Aussie News - September 22

Star Aussie trotter Just Believe bypassing Kaikoura, Swayzee's latest success, plus wins by a number of ex Kiwis all feature in today's Aussie News.

By Adam Hamilton

Champion Aussie Just Believe will now bypass Kaikoura.

Trainer Jess Tubbs is busily finalising travel plans for both the star trotter and Auckland Cup-winning stablemate Better Eclipse.

“We’ve got a bit to get through here (Victoria) before they head over, but I’m in the process of confirming flights now,” Tubbs said.

“We looked at taking ‘Harry’ (Just Believe) and ‘Jimmy’ (Better Eclipse) to Kaikoura, but don’t think it’s going to suit their plans now.”

Tubbs said Just Believe, who is unbeaten in three runs this campaign, would race next in the $75,000 Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint on Victoria Cup night (October 12) at Melton.

Better Eclipse will head to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup via Friday night’s $75,000 Group 2 Kilmore Cup.

“We’re thinking of taking One Over All across (to NZ) with them after his top run (third to Callmethebreeze) at Geelong last week,” Tubbs said.

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Reigning IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup hero Swayzee thrilled a very different type of crowd last Friday night.

Trainer Jason Grimson took his stable star to the country NSW town of Parkes, five hours west of Sydney, where a large slice of the town’s 14,000 population were trackside to watch Swayzee win the $60,000 The Dish.

First-up since finishing second to Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake in July 27, Swayzee thrashed his rivals by 11.7m.

It was the first step towards a possible $1 million bonus for Swayzee’s connections if he can win all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups. Four wins would get him $500,000 and three wins would land him a $250,000 bonus.

The second leg of the series is at Young on November 8 and that’s the reason Swayzee won’t return to Addington to defend his NZ Cup crown.

But Grimson said Swayzee will head back to the big league for the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 12.

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Untapped former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee could get the chance to give champion trainer Gary Hall Sr a staggering 14th win in Western Australia’s most prestigious race.

Hall Sr has won the $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup 13 times, the latest with Diego early last year.

“I know we’ve got the big four-year-old races, but the WA Cup is before then he’s good enough to have a crack at it. I want to run him in it,” Hall Sr said.

Mister Smartee returned from a spell with a narrow but arrogant win at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

It was his 10th win from just 12 starts and his fifth victory from as many runs this year.

Hall Jr drove four winners on the night, including exciting former Kiwi juvenile Cyclone Jordy, who had won three of his five NZ runs before making his debut for Gary Hall Sr last night.

On the same card, boom filly Water Lou suffered just her sixth defeat in 27 starts when she found a wide draw beyond her a key WA Oaks lead-up, the $50,000 Group 3 Daintys Daughter Classic. She finished fifth.

The race was won by Downbytheseaside filly Atlantic Gem, driven by Kyle Symington for trainer Ryan Bell.

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Captain Ravishing’s comeback gained more momentum with a narrow but good Melton last night.

The former pin-up pacer has won both runs back from nine months out with injury and is headed towards the Victoria Cup.

Captain Ravishing sat just off the pace, exploded to the lead rounding the final bend and just staved-off the classy Cantfindabettorman, having his first run for new trainer Isabel Walsh, to win by a head in a 1min52.4sec mile rate for 1720m.

“He had a good blow after the race, so he obviously needed it and we’ll get another run into him before the Cup,” trainer Freddy Taiba said.

That will be the $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton, against the likes of Catch A Wave, on Saturday week.

Cantfindabettorman ran a booming race and also looks a Victoria Cup contender.

Champion driver Chris Alford drove Cantfindabettorman, but atoned later with three wins on the night.

On the same card, Kiwi-bound trotting mare Im Ready Jet was amazing in defeat in the free-for-all.

She did all the work outside star mare and leader Queen Elida, had her beaten on the home bend and was just nabbed by emerging gelding Keayang Chucky, who had a soft trip.

Queen Elida’s run was a worry, tiring to finish 10.3m from the winner in fifth place.

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A couple of talented Kiwi pacers were back in winning form at Menangle last night.

Five-year-old mare My Moonlite Dream won brilliantly in a 1min50.8sec mile for young trainer-driver Seaton Grima.

In the following race, veteran Mach Da Vinci narrowly won the fast-class pace for trainer Peter Hanson and comeback driver Cam Fitzpatrick.

The Menangle feature, the $50,000 Carousel Final, went to consistent four-year-old Mick Danger for trainer Ian Wilson and driver Jimmy Douglass.

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The old marvel Northview Hustler was at it again at Albion Park last night.

The rising 11-year-old gelding upset a good field in scorching time to win the fast-class race in a 1min52sec mile rate for 2138m.

With part-owner and trainer Al Barnes holidaying in the US, Alannah Richardson is training Northview Hustler and Adam Richardson took the reins.

He is edging close to the half-million earnings with his 191 starts netting 28 wins, 44 placings and $473,936.

On the same card, Queensland Oaks winner Aardie B Miki was no match for flying mare Chynchilla.

She ran second, beaten 16.5m, in a 1min51.1sec mile rate for 1660m.