Harness Central: Home

Welcome To Harness = Central

Hello Harness Central Readers,

Harness Central is endeavouring to start a database of = e-mail=20 addresses from people who view Harness Central on a regular = basis or=20 even on a once a week basis.

If you do choose to send in your e-mail address, you = might=20 receive advertisements from our advertisers, Harness Central = updates, news concerning Harness Central and just simply = breaking=20 news in the format of a media release.

To simply join our database, send in the following = details to the=20 e-mail address of nathan@harnesslink.com =96=20 Your E-Mail Address, Your Name, What Country & City You = Come=20 From.

Even if you don=92t view Harness Central on a regular = basis, take a=20 minute to send us an e-mail and you might be happily = surprised by=20 what you receive.

Thank you,

Nathan Brehaut

Harness Central=92s Controlling Body

SA Harness Highlights =

Norman-Dunlop Combine for Feature Double

Mythical Beast had little idea what to do in a standing = start=20 race when he first faced the tapes in the Echuca Cup of = 2005, where=20 he blew the start and finished a distanced last.

Since then Gawler River horseman Greg Norman has turned = Mythical=20 Beast=92s manners around, setting the six-year-old on a = successful=20 Country Cups schedule over the past month, all under = handicapped=20 stand start conditions.

A Southern Cross runner-up behind Bobby Hank in both his = three-=20 and four-year-old Series=92, Mythical Beast has always been = a handy=20 pacer but never really been able to match it with the top = class=20 week-in and week-out.

However Norman has seemingly found a niche for his = gelding in the=20 evenly matched Country Cup events.

Mythical Beast won the Eli Hambour 60th Anniversary = Kapunda Cup=20 on March 11, before collecting runner-up cheques at the = subsequent=20 Port Pirie and Strathalbyn Cups.

The fourth Cup on the program was held last Friday night = at the=20 Gawler Landscaping Supplies Sportspark. Spurred on by a=20 disappointing beiginning at the previous Sunday=92s = Strathalbyn=20 fixture, driver Jock Dunlop had Mythical Beast humming from = the=20 start and after a short breather behind the leader moved to = the=20 one-wide line where he eventually received further cover = from=20 backmarker Nicky Anvil.

Dunlop was able to get his charge into clear space at the = top of=20 the straight, and in a great finish where just four lengths = covered=20 the whole field, the pair where able to make the winning = break and=20 secure the 2007 Carlton =96 Fosters Group Gawler Cup.

The Norman-Dunlop training and driving team tasted = victory again=20 in the very next race, the Gawler South Bakery Gawler Derby. = Indicative was racing for the third time in six days and = proved the=20 hard racing had no ill effects by sitting outside the leader = and=20 outstaying his rivals.

Limited SA Success at Mildura

Mildura Cup week did not provide South Australian = participants=20 with too many highlights, although a couple of stars shone = on=20 Saturday, the final night of the week long carnival.

The three-night harness racing extravaganza started on = Tuesday=20 when Indicative, a winner the previous Sunday and subsequent = Gawler=20 Derby victor, finished seventh after leading in a Guineas = Heat and=20 Safe Ridge finished last in similar style in the second = heat.

Allbert, Roycie, Unique Babe, Judyslittlegem and Jaccka = William=20 all finished unplaced in their events while Conte De Cristo = finished=20 fifth after leading in a Mildura Cup heat and Free Loader = was pulled=20 up in the same heat with broken gear.

The one shining light on the Tuesday night program was = Ndizani=20 who finished a close second after working hard in sparkling = time, a=20 showcase of what was to come.

Thursday brought no more luck for the SA contingent with = Tommy=20 Thegun, Clansman, Amarillo Blue, Its My Life and Silent Fury = all=20 failing to finish among the placings.

SA representation was smaller on Saturday night but Two = Wells=20 trainer-reinsman Scott Ewen got the night off well for the = western=20 raiders with victory in the opening event aboard Get Going. = The=20 Former New Zealander set the Mildura track alight with a = three-wide=20 sprint down the back straight that left the opposition in = his=20 wake.

The Garry Connor-trained Ndizani then put in the run of = the night=20 to go down narrowly in the $17,500 final of the Mark Gurry = &=20 Associates Cup. Caught three-wide throughout with Neil = =91Pecker=92=20 McCallum in the sulky, Ndizani had the audacity to fight out = the=20 finish to be beaten into second place by just a neck.

Presidents Leading The Way

Harness Racing Presidents have been leading on the track = in the=20 past month, posting winners while plotting the future of = their=20 respective clubs.

