Frisby confident ahead of $100,000 Regional Final

Finals of the $100,000 TAB Regional Championships will highlight harness racing throughout New South Wales this week with features run in the Western, Riverina, Hunter and Metropolitan regions.

Finalists qualified in heats run a fortnight ago, enabling owners and trainers the opportunity to race against others in their own district.

The first of the Championship finals will be at Bathurst on Wednesday night where the barrier draw has made for an interesting contest.

The fastest of the Bathurst heat winners was the Chris Frisby-trained and Anthony Frisby-driven Uncle Miki (Alwys B Miki) and after drawing well in gate four, the gelding looks the one to beat.

Uncle Miki clocked a mile rating of 1:54.7 for the 2260m trip, scoring by 11 metres from All Starzzz Frankie and Promising.

Anthony Frisby, who will again drive the four year old, believes his charge can repeat that effort and again be hard to hold out.

“He has drawn well and if we can secure the right run, I’m confident he will go close again,” said Frisby. 

“It is an evenly-graded field, but the barrier draw has definitely made it interesting.”

Team Frisby will be represented by two horses in the feature with He Aint Fakin (Art Major) also impressing by winning his qualifying heat.

He Aint Fakin did not fare as well in the barrier draw and will have to overcome a wide second-line draw if he is to win the final.

But he is a horse that has shown a brilliant turn of foot in the past and the longer trip gives him the chance to get into the race.

Joetomo, trained at Cowra by Anne O’Connor is the only finalist that is not trained in Bathurst.

This afternoon the Bankstown Harness Racing Club hosts a seven-race card which begins at 12:52pm.

On an open program, the Brian Portelli-trained Blazing Shannon represents good value in Race 6.

He finished second at Penrith last start behind the talented Yankee Ideal after leading, and from barrier two today should be in front and take some catching.

Hunter Valley visitor Rolling With Stell (Grace Panella) and the Dean and Kerry McDowell-trained Pikarso shape as the biggest threats to Blazing Shannon.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW