Golden Horse Shoe Presentation - winner March With Ors Photo by Peter McNamara Photography
Armidale HRC came into their Carnival of Cups meeting on Sunday with 11 last start winners and three $10,000 feature races on the program.
Bobs Farm pacer Strathlachlan Andy smashed the track record in taking out the $10,000 Roberts & Morrow Chartered Accountants Armidale Cup.
Raced over 2360m the Geoff Harding trained 5 y.o. Blissfull Hall- Strathlachlan Gem gelding “stripped” the track record set by Dan last year of 2.03.3 when he clocked 1.59.7 for the win.
“He is a good racehorse and does whatever you ask” said reinsman and youngest of the Harding family, James Harding.
Strathlachlan Andy is raced by Matthew Harding and the win in the Armidale Cup took the geldings earning to over the $100,000 prize money purse.
“I thought they would run a bit of pace” said Harding “and I made a run three wide but they kept me parked and had to do it the hard way but I wasn’t worried”.
Strathlachlan Andy came into the Armidale Cup after a win in the Narrabri Cup two weeks prior.
“He can get around any sized track. Whatever hurdle you place in front of him he will jump it”
Strathlachlan Andy had a 10.7 metre win over Jedi Superstar (Anthony Varga) and Rockstar Ruler (Chris Shepherdson) 5.3 metres away third.
Trained by Geoff Harding, Strathlachlan Andy also won the $25,000 Prydes Easi Feed Golden Guitar Final back in January this year at Tamworth.
James Harding had a great day in driving a double and opened his account when he drove Wah Sui Lady, trained at Dubbo by Brett Pay to a win in the Garrards Horse & Hound Pace.
Narrabri pacer Oscar Jay wrapped up the $10,000 GrazAg Carnival of Cups Final with a mile rate of 2.00.2 for the 1609 metres.
Driven by Lola Weidemann, the 4yo Flight N Irish-Mistress Jasper gelding, who as race favourite, commenced from barrier four, with Weidemann working her way to the lead just before the bell and held the field at bay.
“There was a lot of speed and we had to do a bit of work” said Weidemann . “The horse went very good and Jarred had him spot on today”.
Trained at Narrabri by Jarred Hetherington, Weidemann was full of praise for the trainer.
“Bobbie McArdle (Graham Moon) was the horse to beat on his run last week” added Weidemann.
Oscar Jay had a head win over Bobbie McArdle and McArdles Star (Chris Shepherdson) 21 metres away third.
Queensland pacer March With Ors wrapped up the $10,000 Adam Marshall MP- Member for Northern Tablelands Golden Horse Shoe Final for 3yo with a half neck win over Rosie O’Rourke (Peter Missen) and Nunya (John Micaleff) 7 metres away third.
“It was a good win” said trainer and reinsman Dayl March “I didn’t need the race to be any longer as Rosie O’Rourke was flying home”
“It’s a great couple of days of racing. I try and bring as many horses as I can when Armidale race” added March with owners Trevor and Louise O’Reilly trackside to witness the win of the Camelot Hall USA-Western Luv Bug USA 3 yo gelding.
Time for 1980 metre event was 2.02.4