Gawler Harness Racing Club President Barry Ewen kicked = things off=20 in early March when he continued the great season for his = classy=20 mare She Knows How who recorded a win at Port Pirie

Bronte Giorgio, president of the SA Harness Racing Club, = matched=20 the task by preparing Fake Currency to win in the hands of = Natalee=20 Westendorf as part of the Reinswomens Challenge a fortnight=20 later.

Kapunda President Marcus Hearl would not to be outdone, = and was=20 in the winners circle at Globe Derby Park last weekend after = training and driving Bold Mover to victory in the Bernie = McCue=20 Memorial Trotters Cup.

Then at last Friday night=92s Gawler Cup meeting, = Strathalbyn=20 President Max Beasley celebrated the maiden win of Onya Girl = in the=20 last race on the program. Beasley only trains one or two = horses at a=20 time and Onya Girl=92s win is the first for the Beasley = stable since=20 Dream Believer was successful at the same track in October = 2005.

Harding Targets 100

David Harding moved to within four wins of a second = straight=20 100-win season and wrested the =91in-from reinsman=92 title = back from=20 Ryan Hryhorec who dominated the Easter Sunday meeting with = four=20 winners and looked like making a dent on Harding=92s State = Premiership=20 lead.

Harding won the opening two events at last Friday = night=92s Gawler=20 Cup meeting with Royalnhandsome and Dollar Mick and then = collected=20 the Domenic Virgara Memorial with second-starter Gday = Gorgeous for=20 Sheoak Log trainer Michael Dodd.

The next night Harding racked up a quartet with wins = aboard The=20 Juggernaut, Black Saab, Manzano and Diamond Garry. The = Harding=20 family dominated the last three events on the 10-race = program with=20 Matthew Harding training and reining Avidale to it=92s third = successive victory, David Harding winning with Manzano for = his=20 father Les and David also winning the last on Diamond Garry = for=20 brother Matthew.

Both Harding and Ryan Hryhorec are driving in great form = at the=20 moment and the latter was in Scott Ewen=92s shoes on the = weekend=20 picking up three wins on his regular drives.

Comet Back at the Park

An interesting trialer at Globe Derby Park on Sunday was = Comet=20 Soho, now being trained by Anthony Robinson.

Now nine-years-old, the mare who won the Gramel Series = with a=20 clean sweep in 2004, has had just one racing preparation = since=20 breaking down in August 2004.

The talented trotter was impressive in leading a field of = well-assessed pacers that included the likes of Deep Pockets = and=20 Lets Sparkle. She battled hard to the line without being = fully=20 tested and a shot at the 2007 Gramel Series may be a likely = target=20 for connections.

Courtesy of Neal Conder, HRSA

Track Record Mildura = Cup Win To=20 Safari

After a track record heat win on Tuesday night, it = would=92ve=20 been understandable if connections of potential grand = circuit star=20 Safari chose to take a more low key approach into Saturday = night=92s=20 (April 14) Mildura Pacing Cup.

With trainer Emma Stewart not on course due to illness, = the major=20 decisions were left up to reinsman Brian Gath who was = in-form after=20 piloting two winners earlier in the evening.

Much like his heat win, Safari was out well from gate = twelve and=20 before long was applying pressure to the leader and fellow = heat=20 winner Scott Patrick from the =91death seat=92.

Flying through the first 100 metres in a lead time of 72 = seconds,=20 the race was on track to smash the previous track record of=20 1:59.0.

B H Cullen settled in the one out, one back position with = third=20 favourite Penny Veejay bringing up the rear in second last=20 place.

Running the first section in 30.1 seconds, Safari was = relentless=20 in applying pressure on Scott Patrick=92s outside.

David Murphy continued to run quick time in front on = Scott=20 Patrick entering the back straight for the final time after = a second=20 quarter of 29.7 seconds.

The leading pair started to move away from the field up = the back=20 straight as most struggled to catch up from behind.

Alford unleashed Penny Veejay at the 400 metre mark as he = almost=20 simultaneously made his way around the field, in the three = wide=20 line.

Scott Patrick started to feel the =91pinch=92 on the = final bend as he=20 gradually slowed down leaving Safari in front to continue = the=20 trend.

Penny Veejay flashed up the straight late but there was = no=20 catching Safari as he went onto win by 3.8 metres.

Penny Veejay filled second place with Sequoiahs Spirit = who weaved=20 through the pack in the final lap, third.

The third quarter was run in 29.2 seconds with the fourth = sectional being slightly slower in 29.7 seconds.

The winning mile rate was a track record 1:58.2, 0.8 = seconds=20 quicker than his heat win.

Safari has now had 58 starts for 22 wins and 18 minor=20 placings.

By Nathan Brehaut

10yo Takes Out Mildura = FFA

Ten-year-old gelding Mosquito Gold ran the race of his = =91life=92=20 at Mildura on Saturday night (April 14) when he defeated a = handy=20 field of pacers in the Loddon Valley Stud FFA.

The Marty Noonan trained pacer of 125 starts brought up = his 42nd=20 victory in the $13,000 co-feature.

Dashing to the front from barrier five, Noonan was happy = to run=20 along in front as the Pure Steel winner in Tactical Dreamer = wagged=20 his tail at the rear of the field.

Mildura Cup emergency Stormy Crusader sat mid-field = despite being=20 in the =91death seat=92 with Track N Trace finding himself = behind the=20 leader on settling.

The Maryborough trainer-driver completed the first = section aboard=20 his =91old timer=92 in 30.7 seconds deciding to out race and = out sprint=20 Tactical Dreamer who was struggling to make ground up from=20 behind.

Followed by a second quarter of 30.2 seconds, Mosquito = Gold=20 entered the back straight travelling well within = himself.

Hitting top gear up the back, the Echelon standardbred = rounded=20 off a third quarter of 28.9 leaving the field for =91dead=92 = as he came=20 around the home turn.

Track N Trace was the only danger in the home straight = but he was=20 only able to cut the margin back to 7.1 metres as the field = passed=20 the post.

Formulaone ran home late in finishing third.

The final quarter was completed in 29.3 seconds with the = winning=20 rate being a slick 1:59.3.

Mosquito Gold was at his peak in late 2001 and early 2002 = when he=20 rounded off seven straight victories.

Two years later, in early 2005, Mosquito Gold won a = $13,000 event=20 at Moonee Valley in which he beat home Hunter Cup winner = Mont Denver=20 Gold and recent Inter Dominion heat winner Franco Heir.

By Nathan Brehaut

Gath At His Brilliant = Best

Harness racing marvel Brian Gath was at his brilliant = best at=20 Mildura on Saturday night (April 14) piloting home three = winners out=20 of the nine races programmed on the card.

One of the winners for this brilliant reinsmen came in = race five=20 when Gath sustained his run for the duration of the Mark = Gurry &=20 Associates Cup in scoring aboard Manwarra Goforgold.

Over the 2190 metres, Gath was happy to sit in the = =91death chair=92=20 on the five-year-old on settling.

Exciting heat winner No More Trouble utilised his pole = draw in=20 holding the front opting to keep out any challengers by all = means=20 possible.

Ndizani wouldn=92t give in at the start when unable to = get to the=20 =91breeze=92 opting to keep up the pressure three wide.

Accepting defeat at the winning post with two laps to = run, Neil=20 McCallum eased back slightly on Ndizani but surprisingly = still=20 stayed three deep.

Completing the first three quarters in 32.4, 31.5 and = 30.3=20 seconds, Manwarra Goforgold rounded the home turn in front = of=20 Ndizani who amazingly still stood alongside his close = rival.

Arapal booted up three deep on the home turn but he had = missed=20 the =91boat=92 as he was forced to be content with third = place as first=20 and second place were out of reach.

Manwarra Goforgold and Ndizani continued their fight to = the line=20 with Ndizani clearly deserving of the title.

Manwarra Goforgold found a little extra in the closing = stages as=20 he greeted the judge a neck ahead of a very game = Ndizani.

The final sectional was completed in 29.5 seconds with = the=20 winning mile rate being run in 2:00.9.

Gath took out race two earlier in the evening on Armbro = Operative=20 colt Hombre Higgins and later in the night won the feature = event=20 aboard Safari.

By Nathan Brehaut

Justice 'Loving' Lombo =

Melton based trainer-driver John Justice was =91all = the rage=92=20 leading into Saturday night=92s (April 14) Mildura Guineas, = having=20 prepared both the heat winners for the $15,000 final, Luv = The Aces=20 Lombo justified Justice=92s popularity by scoring in the=20 feature.

Both Luv The Aces Lombo and Thats Master Ali dominated = betting=20 pre-race leaving the Justice camp licking their lips before = the=20 proceedings got under way.

Opting to drive Luv The Aces Lombo, Tanya Cavallaro = picked up the=20 drive on Thats Master Ali.

Wasting no time in going forward, Cavallaro had Thats = Master Ali=20 three deep early as she eventually worked her way to the = =91breeze=92 on=20 the gelding.

Showdownatmidnight led early, holding out Armbros Choice = who had=20 a go for the front shortly after the start.

Completing the first quarter in 31 seconds flat,=20 Showdownatmidnight had to deal with another challenger at = the 1400=20 metre mark as Thats Master Ali had a dip for the lead.

The first of the moves to come as the bell sounded was = made by=20 Luv The Aces Lombo who headed the three wide train.

Before long, the context of the race had changed = completely as=20 Thats Master Ali faded out of it leaving Luv The Aces Lombo = to fill=20 the place on the outer.

Bursting away half way up the straight, Luv The Aces = Lombo glided=20 away from the nine horse field as he went on to win by seven = metres.

Maximus Extremis who had made his run by coming three = wide with=20 cover finished second with Thats Master Ali a massive run in = third.

The final three sectionals were completed in 31.7, 29.1 = and 29.8=20 with the winning mile rate being run in 2:01.2.

Luv The Aces Lombo is by Aces N Sevens and out of Lotsa = Luv Lombo=20 who managed to win 11 races in her time.

Luv The Aces Lombo and Thats Master Ali are very handy = editions=20 to the John Justice stable at a time when stable star Ball = Gown has=20 recently sold to North America.

By Nathan Brehaut

Paul Returns A Good = Profit

Kim=20 Young & connections of Diamond Paul -=20

Six-year-old Diamond Paul, who burst back to form with = a=20 powerful victory in the Southern Gazette Community Stakes at = Gloucester Park on Friday night, has proved a good buy for = his four=20 new owners.

The gelding was claimed for $12,000 at Gloucester Park = last July,=20 and he now has had 17 starts for his new connections for six = wins=20 and $39,305, which represents a handsome profit of $27,305 = in nine=20 months.

Since being claimed, Diamond Paul has been prepared at = Pinjarra=20 by Kim Young, who said that he probably was the best horse = he has=20 trained.

Before Friday night=92s race, Diamond Paul had chalked up = eight=20 unplaced runs since winning the Golden Mile Cup in = Kalgoorlie last=20 September.

=93He had a little hiccup at the end of the Kalgoorlie = trip and it=20 has taken All this time to get him back to his peak,=94 = Young=20 said.

=93He=92s just a lovely horse; he=92s tough and has got = speed and he=92ll=20 be competitive at the next level.=94

Diamond Paul started at 9/1 and Young was content to drop = him out=20 to last in the field of ten while Dilingers Reign was = setting a fast=20 pace.

Demoralizer challenged for the lead in the first lap and = then=20 Gary Hall jun. sent Albert Chief to the front with 1450m to = go.=20 Young sent Diamond Paul forward in the second lap and the = gelding=20 was applying the pressure out three wide in third place at = the=20 bell.

Diamond Paul got his head in front 450m from home and he = went on=20 to win easily from Cullens Cover, who finished solidly from = sixth at=20 the bell.

Stephen Reed Grabs His = Chance=20

Stephen Reed & connections -=20

Aaron Beckett had a difficult decision to make last = week when=20 he had to decide between driving Lombo Buon Natale at = Gloucester=20 Park and newcomer Torn To Shreds at Narrogin.

He chose Torn To Shreds, a Safely Kept two-year-old = making his=20 debut. It was a good choice because Torn To Shreds, a = half-brother=20 to handy pacer Back In The Black, scored an impressive = victory.=20 Beckett is the regular reinsman for trainer Graham Pike=92s = speedy=20 six-year-old Lombo Buon Natale, who had drawn ideally at No. = 1 in=20 the Melville Times Community Stakes at Gloucester Park.

Pike then engaged Stephen Reed, who grabbed his chance by = driving=20 the 5/1 chance to an all-the-way win by a head over Lady De=20 Beau.

It was Reed=92s second drive behind Lombo Buon Natale = after having=20 driven the gelding into fifth place in the Collie Cup last=20 month.

Reed explained that he had driven a poor race at Collie = and he=20 thanked Pike for giving him a chance to make amends.

Lombo Buon Natale has been an excellent moneyspinner for = Pike and=20 the gelding now has had 46 starts for 11 wins, 11 placings = and=20 $87,693.

He is one of the five winners out of Remember Rhoie, who = was=20 retired after being placed at seven starts in the early = 1990s. She=20 has proved a success as a broodmare, having produced Lombo = Lewinsky=20 (two wins and $12,150), Lombo Bellessima (three wins and = $10,250),=20 Lombo Buon Natale, Perfect Rhoie (eight wins and $49,209) = and Mister=20 Mona Lisa (five wins and $28,605).

Remember Rhoie is a daughter of Double Dainty, a daughter = of=20 former champion mare Dainty=92s Daughter.

Double To Justin = Prentice

Perfect Gold Lombo - =

Talented Bunbury teenager Justin Prentice revealed a = wonderful=20 temperament, a cool nerve and abundant skill in driving the = first=20 two winners at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

He started proceedings with an all-the-way victory with = the Greg=20 Harper-trained Perfect Gold Lombo in the Weekend Courier = Community=20 Stakes and completed the double with a stylish win behind = the Ray=20 Grantham-trained Village hero in the Comment News Community=20 Stakes.

Perfect Gold Lombo, favourite at 7/4 on, led from barrier = three=20 and was hotly challenged by Nelson Street for much of the = final=20 circuit before winning by a metre.

=93There was a bit of pressure on, with such a = short-priced=20 favourite, and I=92m just glad to have come through,=94 = Prentice=20 said.

Perfect Gold Lombo covered the final 800m in 57.9sec. and = had to=20 be driven out by Prentice to hold off the gallant Nelson = Street.

=93He relaxed well in front and he just needed a bit of a = wake-up=20 call towards the end,=94 Prentice said.

Village Hero, sent out favourite at 6/4 on, began = speedily from=20 barrier one before being hotly challenged after 450m by = veteran=20 Runam Along (Kody Charles).

Runam Along, who had been trapped four wide for the first = 400m,=20 got his head in front of Village Hero 100m later and = Prentice showed=20 tremendous maturity and composure when he surrendered the = lead and=20 took the trail behind Runam Along.

Prentice wisely decided not to engage in a war with the=20 hard-pulling Runam Along and he bided his time until he = eased=20 Village Hero off the inside with 750m to travel. He then = drove=20 patiently before sending Village Hero to the front 320m from = home.

Village Hero sprinted the final 400m in 28.5sec. to win = easily=20 from Lombo Profile, with Runam Along fading to eighth. = Village Hero=20 rated a slick 1.57.1 over the 1730m in winning for the tenth = time=20 from 57 starts.

Joe Suvaljko Makes Most = Of=20 Opportunity

Joe=20 Suvaljko jnr and connections -

When trainer Shannon Suvaljko decided to drive speedy = filly=20 Five Tin Lids at Narrogin on Friday night he gave his = brother Joe a=20 wonderful opportunity to drive a city winner.

The 39-year-old Joe Suvaljko eagerly agreed to drive = Silent Five=20 in the Canning Times Community Pace at Gloucester Park.

He drove an aggressive, confident race to land 11/4 = chance Silent=20 Five a winner by a head over the fast-finishing 7/4 = favourite Our=20 Safely Star in the 2102m stand.

Off hand, Joe Suvaljko couldn=92t remember his previous = city=20 winner. Indeed, it was several years ago.

Shannon Suvaljko (38), who trains Silent Five, told his = brother=20 that the gelding was tough and durable and could handle the = task of=20 racing without a trail.

This is exactly what transpired. Joe Suvaljko was content = to=20 leave Silent Five on the outside of the pacemaker Body = Armour before=20 taking the lead 100m from the post.

Our Safely Star, who had galloped briefly from barrier = one, was=20 badly held up behind the leader until Colin Brown was able = to get=20 the gelding off the inside approaching the home turn. Our = Safely=20 Star then went three wide and stormed home to be a most = unlucky=20 second.

Shannon Suvaljko was happy he made the trip to Narrogin = where he=20 set the pace with Five Tin Lids in a prelude of the = Dainty=92s=20 Daughter Classic. Five Tin Lids was untroubled to win easily = from=20 Cassie Rox.

Five Tin Lids also set the pace when she won the first = prelude of=20 the Dainty=92s Daughter Classic from Saabs Sibling at = Cunderdin the=20 previous Saturday.

To complete a great night for the Suvaljko family, the = youngest=20 brother Callan (32) trained and drove the final two winners = at=20 Gloucester Park with Hollywood Stride and Baby James.

Hollywood Stride, a 4/1 chance with bookmakers and at 9/1 = on the=20 tote, dashed to an early lead and was unextended in winning = easily=20 from the fast-finishing Wild And Free in the McInerney Ford = Fiesta=20 Competition Stakes.

Then 7/4 favourite Baby James started from 10m, charged = to the=20 front with 1450m to travel and went on to score easily from = Rugby=20 Fella in the Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette Community = Pace.

Lindas Only Passes = $100,000 Mark=20

Colin=20 Reeves & owners of Lindas Only - =

Underrated colt Lindas Only continued on his merry = winning way=20 when he sprinted home fast to win the $45,000 Community = Newspapers=20 Western Gateway Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday = night.

Bred by Susan Reeves, Lindas Only took his stake-earnings = past=20 the $100,000 mark with his decisive victory over pacemaker = Adda=20 Double Dip and Ohokas Pocket.

While Lindas Only, driven perfectly by Colin Reeves, was = a most=20 deserving winner, the shock of the race was the abject = failure of=20 5/4 favourite Barjohbil, who struggled home into sixth place = after=20 enjoying an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.

When Ryan Warwick eased Barjohbil three wide with 550m to = travel,=20 most pundits expected the colt to dash forward quickly and = assume=20 control.

But Barjohbil hung in from the 500m and did not threaten = danger=20 at any stage.

