Harmey hoping to beat the handicapper

It has been a busy period for the Newcastle Harness Racing Club leading into next month’s Febfest and this afternoon they are on a quick back-up from Friday night with a seven race program.

Leading trainer Clayton Harmey is hoping that he can beat the handicapper, backing up two of his pacers that were successful on Friday night.

The pair, Shiralee (race 2) and Jannali (Race 6) were driven by Blake Hughes who has opted to stick with them, confident that they have again struck winnable races.

Harmey has eight runners engaged at the meeting while Hughes has a full book of drives.

Shiralee (Huntsville) won like all odds-on favourites should when she led throughout the 2030 metre trip before booting clear for a widening ten metre victory.

That was the filly’s second win from eight career starts and she is living up to her strong breeding being from the former smart racemare Miss Woodport who herself won eight races and has produced two other winners.

She has drawn wider in barrier five this afternoon but should have the speed to find the top and over the mile and then be hard to beat.

It was a race of tactics for Hughes and six-year-old Jannali (Sunshine Beach) when she rated a slick time of 1:55.6 on the way to an impressive two metre win.

After being caught without cover early, Hughes took a trail and sat patiently until the final turn where he made his wining move on the mare who finished strongly to overpower the leaders.

“Both horses when terrific on Friday night and I see no reason why they cannot back up with wins this afternoon,” said Harmey.

“Even though they are on a quick turnaround, I am satisfied with how they pulled up.”

Harmey and Hughes are also keen on their chances with Funnily Enough in race four.

The gelding won first up for the stable back on December 24 and he has finished close up in three runs since.

He will be aided by an ideal barrier three draw with his main danger, A Paradigm Shift drawing wide in barrier seven.

The value bet on today’s program appears to be the KerryAnn Morris trained Dan Fernando.

The gelding has been racing consistently and Morris has taken the advantage of engaging young reinsman Sebastian Piltz whose claim places him perfectly.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW