Ladies are chasing their biggest win

The Wagga and Newcastle Harness Racing Clubs will host regional TAB Regional Championship finals this afternoon and tonight (May 19).

The $100,000 events, that have been staged since 2020, have been a real shot in the arm for the sport in regional areas and have provided some special moments for country owners, trainers, and drivers.

The Western Regional final run at Bathurst on Wednesday night provided a fairy tale ending for 25-year-old former Queenslander Isobel Ross when she combined with trainer Amanda Turnbull to win the feature aboard Iam The Captain (Captaintreacherous).

After sitting back in the running line, Ross made her winning move with 800 metres to travel, allowing the four-year-old entire to slide up to the leading runners before she gave him more rein.

In the end, Iam The Captain did it with ease, scoring by four metres, defeating stablemate Alta Billy and race favourite He Aint Fakin.

IAM THE CAPTAIN REPLAY

Narrandera’s Ellen Bartley will be hoping to score her biggest win to date as a trainer in the Riverina Final when Brooklyn Bridge (Sweet Lou) will start at short odds to make it a hattrick of wins at Wagga this afternoon.

Another girl chasing the rich spoils at Newcastle tonight is Grace Panella when she partners the Clayton Harmey trained Saint Crusader (Courage Under Fire) in the Hunter Final of the Championships.

Panella gave Saint Crusader a perfect drive to win his qualifying heat comfortably, weaving her way through the pack from the tail of the field.

Harmey was full of praise for Panella’s drive and he had no hesitation in retaining her to drive the entire in the final.

Following Tuesday’s barrier draw which will see him start from wide on the second row, the pair have conceded that Saint Crusader will need to be driven like how his was in the heat.

But Panella is not phased by the draw, believing the four-year-old is on one of the best horses in the race.

“He is a lovely horse with a huge motor,” said Panella.

“The draw is not ideal, but if the speed is on up front and we get the breaks, he will be very hard to hold out.

“Clayton has managed Saint Crusader’s preparation well throughout his career and a win in this race would be his crowning glory and thoroughly deserved.”