Aussie News - 11th May

By Adam Hamilton

HECTORJAYJAY’S comeback continues at Albion Park on Tuesday.

The one-time toast of the sport will have just his second run in almost two years when he tackles five rivals over 1660m in a free-for-all.

Trainer Jack Butler has been thrilled with Hectorjayjay since his encouraging first-up third to Glenferrie Hood at Albion Park on May 2.

“We thought the run was excellent. He came through it well, clearly needed it because he blew-up a fair bit and will be fitter this time out,” he said.

“Still, it’ll be a tactical race and it’s never easy in these sprint races from wide draws around Albion Park.”

Hectorjayjay has the outside gate (six) and his major rivals are Major Cam, a winner of his past four on end and drawn the pole, along with evergreen Glenferrie Hood (five).

Another interesting runner is former buzz Kiwi juvenile Hughie Green, who returns from a spell in gate three for trainer-driver John Cremin.

The race is 6.03pm NZ time Tuesday.

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THE NSW Riverina region has always been a harness heartland.

The biggest of many Riverina stars being the “Temora Terror” – Paleface Adios.

Now the Riverina has another pacer rapidly growing an army of fans in Whereyabinboppin.

The four-year-old started his career with Steve Harris in the Riverina, had a brief stint with Tim Butt and then returned to Harris before a long spell and another switch to David Kennedy.

He’s won all three starts for Kennedy this campaign, the past two by 21.1m and 32.7m.

The latest 32.7m win came in a heat of the rich NSW Riverina Regional Championships at Wagga last Friday. He scorched the 2270m in a 1min53.5sec mile rate.

Whereyabinmboppin’s won eight of his 11 starts, looks to have the Riverina final at his mercy and oozes the potential to go to much greater heights.

His mile rate was by far the fastest of the five Riverina heats, the next closest being Western Sonador’s 1min55.6sec in the opening heat.

Newcastle hosted five heats of the Hunter Region series, but they looked a very even batch with similar times and certainly no standouts performances.

If anything, Adam Ruggari’s superbly-bred Hazelnuts impressed the most.

The four-year-old is a son of Art Major out of former brilliant filly Miss Hazel (15 wins, $310,063) and is her fifth winner from as many foals to race.

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TOP driver Gary Hall Jr paid tribute to the late, great Gavin Lang in a race named after him without even really knowing last Friday night.

Hall Jr teamed with comeback hero Chicago Bull and produced a “Lang-like” patience drive in a hotly-contested affair to win the Vale Gavin Lang free-for-all (2536m).

It was Chicago Bull’s second win (with a second and a third as well) in his four runs on the comeback trail.

The four runs have been on consecutive weeks as trainer Gary Hall Sr aims to “get the excess weight” of the pint-sized but nuggety Chicago Bull after such a long break.

In contrast to his past two defeats where circumstances have seen his do the bullocking work, Hall Jr was able to sit back and come with one run, just the way Chicago Bull likes it.

He swept to the front on the home bend and kept finding to win by 2.8m over Im Full Of Excuses in a brisk 1min56.5sec mile rate for the long trip.

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EXCITING former Kiwi mare Arma Indie posted one of her biggest and most important wins since moving to WA when she led throughout in the $40,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes (2130m) at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

The race assembled pretty much all of WA’s top mares, except Our Alfie Romeo, and Arma Indie made the most of her good draw (gate two) win a stoush for the lead.

Brilliant front-running driver Shannon Suvaljko then dictated terms and ripped home in 56.2 and 27.7sec to win easily in a 1min57.6sec mile rate.

Four-year-old Arma Indie’s 14 WA runs have netted seven wins, four placings and almost $70,000 in stakemoney.

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IT was a Saturday with a difference in Victorian harness, but one thing remained the same – Emma Stewart’s dominance.

Melton hosted two meetings – an historic seven-race morning meeting – and a traditional night slot.

Stewart won seven of the 15 races across the two meetings.

Special callouts to the many drivers who competed at both meetings given the first at Melton’s morning card was 8.30am and the last of the night meeting was 8.30pm.

Perhaps the biggest credit goes to top race caller Dan Mielicki, who called both cards in his trademark outstanding style.

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TWO months ago Luke McCarthy predicted former talented juvenile filly Molly Kelly would roar through the grades for trainer Craig Cross.

Now she’s done just that eight starts for the barn netting six wins and a second.

 Molly Kelly made the step into free-for-all scored the most significant win of her career when caused a massive upset and won at $41 at Menangle last night.

Former Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshal was favourite, but had to scorch a 25.5sec quarter to lead over a mile and he tired late for sixth.

Cross had four runners and first four home with Pocket Of Terror, Replaced Eye and Cruz chasing home Molly Kelly.

Cross and/or McCarthy continued their recent Menangle dominance, winning five of the first six races between them.