Jason Fino runs and Nathan Fino drives in the Good Friday Appeal Sulky Race of 2015.
The annual Good Friday Appeal Sulky Race will be held at Tabcorp Park Melton tomorrow night at 7.25pm.
The 100-metre race up the Melton straight features participants replacing horses and pulling the sulkies, with children of industry people in the sulkies acting as the ‘drivers’.
This year’s line-up features reigning champion Josh Aiken, who will combine with Hayley Fino in the sulky from barrier one.
Aiken is third-favourite this year however, according to Good Form’s Jason Bonnington, with Tabcorp Park’s own Troy Anderson (driven by Blake McDonough) installed a controversial favourite in the race, just ahead of race record holders and the 2014 winners, Greg Sugars driven by Katie Alford.
The 2015 winner, Josh Duggan, will partner with young Sam Alford from barrier six, while Swedish import Kima Frenning combines with Cooper Ward from barrier three and French monte rider Ben Aubron will be driven by Nathan Fino in barrier nine.
Michael Bellman is likely to have his work cut out for him, becoming the first ever runner to pull the double-seater sulky containing three children – Harvey, Darcy and Ryder – out of barrier five.
Brock Gibson will have the reins behind Brad Chisholm in gate two, Dion Azzopardi will steer Paul Grech in barrier four, Jasmine Ferbrache will steer in-form Zac Phillips from gate eight, Lottie Marr will be behind debutant Jayden Barker in gate 10 and William Pace will be driven by Tiana Pace in barrier 11.
Rounding out the field was a late nomination in HRV’s Cody Baker from the stewards’ panel.
Important to note, Baker's connections have put in a change of tactics, with the intention to lead and hold the lead, circumstances permitting from his wide draw.
The race will be covered using Facebook live at www.facebook.com/harnessracingvictoria and a video replay containing other interviews will be made available later in the evening.
Volunteers will be rattling the tins for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal at Melton, so racegoers are encouraged to dig deep for a great cause.
Trots representatives will be making an appearance on Channel 7’s Good Friday Appeal coverage, donating all monies raised by the Trots community, plus the $5000 donated courtesy of TAB.com.au for the Trots Charity Tipoff on Sportsday’s Trots Talk program.
Donate today at The Trots Good Friday Appeal page
2017 Field for Good Friday Appeal Sulky Race
Race 4.5 at Tabcorp Park Melton, Thursday April 13. 7.25pm - 100m
1: Josh Aiken/Hayley Fino
2: Brad Chisholm/Brock Gibson
3: Kima Frenning/Cooper Ward
4: Paul Grech/Dion Azzopardi
5: Michael Bellman/Harvey, Darcy and Ryder
6: Josh Duggan/Sam Alford
7: Greg Sugars/Katie Alford
8: Zac Phillips/Jasmine Ferbrache
9: Ben Aubron/Nathan Fino
10: Jayden Barker/Lottie Marr
11: William Pace/Tiana Pace
12: Troy Anderson/Blake McDonough
13: Cody Baker/TBA
Media enquiries:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
