Maitland’s Inter City Pace unleashes rising star

If ever a harness racing club deserves success for its resilience and determination to see it through then Maitland would rank highly.

Ever aware of changes in harness racing which has led to a rationalisation of clubs in New South Wales, Maitland has held on running the Heats and Final of its acclaimed Inter City Pace which last night was run for the 62^nd time. The club is allowed two meetings per year for both the heats and final of the Inter City Pace.

Club Secretary Sharon Murphy was succinct in her comments.

“We’re trying to get back to that tradition of former racing. We’ve been looking to get more than our allocated two meetings per year. We’ve been asked why we haven’t more meetings. We would like one meeting per month given the number of horses that are balloted out of Hunter Valley racing. We’re hopeful of a crowd of up to 3,000 for the big night.”

As it turned out some 4,000 patrons turned up and the TAB indicated that they had taken more than expected.

“More horses are trained at Maitland than nearby Newcastle. A statistical analysis done a few years back showed that 11 percent of harness horses are trained at Maitland. We trial every fortnight”.

On her opinion of previous winners, Sharon stated:

“There’s a few that come to mind. For me Bay Foyle (1970)  Bold Biami (1972) and Royal Courtier (1993) are the ones that stand out”.

Last night’s $30,600 classic sponsored by Kirkwoods did not disappoint for the huge crowd that turned out to see the big race. And it was fitting that a rising mare Shez Sweet Louise (Sweet Lou) who is owned by Mick Boots to take out the prize in the most convincing manner to maintain her unbeaten record.

A short priced favourite Shez Sweet Louise pinged straight to the front for stable driver Isobel Ross. Rakero Ice moved up to race outside the leader but shortly after settling down he inexplicably broke up and settled down at the rear of the field without interfering with any other runner.

Stablemate of Shez Sweet Louise Fashion Icon was taken around the field to test the former and they were locked together along the back straight.

However showing real class Shez Sweet Louise found plenty and she sprinted clear to defeat Fashion Icon by just under 4 metres with outsider Sally Big Time giving a great sight for third.

SHEZ SWEET LOUISE REPLAY

The win of Shez Sweet Louise who has unbeaten in five appearances proved to be a perfect tonic for trainer Amanda Turnbull who was hospitalised last month following a particularly nasty training accident. Amanda had driven Shez Sweet Louse in her first two wins but since then she has been well handled by stable driver Isobel Ross.

Stablemate Fashion Icon had a hard run outside the leader but he was gritty in holding on for second and the four year old gelding is certainly racing in good form.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink