Maryanne and I headed up the Hume, for the final Corowa race meeting for 2013. The first race on a seven race card was due at 14-23. We were joined by our friends from North Fitzroy’s majestic Royal Oak Hotel, Moira, and our erstwhile barman, Simon. Corowa turned on a beautiful sunny day, with the temperature in the high twenties. A great day’s racing followed with honours going to the combination of Brett Cavanough, and Jake Duffy, with four winners. Cavanough, the former gun shearer, who’d started off with a small stable in Tocumwal, and has expanded to be Albury based, with a stable the envy of many others in the region, was in red hot form. Most inpressive of these winners was the victory in the Sixth, with the colt, Just A Bullett, a horse we’ll soon see in town. In light of the good form of this pairing in Corowa, I chose to put my hard-earned $$ on them as they combined with Prince Pedro, at Flemington on New Years Day. Not to be, as Price Pedro brought up the field. Better luck next time
For the locals the best performed was inRace Five, where the Richard Freyer trained, Three Buddies, proved a very popular winner with the locals, and of course me. The Geoff Duryea trained Waitaha Prophecy, a city class runner who’d been placed at Sandown , ran a placing in race Six, its first run back from a five month spell. All in all a good day for our group, all of us breaking even, or finishing slightly in front. Next meeting at Corowa, Saturday February 15. I’l be there.
The New Year started off with a trip to Hanging Rock races. For over a century they have held a New Year’s Day race meeting, which always brings in the crowds. The track has had a rough run in recent times, with a number of New Year’s races, and others, not reaching their conclusion. Kangaroos on tracks, potholes on track, all of these have befallen Hanging Rock. On our prevous visit, it was one of those days, thus in 2014 we hoped to have a full day on track. A lovely day followed, as despite the drizzling rain, and a gusty breeze, the crowd was treated to a fine day’s racing. One of the highligts being a large mob of kangaroos converging behind the fence line on the southern side of the track, thankfully not on the track! Commentator Rick Mcintosh, called it the biggest mob of kangaroos he’d ever seen, being over 200 of them. In terms of racing highlights, Mark Pegus gets this. He had a ride on all six races, duly compiling two winners, and three placings. Special mention to a first starter in the second race, Lucky Bobby, who beat the rest of the field by a good six lengths if not more. As at Corowa I broke even on the day; no complaints from me re Hanging Rock. Next race at Hanging Rock is on Sunday January 26. Highly recommended .
Bihialin Nua Sasta. ( i think that’s the correct speling, I hope!)
Glen!
Glen- there is nothing better than a day at a Country Race meeting. Sounds like a great time was had by all and best of all you didnt lose
The Freyers are a famous Corowa racing dynasty and good to see them salute
Nice stuff Glen, flat Corowa to the more picturesque Hanging Rock love them both.
A dollar for how many times (particularly late in the day) you heard liquored up blokes shouting out ‘Miranda..Miranda’
Also notice the running of the time honoured’Ultrafeeds Hooves and Hounds Cake Mix Cup’.
Next time you are out and about, have a squiz at the race names, there is at least one piece of gold every meeting.
Also, how far out were the punters in the last , when the very strong pairing of John McArdle and Mark Pegus smash a 6-4on fav by 8 lengths
Hope you are on holidays Glen.
Here’s a nice 4 day sojourn for you starting on Saturday….
Alexandra, Woolamai, Stony Creek, Yarra Valley.
G’day Crio, hope 2014 is being good to you. No holidays for me, just a few days TIL i’d accumulated. Another track which is seeing action this weekend is Dederang. Might put it on the radar for future reference.
Glen!