Aussie News – 26th September

The juggernaut that is Jack Trainor has rolled on again with a dominant display at Menangle. The top young Kiwi horseman snared four training wins with his blossoming harness racing stable.

Leading the way was very exciting mare Braeview Kelly (Bettors Delight), who has won five of her six Aussie runs with another top second.

The four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight paced a slick 1min51.7sec on her way to a sparkling nine-metre win.

She is emerging as one of the most exciting mares in the land.

Trainor won the opening race with Masons Delight (driven by Jack Brown), snared race two with Romanee (Jack Callaghan) and added race four with Reactor Now (Cam Hart).

“I’ve a terrific team and quite a few nice horses across from NZ,” Trainor said.

BRAEVIEW KELLY REPLAY

Young gun driver Cam Hart went one better than Trainor with five driving wins on the night.

His wins included Jarrod Alchin’s pair, My Ultimate Ronnie and Madrid, in the two features of the night, the APG Gold Sovereign 3YO finals.

Alchin and Hart also combined to win the last race with exciting former Kiwi trotter Regal Attire, who has raced three times for Alchin for two wins and a second.

For complete Menangle race results, click here.

______________________________________________________________________

Former NZ Cup hero Cruz Bromac returned to winning form at Albion Park.

The rising 11-year-old scored a minor upset as an $11 shot for new trainer Shannon Price over another former Kiwi pacer Northview Hustler in the free-for-all.

The 2019 NZ Cup hero ripped home in 54.8 and 27.4sec at the end of 2138m.

For complete Albion Park race results, click here.

______________________________________________________________________

The hype around Victoria Derby contender Captain Ravishing continues to grow.

The Captaintreacherous colt made it two powerhouse wins from as many starts since joining the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin barn when he zoomed away to win by 14.4m in a slick 1min54.6sec mile rate for 2180m at Kilmore last Friday night.

That time obliterated the track record, taking 1.4sec off the previous mark.

Captain Ravishing now heads straight to the Derby heats at Melton next Saturday where he is vying for prepost favouritism with big guns Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave.

Ray Green’s Kiwi raider Simply Sam ran third, albeit beaten 22.2m, behind Captain Ravishing last Friday.

For complete Kilmore race results, click here.

______________________________________________________________________

Star pacer Lavra Joe (Roll With Joe) continued his march towards WA’s biggest races with another easy free-for-all win at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

Ray Jones’ four-year-old led, dictated and won as he liked for driver Chris Lewis.

LAVRA JOE REPLAY

Lavra Joe has raced 44 times for 26 wins, 10 placings and banked over $410,000.

The feature of the night, the $50,000 Group 2 Daintys Daughter for three-year-old fillies, produced a massive shock.

Brilliant filly Wonderful To Fly was shooting for her 11th win on and started a $1.08 favourite, but got stuck outside the leader and tired inexplicably to finish last.

Stewards probed the run and the filly was vetted, but nor abnormalities were found.

The race was won by $61 outsider Sovrana for trainer-driver Aiden De Campo.

On the same card, Ray Williams’ former Kiwi gelding Ezana underlined why he is a major contender for WA’s upcoming major four-year-old races.

The son of Bettors Delight stormed home to shock leader and favourite Ideal Agent.

For complete Gloucester Park race results, click here.

______________________________________________________________________

Outstanding filly Encipher showed why she is Victoria Oaks favourite going into the heats when she resumed with a sparkling Bendigo win last week.

It’s no secret trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin think the world of the daughter of Captaintreacherous, who has only raced twice this year by design for two wins.

Encipher was a star last year with a string of major wins and finished the season with a fighting second in the Vicbred final.

Regular driver Kate Gath had an armchair drive last week, taking Encipher to the front from gate three, dictating terms and dashing away to exciting Victoria Derby contender and former Kiwi pacer Justalittlesip by 10.2m in a 1min56.6sec mile rate for 2150m. They ripped home in 53.5 and 26.3sec.

ENCHIPHER REPLAY

The heats of the Oaks and the Derby are part of a stellar card at Melton next Saturday night.

For complete Bendigo race results, click here.

______________________________________________________________________

Try and find time to watch race one at Bendigo on Wednesday night (Sep 28).

It’s clear top trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin have one of their best ever crops of juvenile boys.

Petracca, First Responder and Major Celebrity are those we’ve already seen a bit of, but Stewart thinks another, The Lost Storm, could be the best of the lot.

The Lost Storm, a Captaintreacherous colt, won his only start back on July 22 by an increasing 17m and paced a – wait for it – 25.7sec last quarter.

He returns for a heat of the Vicbred Home Grown series ahead of majors like the Breeders Crown and Vicbred.

The race is at 6.48pm NZ time on Wednesday.

On the same card, Ladies In Red’s sister, Perfect In Pink, will chase her third win from as many starts when she returns from a spell in a heat of the Home Grown for 2YO fillies.

For complete Bendigo race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand