16 June, 2003
Hayes Walking On Air
Michael Hayes (pictured) is still pinching himself after Skye Rocket?s upset win at $41.90 in Saturday night?s $30,000 Victoria Trotters Oaks at Moonee Valley.
Whilst he never doubted his filly?s ability going into the Group 1 battle, Hayes was realistic about her chances.
?I didn?t think we could beat Melpark Sunrise, plan and simple?, said the 47 year old Woodstock trainer of six.
?I was hoping we?d run second to her and it wasn?t until the last 100 metres that I thought we?re a show here.
?I noticed Graeme?s (Whittle) horse (Melpark Sunrise) looked a little big in the parade ring, so that gave me a little confidence.
After a string of errant beginnings, Skye Rocket was just that firing away from a second line draw to land midfield in the 2570 metre mobile.
With Melpark Sunrise ($1.40) a comfortable leader from the pole and dictating terms, a minor placing looked best for Skye Rocket as she made her run three and four wide at the 300m mark.
Despite being 10 metres clear at the 150m, the heavily-backed favourite fell in a hole with Skye Rocket swallowing her up to record a long overdue maiden victory at her 12th start.
Another charging maiden Pinkstwotter ($54) rattled home for second, a half neck in arrears, relegating the favourite to an unlikely third position.
The Oaks victory was one of the most popular feature wins at the Valley in recent times, with the unassuming Hayes heralded for his efforts in taming the headstrong filly.
Owned by industry stalwarts Ray and Sharon Ladd, she was sent to Hayes in the hope that his one-on-one attention would help harness the filly?s talents.
By former champion local trotter Wagon Apollo out of Maori Acacia, a half-sister to Noopy Kiosk, Skye Rocket descends from the same family as 1994 Oaks winner Maoris Dream and joins greats the calibre of Scotch Notch and Melpark Maid aboard the prestigious honour roll.
Like Saturday?s minor placegetters, she?s eligible for the lucrative Australasian Breeders Crown in August and will most likely tackle the ?boys? in The Holmfield and Victoria Trotters Derby in the interim.
Heir Reclaims Crown
Former champion juvenile Franco Heir made his long-awaited return to the feature winners list at Moonee Valley on Saturday night when he took out the SEW Eurodrive-sponsored The Enduro.
The former New Zealand 3YO of the Year had not tasted feature race success since capturing the New South Wales Derby back on 25 May 2001.
In a career riddled with injuries, the five year old Holmes Hanover gelding has overcome a major lung infection to reinvent himself in recent months for new trainer Martin Herbert.
Coldstream-based Herbert is private trainer for Bob Proberts, who purchased Franco Heir for a hefty six figure sum after his first racetrack appearance.
Stints with Jayne Davies (twice), John Hay and Barry Purdon ensued before Franco Heir returned to Australia for a third time earlier this year to take up post with Herbert.
Five subsequent appearances had yielded a win and three placings, with Franco Heir showing glimpses of his elite ability as his fitness base soared.
On the score of a front line draw, he was sent out the $3.60 favourite in Saturday?s gruelling 3050 metre standing start 14 horse feature.
Despite being a dual winner from the stand, Franco Heir was considered risky from the tapes, but a bevy of midweek practice and the safe hands of big race guru John Caldow had the popular elect settling safely midfield.
Allowed to find his feet, Franco Heir was sent three wide at the 1200m mark in search of Austin Power ($9.10), who was pulling in front, and second favourite Vento Rapido ($5.30) who was death-seating.
Upon entering the straight he surged to the lead only to be headed by Repaid In Gold ($6.40) who whipped up the sprint lane from the leader?s trail.
To his credit, the giant pacer dug deep and came again to prevail by a head with backmarker Persistency ($6.50) filling the minor place, four metres in arrears.
Franco Heir now boasts stake earnings of $282,595 with 12 wins and 11 placings from 32 starts.
Whilst he may not reach the dizzy heights of the Grand Circuit glory, Saturday?s win gave notice that Franco Heir will at least by a force at Moonee Valley in coming months, with the 2003-04 country cups circuit an attractive long-term target.
Of the beaten brigade, Repaid In Gold continued his frustrating run of seconds for the ?X-Man?, Tony Xiriha.
Nominated for Ballarat next Saturday night, it won?t be long before he claims a much-overdue M0 victory at headquarters.
Star pacer Persistency showed that his old legs still carry plenty of fire with his workmanlike placing off 25 metres.
A typical cool and calculated drive from Gavin Lang had the rising nine-year-old looming large at the 200m mark before his condition gave out.
Only second-up from a spell, he looks set to build on his enviable career record of 64 starts for 25 wins, 19 placings and $424,503 over coming months starting with this Friday night?s Geelong Winter Cup.
Looking further ahead a trip North for next month?s Queensland Winter Carnival is a likely option with ?Percy?s? love of Albion Park evidenced by his 2000 Winter Cup triumph and stellar 2001 Inter Dominion campaign.
Fourth-placed Awesome Ella ($15.50) was the eye-catcher charging to within 5.6 metres of the winner for Amy Tubbs after bungling the start.
Amy Stops Jilliby
Victoria?s brightest young driving talent Amy Tubbs successfully plotted the downfall of giant-killer Jilliby Spirit at Ballarat on Friday night.
After being crossed early Tubbs stalked the favourite throughout on her father Alan?s promising four-year-old Thatwilldo ($2.20) before out-sprinting the Nyah Cup winner in a 28.6sec last quarter.
Jilliby Spirit ($2) began well from barrier six in the WIN Television Pace, but after sitting parked for Grant Campbell was out-pinged in the final stretch snapping his winning streak at five.
The duo both rated 1:59.8 for the 1710 metre journey, thanks to a pedestrian 33.5sec second quarter, with a metre separating them on the line.
Thatwilldo brought up 18 year old Amy?s 28th win for the season at an impressive strike rate of 19.2%.
After debuting at Geelong on 6 February last year, the likeable youngster has piloted 34 career winners and is quickly being dubbed the ?new Kerryn Gath?.
Amy and Thatwilldo will renew acquaintances in the Vicbred Heats at Ballarat on Saturday night with a spot in the $20,000 Final at Moonee Valley a week later up for grabs.
Kerryn Closes In
Glamour girl Kerryn Gath has closed to within five wins of her Australian record of 288 winners in a season.
The 26 year old started the weekend on 280 winners, but was relatively quite by her standards piloting just three winners.
Her victories came aboard Supreme Babe (Moonee Valley), Jilliby Spice (Terang) and Out Of Pocket (Terang), but a weekend haul of five second placings slowed her charge.
The most notable of those ?misses? was Burrell, who had to lower his colours to budding star Te Kanarama in the $100,000 NSW 3YO Sires Final at Harold Park on Friday night.
Gath will continue her march towards the record and a once inconceivable haul of 300 winners at Maryborough on Wednesday afternoon.
