Hawkesbury course proper stood the test of two race meetings within six days having hosted the Randwick meeting last Tuesday week and the Hawkesbury meeting the Thursday prior.

Hawkesbury course curator and his staff received glowing reports on the track from leading riders and trainers who attended the Tuesday Randwick meeting held at Hawkesbury and now hopefully with warmer weather all tracks will improve and there will be no need to transfer the AJC meetings to Hawkesbury.

Highlight of the Tuesday was the performance of Maluckyday a 4yo gelding by Zabeel who just might be the 2010 or 2011 Melbourne Cup as that’s the path that Team Hawkes is setting Maluckyday on as this gelding is nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups and don’t be surprised if this galloper is mentioned come late October early November as one thing Maluckyday can do is stay. Ridden to perfection by master jockey Jim Cassidy who had Maluckyday placed one out and one back on settling down and once the field entered the home straight Cassidy released the brakes and Maluckyday chased down the leader Excellent Point to race away and score by one and half lengths with Kings Pride a further three quarters of a length away in third placing.

Another winner on the day that punters should follow is the Peter Snowden Quidnunc a Lonhro 3yo filly who came from second last on the home turn to take out the Purple Patch Benchmark 70 Handicap 1400m defeating Circle Of Power and Onetonnegun.   

The MIDWEEKER covered fifteen barrier trial heats held at Rosehill last Friday week August 20^th and suggested there were four horses for punters to follow.

Star of the trials was Slater who was in excess of seven lengths clear of his opposition at the winning post in heat ten and recorded strong sectionals which augurs well for his future prospects. Slater has had one start for a very impressive 2yo Maiden win at Canterbury on debut.

April In Venice a 3yo filly from the Gai Waterhouse yard ran clear over the concluding stages in heat twelve to score by just under four lengths and this filly will have little trouble in breaking her maiden status.

The patriarch of Sky Channel Graham McNeice hosted Racing Retro last Sunday for the last time and will no longer  be the fronting the camera for Racing Retro with Jo McKinnon stepping into Graham’s shoes which will be a mighty task to fulfill.

Fortunately Graham will not be losted to Sky Channel as he will remain at Sky as a producer.

Many of the Sky Channel panelists owe their employment opportunities to Graham McNeice as he was instrumental in signing of Ron Dufficy, Andrew Bensley and Alf Matthews along with many more.

Hawkesbury trainers Garry Frazer and Tara Vigouroux both tasted success last Saturday with Garry heading to Rosehill and Tara venturing to Newcastle.

Garry’s unlucky galloper Scottish Border finally had some luck in running and aided by a brilliant Tim Clarke ride, Scottish Border was able to out slug the favourite Legsman to score by a head in the $70,000 Murtajill Handicap 2000m at Rosehill last Saturday.

Scottish Border according to trainer Frazer is still learning and later on has the makings of a very good stayer, but his immediate future is the Wyong and Newcastle Cups to be run during September 2010

Tara’s galloper Zelaating having only his second race start was able to easily dispose of the opposition in the Wormald Maiden handicap 1200m at Newcastle last Saturday. Given a perfect ride by jockey Jeff Penza, Zelaating $7 was able to lead most of the way and over the concluding stages raced away to score by a length from the $4 favourite Harry The Fox with Characterise $5.50 a further long head away in third placing.

Zelaating is race by Rugby League stars Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence and going on the ease of his win last Saturday the West Tigers star footballers are in for plenty of fun with their Snitzel galloper.

Whilst talking about the Hawkesbury trainers I must pass on our good wishes to Garry White who is presently in Penrith  hospital after being badly injured last Wednesday week at Hobartville Stud having a fall which resulted in a fractured pelvis and many other injuries.

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Hawkesbury Delivers Two Race Meetings in the space of Six Days

Hawkesbury Race Track conducted two race meetings, one being the Hawkesbury meeting schedule for Thursday 19^th August and then four days later came to the aid of the Australian Jockey Club who had to transfer their Tuesday meeting 24^th August 2010 to Hawkesbury owing their both tracks Randwick and Warwick Farm not in suitable condition to race following a long wet winter.

The Randwick track has unfortunately had more over the past winter months then they have experienced for more than a decade and with the Spring Carnival just around the corner officials were not prepared to a risk by racing at Randwick again before the start of the Spring Carnival.

