Tom and Angela Hewitt Memorial Pace

Smooth Sailor from the Dennis Picker harness racing stable at Bigga could be the surprise package in Sunday’s TAB.COM.AU Tom and Angela Hewitt Memorial at the Goulburn Paceway.

Scheduled as the last race of the day, the $12,720 event has drawn together a capacity field of very strong in-form pacers.  With all horses engaged having realistic winning chances, luck in running will be the key factor in determining who comes out on top.

Drawing gate 9, inside the second row, Smooth Sailor will follow out renowned leader Pocket of Terror and is likely to settle on the peg line in the first half of the field.  As the winner of 11 races, Picker’s pacer can unwind a quick sprint and with luck at the business end, he is capable of overhauling the leaders and taking the honours.

The 6 year old gelding is owned by Picker’s partner Jamie Smith, and two starts back was a narrow winner of the $15,900 Bathurst RSL Soldiers Saddle.  He followed that up with a very good second behind Real Obsession at Goulburn in late December and with a cosy run on Sunday looks a strong chance.

Prestonpans from the Tim Butt stable at Menangle is a New Zealander having his first start in Australia.  A winner of his last three races, he has been topped off for his debut with a very good 4th in a recent Menangle trial.  Others with good chances include Volaticus and the Brad Hewitt trained and driven Real Obsession.

The $12,720 Goulburn Soldiers Club Walla Walla Stakes is the second feature race on an action packed program and the Tim Butt trained Raukapuka Ruler looks the likely winner.  

To be driven by Anthony Butt, the 5 year old pacer has had three Australian starts and while a disappointing ninth at his latest start in the $50,000 Shirley Turnbull Memorial, the pacer had previously finished second to Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshall.  He had also won in a 1:50.2 mile when having his first start Australian start in earlier December.

In Sunday’s race Raukapuka Ruler has drawn barrier 2 and looks the likely leader.  Hardest to beat is the David Hewitt trained Stanley Ross Robyn who has placed in all three starts since a spell.  Others with a top 3 chance include Spare Me Days for Brad Hewitt and Hashtag from the Craig Cross stables at Cobbitty.

With the afternoon also playing host to two outstanding Menangle Country Series heats, an exciting afternoon of harness racing and entertainment is on offer.  The Goulburn Club encourages all to make their way to the Goulburn Paceway to enjoy the talents of Thomas and Lachlan Bensley who perform as ‘Short Notice’ and in the process help raise much need funds for the Crookwell Community Trust charity which will be conducting raffles and seeking donations from the on-course patrons.

With action scheduled to commence at 1.37 pm the club’s committee also invites harness fans to come out and experience the wonderful facilities of the Grace Millson Centre.  Enjoy quality food and a wide range of cold alcoholic and soft drinks whilst watching all the racing action in comfort.

Goulburn harness racing is brought to fans by the kind support of Tabcorp, Goulburn Soldiers Club, Hollingworth Crane Hire Service, Randwick Equine Centre, Southern Highlands Equine Centre, Sun Solutions Goulburn, Semco Equipment Sales, RSM Accountants, and a host of smaller businesses including Top Water Carters Crookwell, First National Real Estate Goulburn, Goulburn Livestock Transport, Landmark Southern Livestock Agenices , J A Communications, Crust Gourmet Pizza, Glen Mia ACT Saddlery and Ranvet. 

For all the latest Goulburn harness racing news visit the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au and don’t forget to like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/goulburnpaceway/   

By Mark Croatto

Reprinted with permission of The Goulburn Post

Tips

• Race 1 TOPWATER CARTERS CROOKWELL AUB FROST MEMORIAL PACE:         
• TIPS: 5 Sports Story, 2 Taramin, 4 Rockin Marty, 1 Im Bruce Almighty
• Race 2 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS EQUINE CENTRE PACE:
• TIPS: 8 Arma Naughty, 4 Better Than Grange, 3 Slick Sue, 1 Itz Reigning Men
• Race 3 ROBERT ALLPORT MEMORIAL CLUB MENANGLE WHERE HORSES FLY HEAT:    
• TIPS: 4 Lifes A Jungle, 3 A Courage Thang, 7 Jays Cash, 8 Don’t Call Me  
• Race 4 HOLLINGWORTH CRANE HIRE SERVICE PACE:  
• TIPS: 12 The Announcer, 1 Majadore, 10 Boyd Writer, 11 Blackwhiteandblue
• Race 5 CLUB MENANGLE COUNTRY SERIES HEAT:  
• TIPS: 2 Tintin Naturally, 1 Modern Attitude, 9 My Highlights, 3 Im All Courage
• Race 6 GOULBURN SOLDIERS CLUB WALLA WALLA STAKES:  
• TIPS: 2 Raukapuka Ruler, 4 Stanley Ross Robyn, 6 Spare Me Days, 8 Hashtag
• Race 7 TAB.COM.AU TOM & ANGELA HEWITT MEMORIAL:
• TIPS: 9 Smooth Sailor, 10 Prestonpans, 5 Volaticus, 12 Real Obsession