Check out tips for Cup Day at Invercargill HRC at Ascot Park , the Inside Oil from tipster Craig Heyrick and what leading Southland drivers and trainers have selected for today in Drive with Five and The Train Off.

 

 

 Tom Goes To Town (Monday 23rd January 2012)

Bruce Stewart

There aren’t many maiden horses that win by eight and half lengths in a time 2-47.4 for 2200 metres mobile on an off day, but favourite Jaccka Tom caned them at the Invercargill meeting at Ascot Park today.

 

Driver Andrew Armour took the four year old straight to the front. He was challenged for the lead by Adam Sanderson and All Our Zuri but carried too many guns for his struggling rivals running his last 400 metres in 28.9.

 

The four year old was having his second start after running fourth at Gore in October for trainer Murray Brown.
“We had him as a three year old. He wasn’t strong enough as he was a big slabby horse so we turned him out. We qualified him and he had his first start at Gore then he got a cold so we had to chuck him out again. He won last week at the workouts by three or four lengths. They don’t win like that unless they’re alright,” said Brown.

 

The gelding is owned by Charlie and Ailsa Smaill and is by McArdle out of True Jaccka. He’s a half brother to Jaccka Turbo which won five races for trainers Graeme Anderson (1) and Wayne Adams (4).

 

Brown is likely to look for a junior drivers event for the gelding.

 

 

Cup Time

By Lindsay Beer

 
The glamour and excitement of Cup Day comes to Invercargill this week when the Invercargill Harness Racing Club hosts their annual Cup Day race meeting on Saturday (28 January).
 
Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill will be the venue for a great day of harness racing plus a variety of entertainment on course. 
 
The feature race of the day is the Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup run over 3200 metres for a stake of $40,000. Also on the programme is a heat of the Nevele R Stud 3 year old Fillies Series and several other quality races.
 
Another special race on the programme this year will be the Robin Dundee Club Southland Kidz Kartz Cup, a feature for the young drivers of the future.
 
The Edge Fashion In The Field Competition is a popular part of Cup Day and both ladies and gentlemen are invited to dress up for the occasion to have an opportunity to win some of the great prizes on offer. The Edge also support a new initiative this year - The Edge Chill Out Zone - best described as a playground for the big kids.
 
If it turns out to not be your lucky day a draw of all losing tote tickets after race six may console you should you win a free meal voucher to be enjoyed at the Level One Restaurant & Bar.
 
For the children the entertainment is top class. It is all free and features Kids Go Racing activities including the Horsepower Derby, Scavenger Hunt and Colouring Competition. There is a Merry Go Round, a Bouncy Castle, the Bubble Man, Pony Rides, Kiddies Tote, competitions, a free lolly giveaway and a free McDonald's Cheeseburger voucher giveaway.
 
This is the day to be at the races.
 
Inquiries or further information can be found by contacting Southern Harness Racing Promotions Officer, Lindsay Beer via phone at 03 217 4288 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            03 217 4288      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 021 351 499 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            021 351 499      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or at lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz
 
The first race is scheduled for 12 noon and admission is free.

 

 

Robin Dundee Sponsor Cup

 

Julie McEwan

 

The Robin Dundee Club are delighted to be involved with Kidz Kartz Southland for the first time this Saturday at Invercargill Cup Day. 

 

In a new initiative the RDC are sponsoring the “Robin Dundee Southland Kidz Kartz Cup”. 

 

To keep it local only Southland Trained Ponies and Drivers are eligible. 

 

A Cup will be awarded to the winning Driver to keep for a year, along with a miniature trophy to keep forever.  Sashes will be awarded to the first 3 Drivers with all other competitors also getting a Sash for participating.

 

It is hoped that a full presentation can be held in the Birdcage directly after the Race.

 

As done at all race meetings in Southland the RDC will also be presenting a set of Crystal Glasses to the best performed Filly or Mare on the day.

 

For more information please contact:

Julie McEwan (RDC)              0274 390-660 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            0274 390-660      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Joelle Calder   (Kidz Kartz)    0273 456-845 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            0273 456-845      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Struth Cobber (Friday 13th January 2012)

Bruce Stewart

Racing as a maiden against tighter assessed horses is not the conventional way to race, but because he figured the gelding needed to gain experience to match it's talent, thats what co-trainer Robin Swain decided to do with his trotter Cool Cobber.

The four year old was having his sixth start yesterday and he was up against Talkmeintoit the winner of four races, and a field of other higher graded trotters.
“There’s no doubt his ability, it’s just a matter of ringcraft and getting as many runs into him,(as possible)” said Swain who trains Cool Cobber at Knapdale in partnership with the gelding’s owner Colin Baynes.

The four year old, after qualifying impressively, had recorded three duck eggs in his first three starts. However, he started to get his act together with improved runs at Invercargill (4th) and Roxburgh (2nd).

Swain made some minor alterations to his gear for yesterday’s run.
“I had the Murphy blind on him which had a reasonable sized hole in it. But today I taped it up (to make the hole smaller) because I found that when horses are rushing past him on the inside he just wants to race a bit and that’s when he doubles up and gallops. I thought we’d try something different today. It might be a fluke but it's done the job.”

Swain also says that it’s important not to have him stand for too long at the start but he is starting to step away correctly.
“Early on he didn't know how to come back into a trot when he went out in a pace (at the start) but he’s definitely improved that way. This time next year he should be getting through the grades and be a bit more tractable.”

In yesterday’s ICE Bloodstock Special Handicap Trot Cool Cobber was nursed away before Swain took him to the lead with 1700 metres to run and after that his driver was confident.
“He’s got a reasonable sized motor in him and just with the ability he’s shown at home I thought it’d take a handy horse to beat him. There’s another $10,000. race coming up at the Invercargill Cup meeting and after that I might give him a wee break.”

Cool Cobber - James Jubb

Bonus For Compton Street (Friday 13th January 2012)

Bruce Stewart

 
The Murray Brown trained Compton Street was racing out of his grade against C2 horses yesterday at the Northern Southland meeting but he had the qualities required to win The Balfour Tavern and Motels Mobile Pace.
“He raced out of his grade today but the C1 (grade) was equally as strong so we thought we’d have a go at the C2 race as it was a harness plus race. He might have a wee break now as he’s had six or seven tough runs and he’s done a good job,” said driver Andrew Armour.

From the outside of the second row Armour was able to move through the field from the mobile dispatch and secure the one one early. He then moved the Bettor’s Delight gelding out with 1600 metres to run to sit parked outside leader Cheryl West.
“He got a real good run early so that helped him but he is better out rolling. He lacks a bit of high speed. He relaxed nicely out there (parked position) - he just plugs away.”

Compton Street hit the lead at the top of the straight and held on to beat Chokullen, which trailed the leader and came up the passing lane by a nose.
“He’s been beaten a couple of times by a nose so I wasn’t that confident but we finally got one to go his way. He’s probably one of the better horses in the stable. He’s got a lot of good qualities so hopefully he’ll carry on.”

No Ifs And Butts With Davey's Cup Drive (Friday 13th January 2012)

Bruce Stewart

After two great runs in Auckland the Balcairn trained Artiface carried too many shots for a quality field in yesterday’s $50,000 Group Three Kina Craig Stud Northern Southland Cup.
“The start of the race won it for him. He jumped well and was travelling well all the way. He’s a good front runner so we stayed in front,” says driver David Butt.

The Mach Three gelding was able to get away with some slow middle sectionals before peeling off a 55.4 last 800 metres to beat favourite Mah Sish by two and three quarter lengths with Glencoe VC a neck back in third.
“He’s got better all season. He ran second in the Kaikoura Cup in November and raced well in Auckland. He’s done a good job really and he’s going to be competitive with the Cup horses. It’s always a step up and you don’t win out of turn against them but he’ll be up there one day I think.”

