Action-packed racing review

After an action-packed few days in the harness racing world and with super racing from six states across Australia, here is your review of last week’s racing.

NSW Breeders Challenge

Although both were beaten as odds-on favourites with TAB, it was great to see Group 1 winners Anntonia and Tasty Delight head to Penrith on Thursday night for heats of the rich NSW Breeders Challenge Series.

Anntonia ran a good third to the classy filly Chrissy Chic who was aided by a great Cameron Hart drive, whilst Tasty Delight, after failing to obtain the early lead, tired a little late to finish fourth to Titian Raider. Both were first-up though and will almost certainly improve considerably through their preparations.

This year’s series commenced at Leeton on Sept 7, where Bar Room Banta broke the track record winning his heat and another highlight of the series so far was the unbeaten Mister Rea making it six from six winning at Young.

Heats will continue over the next six weeks at various locations throughout NSW culminating in the big final’s day at Menangle on October 30.

Check out the latest TAB Futures markets here.

Magnificent night at Gloucester Park

Potential champion Magnificent Storm made it 18 wins from 19 starts in Australia with another great victory in the G2 Channel 7 Navy Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Some considered him a risk drawing inside the back row and with topliner, Vampiro, likely in front setting a fast tempo. That eventuated but Magnificent Storm was just too good, despite sitting parked outside the leader in a very fast middle half of 56.7. He now heads for a spell before being set for the WA and Fremantle Cups later in the season.

The other highlight at on Friday evening was the driving of Emily Suvaljko. After bringing up 100 winners at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night, all by the age of 21, she backed it up with a winning treble on Friday and for good measure drove another treble on Saturday night at Narrogin.

Emily, the daughter of Shannon Suvaljko, himself in the top echelon of drivers in the country is extremely highly regarded and is a rising star of Australian Harness Racing.

Moments that mattered

Majestuoso produced another great performance, powering away late in the G3 Saddleworth Shepparton Trotters Cup beating a gallant Pink Galahs.

Boncel Benjamin won the G3 Cordina Food Pace at Menangle, whilst at Ballarat, Enchanted Stride won the G3 Allied Express Tailamade Lombo and Ladies In Red made it 11 from 12 beating arch rival Tough Tilly in the Nutrient Argent 3YO Classic.

Plunge of the week

It is hard to go past Heritage Lady winning at Shepparton on Friday night. Opening $16 the 3YO filly was backed all the way down to $4.50 and was even hammered late at that price. The punters were too good and although last at the 300m mark, she stormed home to land the prize.