 Hawkesbury Race meeting held last Thursday was full of quality gallopers with all leading metropolitan trainers having runners at the meeting along with leading provincial trainers Paul Perry, Garry Frazer, Kerry Parker, Gwenda Markwell, Noel Mayfield-Smith, Grant Allard and Kylie Gavenlock not frighten to take on their city counterparts.

The heavy weights in the training ranks certainly dominated the programme with John O’Shea trained galloper Dashing Saveel (NZ) defeating the Peter Snowden trained Ayrton in race one. Clarry Conners stepped into the winners circle in race two with his 6yo gelding Remolino and Peter Snowden won race three with his smart 3yo Lonhro colt Barriers who looked very impressive in taking out the set weights 1400m maiden handicap.

Punter should make note of the form out of last Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting as the form will carry onto city Wednesday racing with gallopers Barriers, Byzantine, AlAseel and My Cookie Monster  all capable of winning in the city at their next start.

Form student Ron Duff icy reported from the mounting yard that the Gai Waterhouse galloper Al Aseel looked above himself in the yard and would improve greatly from the run and if that’s the case Al Aseel might just win a listed race over the upcoming spring carnival. Remember the name Al Aseel and also write down this galloper’s name Byzantine a Peter Snowden trained galloper who sat three wide for half the journey and then had the hide to blow her opposition away in the $16,000 Class One Handicap 1400m.

Warwick Farm held four barrier trials last Monday week and what a set of quality trials they were with the contestants being – Blackball, Divorces, Fist Of Fury, McClintock, Metal Bender, Neeson, Patronyme, Pinwheel, Run For Narra, Skilled, Star Ripper, Stryker, Tickets, Tromso and Trusting.

The Midweeker highlighted six horses from these trials with those being Patronyme (Joe. Pride), Pinwheel (Peter.Snowden), Tromso  (Chris. Waller), Neeson (Joe Pride), Stryker (Chris Waller) and Metal Bender (Chris Waller)

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Long time  Hawkesbury trainer Mike Van Gestel travelled to Cessnock last Monday week for success with 4yo mare Drop Of Magic scoring  a easy as you like win in the Benchmark 50 Handicap run over 1150 metres. Drop Of Magic defeated the $2.10 favourite Aim High by three and three quarter lengths with third placegetter Shrewd Buy a further two lengths away.

Hawkesbury jockey Tye Angland is certainly mixing it with the big boys come carnival time having won the $125,000 Group 3 Up and Coming 3yo Stakes 1200m and the $100,000 Listed Show County Quality 1200m at Warwick Farm last Saturday.

Talking about last Saturday’s Warwick Farm races, what about the performance of Parables to win the 3yo Silver Shadow Stakes (G3) 1200m to come from near last at the home turn, then receive a checked passage in the home straight and then swamp Solar Charge to go on to win with plenty in reserve.

Parables (Lonhro – Fairytales) was only having her fourth race start and kicked off her racing career at Hawkesbury back in March’10 finishing second to Sasa. 

Hawkesbury Apprentice Josh Adams combined with the Hawkes team to score with Pontiana $2.80 at Kembla Grange last Saturday.

The five New South Wales Provincial club’s (Newcastle, Wyong, Gosford, Kembla, Hawkesbury) last Monday met with the Racing New South Wales Board to discuss the future of Provincial Race Club’s along with other matters such as Centres of Excellence, future prizemoney funding, Turnpoint contract, RNSW Strategic Plan and renewal of media rights agreements

I must say the full board gave the provincial club’s a good hearing, but the whole matter of progress depends on the outcome of the current court action over Race Fields Legislation.

One interesting point out of the meeting was that the Provincial Club’s were asked if they required Turnpoint to continue doing a six monthly review of the five racecourses.

Racing New South Wales are keeping pace with modern technology by now allowing racecourse patrons to bring their laptop computers, iPADS and other electronic devices onto NSW thoroughbred race courses from Thursday 19^th August 2010 without restriction.

Racing NSW recognizes the numerous reasons that people use electronic devices in their daily lives which may or may not include wagering.

However, racegoers are reminded that RNSW Stewards may require access to information from their laptop or other electronic devices or records, to assist with inquiries being conducted by the Stewards.

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Hawkesbury is looking forward to a better than slow racing surface for tomorrow’s race meeting with a eight race programme schedule and the first race will commence at 12.45.

After studying the 150 odd nominations, tomorrow’s meeting is full of good quality horses especially the two $16,000 3yo maiden races.

The strong 3yo fillies division has fillies returning from a city run at their start which includes Cinderellas Secret (Gai Waterhouse), Money Tree (Kevin Moses), Smash hit (David Payne), Birkin (Clarry Conners), Mulu Miss (John Hawkes), Quadrella Girl (Kerry Parker) and Radar (Peter Snowden). I am certain the form from the city races in which M’Lady Pedril and Classics won will stand up tomorrow. The three fillies coming out of the M’Lady Pedril city race are Money Tree, Mulu Miss and Smash Hit, with Radar coming out of the Classics race and I feel that is the stronger form line and therefore tipping Radar to win tomorrow’s fillies maiden 1300m.

The colts and geldings division of the 1300m maiden also has five gallopers returning from city maiden runs at their last runs and they include Al Aseel (Gai Waterhouse), Allthekinghorses (Tim Martin), Howdidydoit (Rick Worthington), Mutamayez (Gai Waterhouse) and Noonday ( John Thompson). Howdidydoit is retruning from a Saturday quality race at a Saturday Rosehill meeting where he finished eighth to One More Grand and if he repeats that performance he should be winning, with his stiffest opposition being the two Gai Waterhouse trained gallopers Al Aseel and Mutamayez.

Form from the last Hawkesbury race meeting held on 5^th August 14, 2010 should hold up tomorrow with three gallopers Cerinthe, Summarise and Ayrton all appear to be well placed tomorrow and with a little luck should perform well.

Hawkesbury held eight barrier trial heats last Monday week and Guy Walter produced two heat winners  a Darley runner called Glove in heat seven and Alcaraz in heat three. If the Darley owned 3yo Glove repeats his trial a win on the race track after running the last 400m in just under 23 seconds she will prove a good investment in the near future. In Heat eight first and second placegetters Glenstal Abbey (John Hawkes) and Orcym Lass (Guy Walter) both trialled like future winners.

Heat                                 Winner                           Trainer

One                               Hamburg                        Wade Slinkard

Two                              Coeur De Hero               James Bester

Three                           Alcaraz                            Guy Walter

Four                             Venus’s                           Guy Walter

Five                              The Ex Factor                 James Bester

Six                                 Slick Lady                       Guy Walter

Seven                           Glove                              Guy Walter

THE MIDWEEKER covered twenty two barrier trials held on the Kensington track at Randwick on Friday 6^th August 2010 and they were more than impressed with the trials of More Joyous, Kiss From A Rose, Secret Admirer and April In Venice and guess what they are all trained by Gai Waterhouse who won seventeen trail heats out of the 22 conducted.

More Joyous scored a brilliant win in heat four and was at no stage allowed full rein and this trial augers well for her ensuring campaign and is my early tip for the $350,000 Epsom Handicap (G1) to be run at Randwick on Saturday 2^nd October 2010.

Another galloper who won her trail unextended was Kiss From A Rose and last campaign she showed her ability by winning two races at Canterbury and more wins are in store this campaign going on her trial.

I received a recent update from Sky Racing on their recent activities and strategies and news from the Sky Racing media stable.

Sky’s multi- million dollar expansion of racing coverage, choice and channels was launched in recent months. The expansion includes two new channels—Sky Racing 2 (SR2) and Sky Racing World (SRW) to complement the existing Sky Racing service (SR1).

Sky has reported that the early take-up of the new channels has been encouraging. Hotel and TAB agency subscriptions have exceeded initial expectations with more than 3000 venues taking SR2 while home viewing subscriptions to the Sky Racing pack are also ahead of targets.

The official subscription TV (STV) viewer ratings (OzTam) for SR1 show that watching racing at home is still popular with punters:

·         SR1 reaches more than 450,000 homes each week

·         SR1 reaches more than 165,000 people every Saturday afternoon

·         The weekly reach numbers are more than 2.5 times those of TVN

Finally punters should be on standby for the spring launch of Sky’s fantasy racing game Sky Racing Star stable which commences early September 2010 (www.starstable.com.au).

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Over the past five years Hawkesbury Race Club has lobbied Racing New South Wales and Tabcorp to partner them in lengthening the Hawkesbury home straight and at the same time construct a synthetic track on the inside of the course proper.

Last Friday Hawkesbury Race Club lodged plans with Racing NSW to have the above carried out ASAP and are awaiting a reply from the Racing NSW Board who are in charge of racing in this state.

Melbourne Spring Carnival is starting to take shape with trainers already declaring they will win this year’s Cox Plate and the first trainer to declare he has the Cox Plate won was Queensland trainer John Wallace with his star galloper Shoot Out.

Most trainers make these statements without considering the opposition and with Shoot Out now a 5/1favourite which is ridicously short when you consider legendry trainer Bart Cummings  is preparing last year’s winner So You Think, Latin News and Dariana, Gai Waterhouse has More Joyous nominated and she trialed like a champion ready for her racetrack return and other future stars nominated are Rothesay, Linton and Toorak Toff who will take a power of beating in $1m group 1 Golden Rose (1400) to be run at Rosehill in two weeks.

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Hawkesbury Race Club received a record 188 nominations for their race meeting tomorrow with the first race to commence at 12.23pm with eight races on the programme and $128,000 in Prizemoney to be distributed.

Punters will need to do their homework as the programme looks difficult, but in saying that I am going to suggest that there are a couple of gallopers that do look well placed.

After studying the form from the nominations i thought in the $16,000 Class One Handicap 1000m there were three horses that should dominate the race and those being Fuse Wire, Middlemount and Fappiano’s Lad. Fuse Wire franked the form out of a very hot form race with that race being a Class One race Skateboard won at Hawkesbury on 8^th July 2010 a race that winners have come out and last start Fuse Wire finished a creditable third to She’ll Avago in a Class Two race and dropping back to a Class One race tomorrow should enable Fuse Wire to enter the winners circle. Hardest for Fuse Wire to beat no doubt is the two Patinack Farm gallopers Middlemount who trialled brilliantly recently and Fappiano’s Lad who recently broke his maiden at Hawkesbury.

Another galloper that looks well placed tomorrow is the Gai Waterhouse trained King Lionheart who is returning from city grade to Provincial grade and last start was only beaten just under a length by Markab and a repeat of that effort will see King Lionheart winning tomorrow.

Barrier Trial publication THE MIDWEEKER highlighted  Elite Commander from the recent trials held at Rosehill on 20^th July 2010 where he finished second to the smart galloper Winter King and was never knocked about in the run home. Elite Commander has only to repeat his trial performance to be hard to beat in the $16,000 Maiden Handicap tomorrow.

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Australian Jockey Club and the Sydney Turf Club will officially announce in the coming weeks that they will be merging following the announcement from the State Government of $174 million in funding, with $150m going into the refurbishment of Randwick and a $24m sweetener for a upgrade of facilities at Rosehill.

Racing Minister Kevin Greene revealed the NSW Government has given in-principle support to the merger of Sydney’s metropolitan clubs and the drafting of necessary legislation.

The minister went onto say the NSW racing industry boasts more than 50,000 participants (they all must work at AJC & STC)– the highest in Australia which include Trainers, jockeys, bookmakers, stablehands, associated maintenance, hospitality, security and other staff are the lifeblood of our industry and depend on its sustainability for their livehood.

Greene said a proportion of revenue would come from the virtual racing game Trackside that will be installed in TAB venues throughout the state.

Based on TAB projections, and with the inclusion of a proportion of NSW Government wagering taxes, this is expected to amount to around $12m a year ( after three years), which will fund loan repayments.

No one begrudges Randwick being upgraded to the tune of $150m being funding by a new game installed in TAB outlets by Tabcorp, but the disappointing part is that not one cent of the new monies is going to a Provincial or Country Race club, which is hard to fathom as I thought the Provincial and Country Race Clubs were also partners of TABCORP.

Five years ago Hawkesbury Race Club had plans draw up for the extension of their home straight from 280m to 400m and the construction of synthetic track at a small cost (compared to Randwick upgrade) of $10m, which I thought following discussions that have been held with TABCORP over the past two years that they would have seen it as their duty to include the Hawkesbury Refurbishment in their Trackside revenue as it does include a synthetic track which is urgently required in New South Wales to replace washed out race meetings, which would be more productive than sitting in a grandstand with no racing due to wet weather.

I can never understand at times how decisions are made as most people have stated that $100m upgrade at Randwick would be sufficient and spend $5m at each of the five Provincial Clubs and $25m upgrading country race tracks, but no let’s put all our eggs in one basket, not many smart business people would do that.   

