Coola Bar Boy winning his heat of the West Wyalong Series at Wagga last week. Photo by Les Smith - the Daily Advertiser.
WEST Wyalong stalwart Coola Bar Boy overcame a 50 metre handicap to take out the Wagga heat of the West Wyalong Standing Start Series last Friday.
With the pace on throughout, Coola Bar Boy was angled three wide 400 metres from home and fought hard up the straight to win by a half-head over the highly credentialed Therockwontroll who has won his last four starts.
The final field will be determined after the West Wyalong heats at the Easter Saturday meeting this Saturday with some big names and strong horses.
This included last year’s winner, Bathurst trainer-driver Amanda Turnbull, who is expected to compete in the heats this weekend.
The West Wyalong Standing Start Final worth $16,000 in prizemoney plus a gig, will be a highlight of the West Wyalong Carnival of Cups on April 23.
The series was introduced as an extra element to the race day to keep the meeting strong and viable and attract more entries to the event.
It offers $7,420 prizemoney for the winning owner, a revolutionary Insain Bolt gig valued at $7,600 for the winning trainer and $1,000 cash for the winning driver.
Bolt Sulkies brought one of their innovative gigs to the heats at Wagga last week and it was trialled by drivers in 11 out of the 12 races resulting in two firsts, three seconds, a third, a fourth a fifth and two sixths.
Prominent trainers such as Bruce Harpley and Frank O’Sullivan were keen to try the sulky and seemed impressed with the result.
A spokesman for the company said the revolutionary pivoting shaft and strong lightweight frame gave the sulky its advantage in tracking and balance. It was also trialled by drivers at Newcastle and Tamworth on the weekend, who chalked up several wins and multiple placings.
