Almanac Horse Racing: Way Out West

 

Group 1 racing returned last Saturday with the running of the C F Orr Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield when we saw a stirring battle between Another Wil and Mr Brightside, with the pair putting a big gap on third placegetter, Steparty, and the rest of the field.

Another Wil was bred by the late Colin McKenna and raced with his wife, Janice, great supporters of racing, in particular in Western Victoria, for many years. The 5-year-old homebred gelding is trained by Ciaron Maher and was ridden by Jamie Melham, with the win taking his record to 9 wins and 3 placings from 14 starts.

This Saturday see’s the running of the Group 1 $1,000,000 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes over 1000m down the Flemington straight. The great Black Caviar made this race her own, winning it three times (2011-13), becoming the only horse to do so.

The race has brought together a strong field of sprinters and whilst there is no established star amongst them yet, the strong three-year-old sprinters certainly create plenty of interest.

 

Track maintenance

With no race meeting at Hamilton until Sunday April 6, the course is currently undergoing maintenance to have it ready for the autumn and winter racing when the club will benefit from greater exposure this year with feature jumps races moved to the course. The $75,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase and $75,000 Brendan Drechsler Hurdle, previously held at Pakenham, will this year be held at Hamilton on Sunday July 20.

The April 6 meeting will feature a minimum three jumps races providing the opportunity for horses to have a lead-in run to the Warrnambool May Carnival.

Jumps racing will also feature this season as usual at race meetings at Casterton in May, June and July and Coleraine in August.

 

Local connection 

The locally part-owned Wishlor Lass heads to Flemington on Saturday for the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes over 1400m. She’s won over 1400m four times and finalised her preparation with a trial behind Here To Shock at Geelong recently. Here To Shock trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes won first up at Group 1 level in New Zealand last Saturday. Jamie Melham takes the ride in Race 3 on Saturday.

The Daniel Bowman trained Is It Me will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in Race 10 at Flemington and cash in on the promise he’s shown since winning a Maiden at his first race start at Penshurst in November 2022. Billy Egan maintains the ride after being successful on him last start at the course and distance.

 

Harness

Friday night sees the running of the $30,000 Terang Pacing Cup with Hamilton’s Jackie Barker driving Rocknroll Walla in the race. Rocknroll Walla has had four starts this season for one placing, when third in the Hamilton Pacing Cup in mid-January.

Barker and her father, Rod, have eight drives between them on the program.

 

Blackbook

The Greg Eurell trained, High Praise, a 3-year-old gelding by Tarzino, was well supported at Pakenham over 1200m at his first race start and ran on well from back in the field when ridden by Damian Lane. He raced a little green in the straight and is sure to benefit from the experience and will appreciate stepping out in distance. Put him in your blackbook, he won’t be a maiden for long.

 

 

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