Warwick explained that Barjohbil had a tendency to hang = inwards=20 when asked to sprint at top speed after vacating a = favourable=20 trailing position.

A veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities and = the=20 stewards banned Barjohbil for six days and ordered the colt = to=20 complete a satisfactory trial.

Despite his defeat, trainer Barry Warwick informed the = stewards=20 that he was going ahead with his plans to take Barjohbil to = Brisbane=20 to contest Queensland=92s Triad series for two, three and=20 four-year-olds.

He told the stewards that he was flying out of Perth a = couple of=20 hours after Barjohbil=92s failure on Friday night to arrange = stabling=20 for the colt in Brisbane. He said that Barjohbil would have = the next=20 four days off to freshen up before leaving for = Queensland.

Reeves praised Lindas Only, saying: =93He got the draw, = he got the=20 run and he got the break at the right time. And he=92s done = a super=20 job.=94

From barrier one, Lindas Only enjoyed a perfect run = behind the=20 frontrunning Adda Double Dip, but Reeves was in two minds = with 500m=20 to travel when Barjohbil was pulled three wide.

Reeves decided to remain on the inside behind Adda Double = Dip,=20 and this proved a winning move. Reeves explained that he = thought=20 Chooks Reward (who had worked hard outside the leader) would = fade=20 and that Adda Double Dip would run out a strong 2536m.

=93As it tuned out, it was the right move,=94 Reeves = said. Lindas=20 Only, the only progeny of former talented race mare = Turlington,=20 stayed on the pegs while Susan Roberts dashed Adda Double = Dip away=20 to a two-length lead 250m from home.

Lindas Only then unwound a powerful burst to charge to = the front=20 with 20m to travel. His victory took his record to 31 starts = for=20 nine wins, nine placings and $103,385 in stakes.

The eye-catching run in the race was that of the only = filly,=20 Scentiment, who was having her second start in WA for = trainer Kristy=20 Padberg after winning four races in New South Wales last = year.

Scentiment, a 50/1 chance whose price firmed from $90 to = $69 on=20 the tote, raced in seventh place on the pegs before she = charged home=20 with a spirited burst to finish fourth. It was an effort = that showed=20 she would be a leading contender for the $125,000 WA Oaks at = Gloucester Park on May 18.

Diamonds N Furs In Cup = Win=20

Diamonds N Furs - in a previous=20 victory

The in-form Diamonds N Furs continued his winning run = with a=20 stylish display at Bendigo on Friday night (April 13) in the = KR=20 Castlemaine Foods Castlemaine Cup.

Having not raced since the 24th of March when he was = successful=20 in the Rising Stars Final, Diamonds N Furs started the = $8,000=20 Castlemaine feature as a $2.50 second favourite.

Making his way to the =91breeze=92 at the bell, Diamonds = N Furs was=20 travelling well within himself as the field prepared = themselves for=20 the final turn.

Getting away from leader Prince Bonton at the top of the = home=20 straight, the Matthew Craven driven gelding went onto win by = 7.6=20 metres.

Mendacity and Sayonara filled the minor placings with = Prince=20 Bonton dropping out of it late in finishing in seventh = place.

The sectionals for the 2150 metre journey were completed = in 31.6,=20 30.1, 30.0 and 28.1 with the winning mile rate being = completed in=20 1:58.2.

By Nathan Brehaut

Friday Night=92s New = Zealand=20 Racing

Sly=20 Flyin - Scoring after being three back on the inside=20 mid-race

Susie=20 Maguire - After the exciting victory

Running On Faith - Levelling up and = beating=20 home red hot favourite One Dream

Two group one races plus a handful of features = highlighted the=20 Alexandra Park meeting in New Zealand on Friday night (April = 13)=20 giving punters plenty to have a gamble on.

An eventful evening of harness racing in Auckland took = place with=20 a few boilovers occurring much to the punter=92s = disgust.

The first feature of the nine event card came in race = three when=20 brilliant trotters One Over Kenny and Galleons Assassin went = head to=20 head in the Sky City Casino Handicap Trot.

Both were sent out fighting for favouritism but despite = all this,=20 an upset was soon to come.

On settling Galleons Assassin had landed himself in the = =91death=20 chair=92 with Our Sunny Whiz sitting comfortably behind the=20 leader.

One Over Kenny sat mid-field in the running line but = didn=92t make=20 his presence felt until very late in the race.

Reining up to Galleons Assassin at the top of the home = straight,=20 the favoured pair gapped the field making it very unlikely = that a=20 late finisher could win the $24,500 event.

In the final 150 metres, Our Sunny Whiz came thundering = down the=20 outside and before long this five-year-old mare had upset = the two=20 favourites leaving them to lick their wounds in second and = third=20 place.