Yesterday’s win was Artiface’s eighth from only eighteen starts and elevated his stake earnings to $108,783.

The Invercargill Cup could be next for the five year old.

The run of Glencoe VC indicated that he is destined for a big future while Franco Ledger also ran on well for fifth. There was also improvement in the runs of Flying Diamonds (6th) and Lord Forbes (8th).

Coutts Cup (Friday 6th January 2012)

Bruce Stewart

It was a remarkable run.

False Promise was second last turning for home in yesterdays Currie Motors Toyota Roxburgh Cup and in front of him were some classy horses, including San Rafaella, Still Coughin, Flying Diamonds and Christian Ruler.

The five year old, with trainer driver Keith Coutts, lead early before handing up to Christian Ruler. Still Coughin swept around to the lead before he too handed up to favourite San Rafaella with 800 metres to run - leaving False Promise four back on the running line.

The finish looked likely to be between the leading five with False Promise four lengths off the back of this group at the top of the straight but Coutts hooked him wide and he rattled home to win by a half a length.

"He likes the heat on so the harder they go the better he goes. He was on the bit all the way and I thought about running up the passing lane but decided to bring him down the outside. They seem to try better when you bring them down the outside. He's best when you get one run at them," said Coutts.

Keith Coutts bought False Promise for $6,000 and owns the gelding with his wife Lorraine and granddaughter Angela.

"Craig D Thornley drove him at a couple of trials and said "Couttsy he can run" so that's how I got interested in him. I said to the owners that I'd give them $6,000. They said $7,500 so I walked away. They came back and said okay."

He's by Life Sign out of the New York Motoring mare Festiva which is a half sister to Swift Mirage the winner of seven races. He's very closely related to Chokin.

"The mother was up for sale recently in foal and with a foal at foot. She went for $17,000. I wish I'd bought her."

The dual gaited False Promise qualified as a pacer at Mount Harding Racecourse in November 2009 and as a trotter a year later at Ashburton. He has started four times as a trotter - the last time at Addington in November, finishing sixth behind Sunbrite.

"He lost a 100 metres and went up to them but then went up in the air. He can trot as fast as he can pace. I'll race him again as a trotter when he gets a bit older and matures."

False Promise is the veteran of seventy three starts. As a pacer he'd finished second behind classy performers Pay Me Cullen and Empyrean. He started in last years Pelorus Classic at Blenheim finishing last but behind Choise Achiever, Smiling Shard and Franco Emirate.

Prior to yesterdays win he finished second behind Scarrymcleary at Omakau on Monday, and Coutts plans to start him in the Alabar Cromwell Cup at the Wyndham meeting at Cromwell on Sunday.

"He was pawing the ground when he got swabbed so he was just wanting to get on with it. He cleans up his feed and backs up good. He loves the travel and is a real gentleman."

Coutts and his wife Lorriane have had success with Staka Pride (15 wins), Bella Chip (5 wins) and Lorraine had a share in Lento (15 wins) so the family is no stranger to success. They also raced trotter Darby Doll which won six races.

"She raced with a different shoe on each foot. The older she got the worse she got at trotting so we retired her. I'll send her to Diedre Don."

Coutts also has high hopes for qualified pacer Double Vision; a three year old by Red River Hanover out of Far Sighted which is a half brother to the Ken Barron trained Still Chokin.

"Every time Still Chokin started he was favourite. I was talking to Ken one day and said I had a half brother to him (Still Chokin) and he asked what it was by and I told him Red River Hanover. Hhe said nothing but I think he thought best of luck. We've had the best by Stakhanovite (Staka Pride), Lislea (Darby Doll) and Peoples Blue Chip (Lento) so we might just get the best Red River Hanover."

Double Vision, which is related to Roydon Glen qualified at Ashburton but is unraced.

"He can run but hangs a bit so I just need to sort him out."