Herbertson Has Bags Packed
Ash Herberton's affinity with Cranbourne continued recently with the win of Strangeasitsounds in the Victorian Harness Racing Trainers & Drivers Association Pace on 10th February.
At regular intervals during the year the VHRTD&A, along with a host club, conduct feature races which provide a bonus of $200 to the winning trainer and driver on the proviso that they are paid up members of the Association.
No doubt Herbertson, who won last season's Cranbourne Trainers Bonanza, and his partner Jody Clover will put the bonus to good use as they put the finishing touches to their travel itinerary. The couple are planning to travel to Sweden in May to take in the Elitlopp and will then head to Austria and Switzerland for some sightseing before returning home via Milan, Italy.
Cranbourne CEO David Scott says the club is pleased to be able to offer such a tangible reward for trainers' participation at the venue. "It's just fantastic to talk to Ash and Jody and to understand how excited they are about their upcoming trip".
The Cranbourne Trainers Bonanza is being conducted again in 2010-11 and trainers to have already secured a chance in the end of season draw include Lee Evison, Tony Xiriha, Geoff Webster, David Aiken, Wayne Potter, Vince Vallelonga, Mal Whiteford and Brian Ruschmeyer.
Ultimate Under Fire Takes Out Eastern Zone Final
Improving 4YO Ultimate Under Fire recorded one of his most significant wins to date with his victory in the Eastern Zone Series Final for C2 & 3 pacers at Cranbourne on Saturday 2nd January.
The David Aiken trained gelding had a promising start to his racetrack career recording 3 wins in his freshman 2YO season and a further 3 wins as a 3YO.
Having just his third start as a 4YO at Cranbourne, the son of Courage Under Fire was forced to do some work three wide in the early and middle stages of the race before finding the lead at the bell. Driver Scott Dyer then upped the tempo from the head of affairs and Ultimate Under Fire posted a 58.3 second last half mile to defy all challengers in the run home.
Ultimate Under Fire is trained at Avenel by Aiken for one of his principal supporters in Brendan James who has been enjoying a run of success in recent months. The two combined to win the Yarra Valley Pacing Cup in early December with Jaccka Clive.
Upcoming Yearling Sales
Prospective new harness racing owners need look no further than the upcoming yearling sales for a wealth of opportunities to become involved in the sport.
The sales kick off with the Australian Pacing Gold sales on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th February with over 350 untried youngsters to go under the auctioneer's hammer. The Melbourne Premier Yearling sale to be conducted by Davidson, Cameron, Board & Simmons then occurs on Sunday 14th March.
In 2007, the average sale price of all yearlings sold at auction in Victoria was $12,050 whilst that number increased significantly to $16,925 in 2008. Notwithstanding this increase, the initial purchase price of the harness horse remains within the reach of most potential enthusiasts particularly when measured against the cost of purchasing a thoroughbred.
In 2008/09 over $33.5m was distributed across 4,000 races in Victoria meaining there has never been a better time to become involved.
The Cranbourne Harness Racing Club would be happy to assist any potential new owners with answers to their questions in the lead up to the sales and will gladly arrange introdutions to any of our local trainers in the coming weeks.
Historic Dead Heat In Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup
Visiting New Zealand pacer Bettors Strike and recent Kilmore Cup winner Ohoka Nevada produced one of the most thrilling finishes to a Cranbourne Pacing Cup for many a year and the result of the 2009 Group 2 feature was ultimately only decided after a post race adjudication by stewards more than a week after the running of event.
In bleak conditions Ohoka Neveda and his driver Damian Wilson siezed an early advantage over their rivals by spearing to the lead at barrier rise and the race favourite looked hard to run down from that point in proceedings. Outstanding junior Kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn made a similar assessment of the race aboard NZ Cup runner up Bettors Strike and quickly assumed a position outside the leader with over two laps to travel.
From there the pair rolled along at a steady pace on the rain effected track before running home in a blistering 55.8 seconds and hitting the line locked together almost 9 metres clear of third placegetter Karlsrhue.
After a lengthy delay the judge awarded the race to Bettors Strike deciding that the Cran Dalgety trained pacer had won by the narrowest of margins and stewards declared all clear.
In a controversial sequel to the race, the connections of Ohoka Nevada lodged an objection against the winner on the basis that the photo finish of the race did not provide conclsuive evidence that Bettors Strike had in fact prevailed. Given that the horse on the outside (Bettors Strike) obscured the nose of the inside horse, stewards agreed that the result was not absolutely conclusive and so awarded a dead heat in the 2009 Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup.
