Victorian on song for rich Golden Guitar final

Cranbourne-based harness racing trainer Jamie Kirk has plenty to look forward to as he tackles Friday night’s (Jan 24) rich G3 Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth with his in-form brave speedster Rakajed (A Rocknroll Dance).

“We were always going to draw the outside of the back row on his national ratings, but I’m confident he can run a better race than he did when he won last week,” Kirk said.

“He’s handled the big 1200km road trip very well and has that race start around the 750m circuit under his belt,” he said.

“Honestly, a top three finish would put a big smile on my face. The final’s worth $51,000 and that’s the biggest I’ve ever been in as a trainer and it’s huge stakemoney for that class (pacers assessed 60 to 75).”

Kirk said he was aware he was against some nice horses in last week’s qualifying heat, but “I knew I had a fit and strong horse”.

After beginning quickly off the back row, Rakajed was three wide early and worked to the death seat. Approaching the bell, Rob Morris (Rosberg) made a three-wide move and the pair cleared out in a two-horse battle. But Rakajed packed too many punches and powered away over the concluding stages for a strong win.

He was super impressive and was handled by champion NSW reinsman Cam Hart, whom Kirk is hoping to retain for the final.

“He’s so professional in that he watched replays of our horse, and I didn’t have to give him any driving instructions – he’s a great young man,” Kirk said.

“I also have to give a huge amount of credit to George Batsakis who helps me where I’m stabled at the Cranbourne Harness Training Centre. Without him, none of this would have happened.”

Kirk obtained his trainer’s licence in 2023 and prepared three winners from a small number of starters that season.  In 2024 he posted seven wins, and this season has so far had one win, with his career record at 11 wins and 19 placings from 66 starters. Needless-to-say that Rakajed is the star of the stable with eight of those wins.

“His form leading up to the Tamworth Carnival had been very good. At his first start back from a short break he won at Bendigo for Taylor Youl and then they ran second in the Cranbourne 10,000 heat before winning the final,” Kirk said.

“I actually learnt a bit from a trip to Sydney with the horse in September-October last year. His three runs were a disaster, and it had a lot to do with him not eating while he was up there,” he said.

This time, Kirk has elected to make the return trip from Cranbourne for the final.

“After his Tamworth win, we stayed the night and then came home the next day. It’s a nine-hour trip from Cranbourne to Sydney and then another five hours onto Tamworth, but I couldn’t be happier with the way he travelled and how he’s pulled up.”

Kirk, who races the pacer with his son Kian, said they planned to leave two days before the big final.

“The Tamworth Club is putting on a great product in conjunction with the Country Music Festival. The environment’s a bit like Moonee Valley used to be – there’s live entertainment, great music and a really good vibe,” he said.

“A local trainer Richard Williams tried to get me to go up last year with Rakajed, but we won a race down here and then turned him out. So we kept it in mind this year and decided to aim for the Golden Guitar.”

Victoria will have another representative in the big race in Outback Queenie, prepared at Maryborough by Tim Mortlock, who has been staying up at Tamworth with his family since the middle of last week.

The mare ran a gallant second in one of the five qualifying heats to earn her spot.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink