Aussie News - 28 September

By Adam Hamilton

TRAINER Ryan Bell insists he’s still got some work to do with emerging WA star Shockwave.

There were no histrionics or thrilling finish, more just a dominant, no-fuss win from Bell’s stable star at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

In complete contrast to his dramatic first-up win over the mighty Chicago Bull, this time Shockwave led, settled better for driver Aiden De Campo, and won as he liked in the Media Guild Cup (2536m).

The times were still slick with a 1min55.8sec mile rate and closing splits of 54.7 and 27.4sec.

“He still got a bit keen in the middle stages. It only happen when he’s fresh so I’m going to have get some racing into now with those big Cup races not too far away,” Bell said.

“He’s like King Kong around the place at home, too full of himself. He’ll definite go around again next week.”

The race was made so much easier with the scratching of WA Pacing Cup winner Mighty Conqueror on he morning because of “minor soreness”, according to his trainer Greg Bond.

Next week will see Shockwave lock horns with Chicago Bull again, following their epic battle won so narrowly by Shockwave a few weeks back.

There was a golden moment during Bell’s pre-race interview at Gloucester Park last Friday with RWWA’s Tim Walker wen Chicago Bull’s driver, Gary Hall Jr, walked past and chirped: “He (Shockwave) won’t get it so easy next time.”

It’s certainly exciting times in WA harness with the Fremantle and WA Cups just around the corner.

 

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WHAT a shame it’s extremely unlikely King Of Swing will tackle the Victoria Cup.

The Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup champion won as he liked and posted another sub-1min50sec mile at Menangle last night (Saturday).

As we know, the strict COVID-19 border restrictions and King Of Swing’s “stallion tendencies” mean only a relaxing of the restrictions - and the chance for Luke McCarthy to head down with needing to quarantine afterwards – will see the star head to Victoria next week.

King Of Swing’s record since being sent across from Perth to Sydney has been astonishing.

His nine starts have returned seven wins, two seconds and almost $1 million in earnings.

Six of his seven wins have been in sub-1min50sec and the other was in the Hunter Cup.

Assuming he doesn’t get to Melbourne, King Of Swing’s next major aim will be the $175,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on December 12.

He cruised to a 7.5m win over stablemates Replaced Eye and Bling It On in a 1min49.7sec mile last night, turning it into an 800m dash home with splits of 53.4 and 25.6sec.

Bling It On finished a sound third at his second run back from a spell, showing he was on target for a trip south to defend the Victoria Cup crown he won last season 

Accompanying Bling It On south will star stablemate Bettor Enforce for Victoria’s Mares’ Triple Crown.

The former Kiwi mare continued her remarkable season with a gritty 1min49.8sec mile win over another classy former Kiwi, Havtime, at Menangle last night.

Bettor Enforce heads south with a remarkable season so far of 21 starts for 10 wins, eight placings and more than $200,000 in earnings.

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TALENTED former Kiwi horseman Jack Trainor is going it alone.

Trainor has been in Australia for six years, spending almost the past five years working for Blake Fitzpatrick, has is trying his luck training in his own right.

“I’m starting out small with five or so in work. I want to be able to spend time with them, but also get to all the meetings I’m driving at. The driving side of things is very busy at the moment,” Trainor said.

“I’m lucky to be working in with Jack Grimson and his barn at the Menangle Training Centre.”

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THE race to the NSW Breeders Challenge finals really takes shape at Menangle on Tuesday.

 The nominal favourites for the two juvenile finals – Soho Almasi and Bar Room Banta – should win their respective qualifying heats.

Both are trained by Mick Stanley in Victoria, but on loan to Craig Cross and Luke McCarthy for the series.

Soho Almasi made it two wins from three starts when she resumed at Menangle on September 14 and won without being extended by 16.5m in a 1min52.7sec mile.

Bar Room Banta also returned from a spell and made it two wins from three starts when worked to the front and blew away his rivals last Tuesday at Menangle to win by 26.4m in a 1min51.8sec mile. That’s just 0.5sec outside Ignatius’ Australasian 2YO mile record.

“Mick’s a really good horseman and these are two very exciting youngtster,” McCarthy said.

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FORGOTTEN young star Jilliby Nitro launches his comeback at Terang on Wednesday night.

The son of Bettors Delight was last season’s Australian 2YO of the Year, courtesy of his eight starts returning six wins – including the Australian Gold and Bathurst Gold Crown finals – and two placings.

Jilliby Nitro hasn’t raced since succumbing to injury after his third in the NSW Breeders Challenge final at Menangle on June 30.

He showed trainer Marg Lee he was primed for a return with a sharp trial with star open-class stablemate Code Bailey at Terang last Saturday week.

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IT’S a different season of course, but it’s still a mighty effort by three-year-old filly Pink Galahs to upstage the older mares, headed by the str Dance Craze, at Melton last night.

Trained and driven by Matty Craven, Pink Galahs sat behind the leader Imsettogo and sprint-laned very strongly to hold-off the late surging Dance Craze and win well in a 1min59.3sec mile for 2240m. 

Another star mare Red Hot Tooth had to sit parked and never shirked the issue, but had to be content with a close-up fourth.

Pink Galahs, a daughter of Skyvalley, boasts nine wins and four placings from just 15 starts and will relish going back her own age in the upcoming Breeders Crown 3YO series.

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TOP trainer David Aiken has a ripper barn at the moment.

It’s been the lightly-raced and untapped Reactor Now stealing the limelight, but another four-year-old Malcolms Rhythm must be right up there with him for potential.

Last season’s NSW Derby runner-up has been superbly nursed back from injury by Aiken and his narrow win was something to behold at Melton last night (Saturday).

Just second-up from more than a year our, Malcolms Rhythm worked early, did some the one-one cover midrace, but dug really deep late to snatch a half-head win in a very slick 1min52.9sec mile rate for 1720m.

“It’s a huge thrill to have him back so well. The aim is the Breeders Crown 4YO series now and we’ll try and make a Country Cups horse out of him,” driver Josh Aiken said.

 

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