The next feature came in the Monkey Shop FFA where Sly = Flyin=92s=20 win had to be seen to be believed.

Sitting on the outer early, master reinsman Tony Herlihy = opted to=20 take a trail three back on the inside shortly after the = start.

Coming off the pegs on the home turn, Sly Flyin ran down = Pay Me=20 Christian and Mi Muchacho in taking out the feature by a = metre.

The two-year-old fillies graced the Auckland circuit next = with=20 Susie Maguire reining supreme.

Out well from gate two, the daughter of Presidential Ball = led the=20 field out but handed up to Lizzie Maguire at the mile = marker.

Shooting through on the passing lane in the closing = stages, Susie=20 Maguire took out the group one in a very tight photo with = Itz Cherry=20 Ripe.

The $150,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks soon followed with the = red hot=20 favourite One Dream being beaten by somewhat of an outsider = in=20 Running On Faith.

Running On Faith ran to the front at the 1350 metre mark = leaving=20 the Frank Cooney driven One Dream in the =91breeze=92.

Unhappy with this, the champion filly ran to the front = leaving=20 Running On Faith with a trail, behind the leader.

Having one last crack at One Dream in the home straight, = the Jeff=20 Crouth trained three-year-old, Running On Faith, had the = blessing of=20 the gods as he levelled up in the closing stages in causing = a=20 boilover.

By Nathan Brehaut

Sarina Salutes On His = Bold Colt=20

A textbook drive from Ben Sarina paved the way to = victory for=20 three-year-old colt Bold And Regal in the Clubs NSW Simpson = Memorial=20 at Harold Park on Friday night (April 13).

Having prepared himself for Harold Park class with two = wins at=20 Bankstown and Penrith, Bold And Regal was in the betting = before the=20 race starting a $5.20 second favourite.

Over the 2160 metres, Sarina used his =91wits=92 early in = placing the=20 son of Stature in the one out, one back position on = settling.

Queenslander Good Boy Diesel controlled the race in front = with=20 Victorian Bad Boy Hippo going neck and neck with the leader=20 mid-race.

The Paul Fitzpatrick trained Mister Swinger was behind = the leader=20 with favourite Lively Exit who has covered more ground = lately than=20 any other horse in Australasia, three back in the running = line.

Rounding the sectionals off in solid time, the two front = running=20 pacers were gone half way up the back straight.

In turn, Lively Exit shot forward three deep but was = forced four=20 wide as Bold And Regal raced up on Lively Exit=92s = inside.

This duel continued well into the home straight as the = pair tried=20 to out sprint the swarm of runners coming down the outside = late.

In a =91bob of the head=92 finish, Bold And Regal came up = trumps=20 greeting the judge with a salute of the whip from = Sarina.

Lively Exit finished second with Dougs Place third.

As the NSW Derby fast approaches on April 27, Bold And = Regal=20 would now have to firm as one of the main dangers to hot = favourite=20 Lombo Pocket Watch.

By Nathan Brehaut

Sundons Gift Up There = With The=20 Best

Smart trotter Sundons Gift showed why he is right up = there=20 with the best trotters in Australia when he dominated the = Fat=20 Quaddies Start 27/4 Trotter=92s FFA at Moonee Valley on = Friday=20 afternoon (April 13).

Trained by Nagambie horseman Chris Lang, Sundons Gift is = by=20 trotting great Sundon and out of Landoras Gift who won four = races=20 from her 36 starts.

Coming off an impressive victory at Bendigo last week, = the=20 five-year-old gelding was eased out and after being unable = to cross=20 into the running line immediately, Sundons Gift eventually = found=20 himself three back on the outer.

No Early Spark showed good speed early in getting to the = front=20 with another Chris Lang trained runner in Contessa Hest = settling in=20 the =91death seat=92.

Starlight Josh was away awesomely from barrier nine and = due to=20 the spread out field was able to end up behind the = leader.

Showing some hesitation in coming three wide, Sundons = Gift=20 eventually made the trip three deep in running to the = =91death seat=92=20 at the 1200 metre mark.

Never looking back from there, Sundons Gift did it with = ease in=20 the =91breeze=92 for the later part of the race.

Only doing what he had to do in the home straight, = Sundons Gift=20 greeted the judge a 1.8 metre victor over close rivals No = Early=20 Spark and Starlight Josh.

The sectionals were completed in 31.5, 31.9, 29.7 and = 29.4=20 seconds with the winning mile rate being completed in = 2:04.3.

Later in the day, The Quiet Village made some noise with = a very=20 strong victory in the Sky Channel Pace.

Settling in the one-one, the Daniel Jack driven = five-year-old was=20 slightly blocked at the top of the home straight but had no = trouble=20 in racing to the line a 2.4 metre victor.

