Road to The Nullarbor

WA’s richest harness race, TABtouch The Nullarbor, over the 2536-metre trip, has brought together a top-line field headed by 2023 Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous).

The field of 10 features three interstate raiders and seven of the best from the West.

Hayden King joins us on the Scoring Up podcast to discuss each runner, and below, Peter Wharton deep-dives into the breeding of each runner.

SCORING UP PODCAST by Gary Newton

https://open.spotify.com/episode/69h0P8VEbzIShQwEjGz8XP?si=fEybQaDuTFaX4NEfZWjyIQ&nd=1&dlsi=f4ef06e9e8f24c51

CATCH A WAVE

Slot held by Regency Food.

Bred in Victoria by Benstud Standardbreds and Peter and Zilla O’Shea, Catch A Wave is a five-year-old gelding by super sire Captaintreacherous. 

He’s the third foal of the Christian Cullen mare Copagoodone, the dam also of the Listed winner Yambukian and Bettor Copagoodone, both $100,000 earners. 

Purchased  for $82,000 at the APG Melbourne sale in 2020, Catch A Wave has banked a whopping $1.3million, including six Group 1 wins

SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS

Slot held by Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock

Bred in New Zealand by Trevor Casey, Spirit Of St Louis is a seven-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou and one of the first crops of that shuttle stallion out of the 1:56 Art Major mare Spirit Of Art. 

Spirit Of St Louis is the second foal of his dam who left other winners in the WA Oaks winner: Dracarys, El Chema, and Azor Ahai. Spirit Of St Louis has won nine Group races, including two Group 1 and $1.4million in stakes

NEVER ENDING

Slot held by Ladbrokes 

Bred in WA by Steve Johnson, Never Ending is a four-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou from the Die Laughing mare Endless Journey. 

He’s the seventh foal and fifth winner of his dam, who left others in the Pearl winner Isaiah Artois and the $100,000 earners Mandy Joan and Dibaba. 

Never Ending was a $75,000 buy at the APG Perth sale in 2021. He has won 14 of his 17 starts and earned $528,065.

MINSTREL

Slot held by Team Bond

Bred in New Zealand, Minstrel is a seven-year-old gelding by Rocknroll Hanover from the Mach Three mare Ovaride, the dam of four winners – all inside 2 minutes. He is the third foal of his dam. 

Minstrel has won 24 races, including the Golden Nugget and Fremantle Cup, and has banked almost $836,000.

JUMPINGJACKMAC

Slot held by Gary Hall Snr. & Steve Waters NZ

Bred in New Zealand by the Miracle Lodge Syndicate, Jumpingjackmac is a six-year-old Mach Three gelding from the New Zealand Southland Oaks winner Jumpforjoy, the dam of five sub 2-minute winners from five foals of racing age.  Jumpingjackmac is her third foal. 

The Gelding trained by Gary Hall senior has won 18 races to date and just over $737,000, including the Christmas Gift, the Brennan Cup, and just recently, the Bunbury Pacing Cup.

SWINGBAND  

Slot held by Jeavons Racing   

Bred by prominent Perth breeder Trevor Lindsay, Swingband is a five-year-old gelding by Alta Christiano from the dual Listed Bettor’s Delight winning mare Bettor’s Gem, and this is her first foal. 

Swingband was a $70,000 purchase at the APG Perth sale in 2020; Swingband has recorded 13 successes, including four in Group company and nine placings from 31 starts for $245,179 in stakes.

MIGHTY RONALDO

Slot Held by JP Pacing.

Another of the Trevor Lindsay breeds, Mighty Ronaldo, is a six-year-old Alta Christiano gelding from the fast Bettor’s Delight mare Millwood’s Delight and is her third foal and second winner. Bought for a modest $22,000 at the APG Perth sale in 2019, Mighty Ronaldo has banked $730,948 from 13 wins, including the Fremantle Cup, WA Derby, and Golden Slipper.

HOT AND TREACHEROUS

Slot Held by TABtouch

Bred by champion Kiwi breeder Ken Breckon, Hot And Treacherous is a six-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous and one of the first crop of the champion American sire. He’s the second foal of the Bettor’s Delight mare Hothooves, the dam of the former smart NZ juvenile Major Hot and the Perth winner Hotfoot It, both $100,000 earners. Hot And Treacherous has won 17 races, including four Group/Listed events in NZ and $414,295.

LAVRA JOE

Slot Held by RAM Racing Syndicate 

Bred by leading Perth breeders Kevin and Annette Charles, Lavra Joe is a six-year-old Roll With Joe gelding out of the 1:57 Live Or Die mare Lavra Florence and is her first foal. Passed in at the APG Perth sale in 2019 after failing to make his reserve of $25,000, Lavra Joe has won 33 races and $644,883, including 11 Group races as a two, three, and four-year-old.

BLITZEMBYE

Slot Held by Swandoo Harness Racing

New Zealand bred by champion sire Bettors Delight out of a Falcon Steelster mare Falcons Flybye who has already produced Alotbettor $658,852,He can Fly $377,768.

Blitzembye has won 17 races for $228,448 and a best mile rate of 1.54.9

by Peter Wharton