IN less than a week the 2017 edition of the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival will be underway.
More than $300,000 in prizemoney will be distributed during the five meetings of excitement at the Group 1 Feeds Paceway.
The two-year-old Crown and Tiara Finals take pride of place and this year the bar has been raised for all equine athletes in these two divisions with some super impressive performances from two youngsters from the Shane and Lauren Tritton barn.
The Tintin In America sired colt, named Divine State, has set tongues a wagging with two almost unbelievable performances at Menangle in February.
His combined winning margin in those two victories was almost 32 metres but it was his blistering sectionals that had his rivals gasping for air.
The debut win was in an Australian record of 1.52.8 and yet he bettered this in the NSW Sapling Stakes in February with a faultless and exhilarating display of pacing – stopping the clock in 1.51.6.
The very next day the Tritton’s produced a filly at Bathurst, named My Sweetchillifilly. The Betterthancheddar sired young girl gave reinsman Chris Geary an arm chair ride, spacing her rivals after a 100 meters and recording one of the most impressive debut performances on any track in Australia. The winning margin – 60 metres, the winning time 1.55.3.
So who are amongst the challengers for Group 1 glory on the night of March 25?
Well this year there will be two overseas owned fillies that are making the long trek to Australia’s oldest inland city.
The Kiwi owned filly Lady Chatto (by American Ideal) sealed her trip across the ditch with an impressive three length win in the Group Three Leonard Memorial at Addington on 5th March.
Trainer Tim Butt said after the win “That My Sweetchillyfilly must be pretty smart but she won’t be beating Lady Chatto by 60 metres.”
The owners Tom and Loretta Richardson have been breeding horses in New Zealand for 40 years but this will be their first taste of Group One competition.
The second internationally owned filly to head to Bathurst will be the Bettors Delight girl Passions Delight.
This filly is trained in Victoria by ex-Kiwi Nicole Molander for the Florida, USA based owners Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks.
Passion’s Delight booked her spot on the horse float with an impressive win at the Melton on 4th March, streaming home her last quarter in 27.4.
Her trainer said just recently: “This filly is a lovely, readymade and good gaited filly who should acquit herself well. This will be my first trip to Bathurst so I’m really looking forward to it.”
So what other talent is planning a raid on the Bathurst dollars. Here is a brief bird’s eye view of some of the boys and girls.
Paul Fitzpatrick - has two fillies aiming to take home the Tiara – Prophesy (by Somebeachsomewhere) and Grand Zara (by Artistic Fella). Both made their racetrack debut at Menangle on 7th March with Prophesy producing a strong stretch drive to record an impressive 1.55.6 victory.
“Prophesy is my best chance – she is a strong filly with terrific manners. Mark Hewitt did a great job in educating her and she has just kept on improving since arriving in my stable” said Paul following that debut win.
Matt Rue – has a really nice filly by Shadow Play with the moniker of Callmequeenbee.
“We are very impressed with this filly after purchasing her at the Sydney APG Yearling Sales some twelve months ago” said Matt’s partner Gemma Hewitt recently. “Our partners in her will go into the Heats with a degree of confidence following easy win at Bathurst on 3rd March.”
Nathan Turnbull – you can’t have a Carnival at Bathurst without a strong Turnbull influence. Maybe the 2017 edition will see Nathan outdo his father Steve and sister Amanda.
Five horses, all owned by Rod Smith’s Kriden Investments, will give Nathan a strong hand this year. They will be headed by the recent Graeme Board Sale Graduate winner Our Sams Home (by Roll With Joe). However he only won that race by the narrowest of margins over his stable mate Flash In Sam (by Major In Art), so the two Sams will look to give Rod Smith and Nathan Turnbull their first opportunity to wear a Crown.
So the scene is set for another Bathurst Carnival. Will the Race Records of 1.55.7 (colts) and 1.56.2 (Fillies) be broken.
The victories are sweet – just ask Emilio and Mary who wore the Crowns in 2013 and2016 – but most of all it is a great 10 days in the city at the top of the mountain.
For further information contact:
Marianne Donnelly
Bathurst Sponsorship & Marketing
E : contact@goldcrown.com.au
W : www.goldcrown.com.au
P : 02 6333 5000
F : 02 6331 4397