By Nathan Brehaut

Rowse Home With = Decorated Jasper=20

Four-year-old gelding Decorated Jasper gave Ballarat = mentor=20 Paul Rowse a well deserved win in a heat of the Vicbred = Super Series=20 at Moonee Valley on Friday afternoon (April 13).

Coming off a solid win at Cranbourne in late March, = Decorated=20 Jasper was somewhat favoured pre-race as he went onto the = track as a=20 $5.60 fourth elect.

Eased out of the gate by reinswoman Jodi Quinlan, the = Villager=20 Jasper pacer settled second last opting not to take part in = the=20 occurrences up front.

Knowlsies Crown intimidated all early showing no signs of = being=20 overtaken as Jagged Knight tried but failed to run to the = front.

Completing the first two sectionals in 30.8 and 30.1 = seconds,=20 Quinlan made a moved three wide with cover on Decorated = Jasper.

As the field raced past the 600 metre mark, Knowlsies = Crown=20 started to feel the =91pinch=92 as he faded dramatically out = of the race=20 in finishing second last.

The much fancied Master Of Disguise hit the front half = way up the=20 straight but was beaten by a better horse on the day as = Decorated=20 Jasper ran to the front in the closing stages.

Master Of Disguise finished half a neck away in second = with=20 Albert Jaccka, third.

The final two sectionals were completed in 27.6 and 29.3 = seconds=20 with the winning mile rate being completed in 1:59.2.

By Nathan Brehaut

Gloucester Park Stakes = To Be=20 Increased

WA Trotting Association President John Burt today = advised that=20 as a result of distribution funding advice received from = Racing=20 & Wagering Western Australia he believed it would be = possible to=20 increase stakes for WATA metropolitan races to a minimum of = $16,000=20 per race effective August 2007.

In addition Burt announced there would likely be = increases in=20 midweek race meeting stakes at Gloucester Park and = significant=20 increases in feature race stakes.

In more good news for harness racing participants the = WATA=20 Committee last week resolved to substantially increase the = funding=20 of the 2008 WA Pacing Cup from $250,000 to $500,000 to = position the=20 WA Pacing Cup in line with NSW=92s Miracle Mile and = Victoria=92s Hunter=20 Cup; in addition the WA Pacing Cup will return to its = traditional=20 January race date.

It is envisaged the revised date and increased stakes = will=20 attract national interest and competitors as connections = prepare=20 their horses for the 2008 Inter Dominion Championship in = Victoria in=20 February/March. (Under the new Inter Dominion rules winners = of=20 Australasian Grand Circuit events automatically qualify for = the=20 Inter Dominion pacing semi finals.)

Final stakes funding details will be made available after = the=20 2007/08 budget isfinalised.

Courtesy of Rob Bovell, General Manager, = WATA

Changeover Out Off NSW = Derby=20

Changeover - In full flight in = March 2nd's=20 Great Northern Derby

Champion New Zealand three-year-old Changeover will = not be=20 contesting the $100,000 NSW Derby on April 27 as no direct = flight=20 from Christchurch to Sydney was available.

Defeating Lombo Pocket Watch on New Zealand soil in the = early=20 days of March, the superstar son of Chaangerr was left = stranded and=20 unable to race for his third major win this season.

=93We couldn=92t get a direct flight from Christchurch to = Sydney so=20 we decided not to head to Australia for the NSW Derby,=94 = trainer=20 Geoff Small said.

=93I was reluctant to float him to Auckland and then fly = him to=20 Australia as the trip to Auckland from Christchurch is a two = day=20 thing.=94

With the renowned Harness Jewels series approaching on = June 2nd,=20 the decision to stay put in New Zealand could be a master = stroke by=20 Small.

=93It would=92ve been his first major trip and then we = would have to=20 prepare him for the Harness Jewels so I feel the more = travelling we=20 do the more chance there is something can go wrong,=94 Small = explained.

Opting to contest a heat of the Southern Supremacy Stakes = at=20 Invercargill this Sunday (April 15), Changeover will have to = finish=20 first or second if he is to make the $50,000 final on April = 28.

=93After I knew we couldn=92t get to Australia, I thought = that he=20 might have nothing to race in for six weeks but thankfully = we found=20 this race in Invercargill so the Southlanders will be able = to see if=20 for once,=94 Small admitted.

Now the derby looks a one act affair with Lombo Pocket = Watch set=20 to take out his fourth classic for the season barring any = setbacks=20 leaving Small a little disappointed.

=93I would=92ve liked to have run against LPW again but = we are still=20 likely to make a trip to Australia for the Breeders Crown in = August=20 so we are likely to clash again.=94

By Nathan Brehaut

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