be spending four weeks on the sideline after he was suspended for his drive on Millwood Nebraska in the Cinderella Stakes at Melton, Friday week ago. The race was won by Broadways Best and the stewards were concerned with the tactics adopted by Justice in the first half of the race. He was charged for failing to ensure the mare finished in the best possible position.
There was some conjecture whether Justice’s appeal was received in time but he has since confirmed that his appeal against the charge has been accepted and will be heard.
It just adds to the pressure Justice must already be under with the Inter Dominion swab irregularity hanging over his head. While I have already had my say on that matter I must add that I find it quite surprising that although the result of the B sample was announced two weeks ago, still no charges have been laid. It just adds to the intrigue of the whole affair and by the sounds of it, it is far from over.
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Congratulations must go to a number of people for their recent fundraising efforts. Matt Young and the group behind the Donald Harper AFL game in Perth should be applauded. Harper is only in his early twenties and was diagnosed with melanoma. The cost of his medical treatment has become quite expensive and it was great to see some relief for Harper with over $5000 raised on Sunday.
For the record, the Harness Drivers took on the Grandstand Drivers and in the end it was the Harness Drivers who took the match 15-9-99 to 13-6-84. Leading players were well known drivers Nathan Turvey, Chris Voak, Michael George and Michael Brennan.
Harness Racing Victoria must be given a wrap for the support it has shown Chris Alford and his family since his daughter Katie was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. Chris and his wife have worked extremely hard and despite hoping to raise $10,000 in the month of May for the Neurofibromatosis Association Of Australia, they have already raised more than $22,000 after last Friday’s gala dinner at Tabcorp Park Melton.
There might be plenty of areas that need improving in harness racing but one factor that is quite clear is that the industry will support those who need it and is very generous when someone needs help.
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The Nursery Stakes meeting at Albion Park on Saturday night was dominated by the locals. The two year olds took centre stage and the colts and geldings division was taken out by the Shannon Price trained Terror Time. The son of Western Terror swept on his rivals as they turned for home and proved too quick for the Chris Alford driven Soho Valencia.
The fillies race was taken out by The Archduchess and she really deserved a feature win after competing in so many big ones this season. She has now had ten starts and despite winning her first “big one” on Saturday night has already won nearly $200,000 thanks to her second placings in the Bathurst Gold Tiara and the Australian Pacing Gold. In fact despite being trained by Graham Seymour you could be excused for thinking she was a New South Wales filly having started seven times in this state compared to her three runs in her home state of Queensland.
Feature racing in New South Wales this week returns to Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night with the running of the NSW Trotters Derby and the Joe Ilsley Cup which sees the return of the “grey beard” Karloo Mick. Catch you next week.
The Hayes Files is commissioned by HRNSW however any opinion expressed is that of the author and not necessarily HRNSW.
