Small stable ready to fire

Decorated harness racing trainer Geoff Webster has his best stable in “quite a few years” and is preparing for interstate raids with some of his more exciting horses.

But first he’s going to showcase the depth in his 15-horse team by racing 10 of them this weekend.

The headline is Belmont Royale’s quest to overcome the back row (gate 11) in the Group 3 Country Clubs Championship Final (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night.

“I’ve got a good team. They are young horses and the two and three-year-olds of the last season have come back on good marks. Things are going well,” Webster said.

“There are a few amongst them think can go on with it and run in the better races.”

Three-year-old trotting filly Aldebaran Misty is on trial for a NSW trip for the upcoming Trotters’ Oaks if she runs well at Geelong this week (Thursday).

“I quite like her. I’d send her up to Jason Grimson, who has done a terrific job with Majestic Cruiser and Stingray Tara for me at Menangle,” Webster said.

“I’m looking at the Queensland Oaks with my other nice filly, Elegant, too.”

More immediately, Webster is utilising the concession claim of talented young driver Connor Clarke with Belmont Royale on Saturday night.

“He’s come back and gone to another level. It was a big win in the heat. He did a big job to win from so far back. Cherokee Joe looks the hardest to beat,” he said.

Webster also has promising prospects Tuppence (race three) and Bromich (race five) engaged at Melton on Saturday.

“Tuppence has a bit of speed drawn inside him so he’ll need some luck, while Bromich will be hard to beat if does everything right,” he said.

Belmont Royale is one of three pacers part-owned by champion thoroughbred trainer and passionate harness follower John Hawkes.

“John and I go way back to when we played footy together in Adelaide,” Webster recalled. “He’s always loved the trots and been a good supporter of the stable.

“As well as Belmont Royale, John’s in Major Major (racing at Geelong Thursday) and a two-year-old Anadaman Bay, who has his second start at Maryborough (Friday). All three horses have their share of ability.”

Of the team, Webster is most excited about his two-year-old filly Snow Hunter, who has been turned out for a spell after disappointing at Melton last Saturday night.

“I really like her. She won her first start really well and I think it all just got a bit too much for her last week, so I’ve put her out,” he said.

“There’s a nice Nutrien Sales’ race for her later in the year to target.”

By Adam Hamilton