Calls Loud And Clear For More Matinee Programs

Sun Herald

Sunday April 22, 2007

By Tony White tonywhite@vtown.com.au

WHISPERS from powerbrokers Racing NSW Country and Tabcorp suggest negotiations are taking place to extend the Saturday TAB matinee concept.

Introduced last season, the Saturday morning meetings proved very popular in providing race clubs and the country sector with extra revenue. They also put more money in racing participants' pockets.

Next season, 22 matinee meetings are scheduled in NSW between November and March.

But there's a push for administrators to increase the number of matinees to allow punters to regularly bet on an Australian product rather than races from New Zealand.

Accolades for Grafton

THE North Coast racing fraternity eagerly awaits the next meeting at Grafton on Friday after the Clarence River Jockey Club unveiled its revamped course proper on April 13.

With a new circumference (1900 metres), banked turns and shoot from the 1200m, praise for the track was unanimous. It augurs well for the CRJC's July racing carnival.

The only man with a sad face was leading trainer John Shelton, who had the misfortune to saddle up six second placegetters. And while many people remain sceptical about the artificial training surface at Grafton, project manager Andrew Small is working tirelessly with Racing NSW Country to ensure it will eventually be a crack surface.

Pull weight or pull pin

RATIONALISATION and controversy go hand in hand when it comes to our industry.

At present, race clubs are funded to conduct meetings regardless of performance.

Clubs that attract greater TAB turnover receive added benefits.

But many people in the bush are asking why clubs that continue to underperform and drain racing's coffers should be allowed to reap the same benefits as hard-working clubs.

Put simply, there are still too many clubs given the tough financial climate. While the Review of Country Racing addresses the issue of battling clubs having performance benchmarks, many people believe they should close.

Luck for Lundholms

COONAMBLE trainer John Lundholm and his apprentice grandson Clint continued their great run of success combining to win the $4000 Cobar Cup (1370m) last Saturday.

Eight-year-old gelding Little Khamsin ($4.60) came from a seemingly impossible position on the home turn to beat Heliograph and Dream With You.

Clint continues to lead the NSW country apprentices' title and John is enjoying a bumper season.

Mildura trainer Ron Daniel made the trip with five horses and won the maiden with Argyle Pride ($8), ridden by Joe Galea.

Seeker finds form

NYNGAN galloper Storm Seeker returned to best form at Orange on Monday by winning the $20,000 Colour City Cup (1000m) for trainer Noel Lennon.

Storm Seeker returned to racing with a second at the St Patrick's Day meeting at Broken Hill. Unplaced at Warren before his upset win in the feature race at Orange, he was ridden by Robert Faehr, now based at Nyngan.

After sitting off the pace early, Storm Seeker ($7) rallied in the straight to beat Leica Light and Nellie's Glen.

Giant gelding Katdanch came with huge strides from the rear to win the $10,000 Soldier's Saddle Prelude (1300m).

Katdanch, trained by newly licensed Luke Hilton - also the track curator at Hawkesbury - was ridden by promising apprentice Kody Nestor, who picked up the ride when Adrian Robinson was unable to make the weight. Katdanch next tackles the $25,000 Soldier's Saddle (1400m) at Bathurst on Wednesday.

Okada's omen bet

JAPANESE apprentice Motoki Okada got a huge thrill when he won his first race aboard the aptly-named Success In Japan at Lismore this month.

Indentured to Sue Birney at Ballina and a product of the Gold Coast-based apprentices' training academy, the 19-year-old is described by Birney as "a good kid and very good worker".

"Graeme [Birney's husband] and I were at Oakbank but my sister Teena rang from the course and gave us the good news," Sue said. "The horse is trained by Paul Nipperess but surely it would have been a good omen bet. We're all happy for Motoki."

Final shot for Will

THE Barbara Joseph-trained Fire At Will is scheduled for his last start in the $25,000 Wagga Gold Cup Prelude (1800m) today.

Connections of the grand galloper had intended retiring the gelding after the Gundagai Cup last Sunday but, after winning the $25,000 event, had a change of heart and now head to Wagga Wagga for the opening day of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club's carnival.

Gundagai Cup-winning jockey Nick Souquet will again ride Fire At Will. The prelude has attracted a strong field of 16, including the Bede Murray-trained pair, Lookout (Tim Clark) and Don't Tell Ted (Grant Buckley).

Likely favourite Hillston Exchange won the Wangaratta Cup and was second at Moonee Valley.

Apprentice jockey Ashlee Beer will ride him.

Sydney apprentice Tye Angland, originally from Wagga, returns home to ride at the meeting and Leeton-raised apprentice Clark has a strong book of rides.

The Brett Cavanough-trained Caf Bar (Adam Gain), runner-up in the City Handicap, will have plenty of admirers in the $15,000 Town Plate Prelude (1200m).

They're racing

TAB meetings: today - Wagga Wagga; tomorrow - Taree; Wednesday -Bathurst; Friday - Grafton and Queanbeyan.

Non-TAB meetings: Wednesday - Armidale, Canberra, Deniliquin, Kempsey, Nyngan, Murwillumbah and Cessnock.

© 2007 Sun Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home