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Last Sunday weeks Christmas in July Race Meeting at Hawkesbury was an outstanding success with a large crowd in attendance and local trainers dominating the programme winning three of the eight races.

Jason Clisby was the first Hawkesbury trainer to enter the winners circle with his smart 3yo filly She’ll Avago $2.50 who was returning from city competition to provincial grade and she won accordingly scoring by one and a half lengths from the Garry White trained galloper Underthetuscansun $6.50 in the Ronald McDonald House Westmead Class Two handicap run over 1000 metres.

Next to enter the winners circle was Hawkesbury Leading trainer Garry White who prepared Lago Force, ably piloted to victory by Adrian Robinson in the Winning Appliances Benchmark 65 Handicap run over 1200 metres.

The MIDWEEKER covered nineteen barrier trials held at Warwick Farm last Tuesday week and the big guns were on show preparing for a spring campaign.

Golden Slipper second place getter Decision Time looks to have returned in good order after tracking the leaders two lengths in astern and was let down over the final furlong by jockey Craig Williams to go on and win the heat by one and half lengths.

Hawkesbury Guineas winner Neeson toyed with his rivals in heat fifteen defeating Trusting and Hy Dare and at no stage was Neeson extended plus he did win four races last campaign and he should continue on his winning way again this campaign.

Other well performed gallopers to trial well were Run For Naara, Small Minds and Purple

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I received an email last week from Rob Ferguson who is a part owner of the Magic Millions regarding crowds on the increase at York.

The email stated that the York has reported record attendance for the modern era, with 42,586 attending last Saturday’s Sky Bet Stakes- featured card, with Madness and X Factor stars providing the after – racing entertainment.

The main point coming from the email is that James Brennan head of marketing remarked that the Hugh crowd was there for as much as the after racing concert as they were for the racing.

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Australian Jockey Club and the Sydney Turf Club will officially announce in the coming weeks that they will be merging following the announcement from the State Government of $174 million in funding, with $150m going into the refurbishment of Randwick and a $24m sweetener for a upgrade of facilities at Rosehill.

Racing Minister Kevin Greene revealed the NSW Government has given in-principle support to the merger of Sydney’s metropolitan clubs and the drafting of necessary legislation.

The minister went onto say the NSW racing industry boasts more than 50,000 participants (they all must work at AJC & STC)– the highest in Australia which include Trainers, jockeys, bookmakers, stablehands, associated maintenance, hospitality, security and other staff are the lifeblood of our industry and depend on its sustainability for their livehood.

Greene said a proportion of revenue would come from the virtual racing game Trackside that will be installed in TAB venues throughout the state.

Based on TAB projections, and with the inclusion of a proportion of NSW Government wagering taxes, this is expected to amount to around $12m a year ( after three years), which will fund loan repayments.

No one begrudges Randwick being upgraded to the tune of $150m being funding by a new game installed in TAB outlets by Tabcorp, but the disappointing part is that not one cent of the new monies is going to a Provincial or Country Race club, which is hard to fathom as I thought the Provincial and Country Race Clubs were also partners of TABCORP.

Five years ago Hawkesbury Race Club had plans draw up for the extension of their home straight from 280m to 400m and the construction of synthetic track at a small cost (compared to Randwick upgrade) of $10m, which I thought following discussions that have been held with TABCORP over the past two years that they would have seen it as their duty to include the Hawkesbury Refurbishment in their Trackside revenue as it does include a synthetic track which is urgently required in New South Wales to replace washed out race meetings, which would be more productive than sitting in a grandstand with no racing due to wet weather.

I can never understand at times how decisions are made as most people have stated that $100m upgrade at Randwick would be sufficient and spend $5m at each of the five Provincial Clubs and $25m upgrading country race tracks, but no let’s put all our eggs in one basket, not many smart business people would do that.   

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Last Sunday weeks Christmas in July Race Meeting at Hawkesbury was an outstanding success with a large crowd in attendance and local trainers dominating the programme winning three of the eight races.

Jason Clisby was the first Hawkesbury trainer to enter the winners circle with his smart 3yo filly She’ll Avago $2.50 who was returning from city competition to provincial grade and she won accordingly scoring by one and a half lengths from the Garry White trained galloper Underthetuscansun $6.50 in the Ronald McDonald House Westmead Class Two handicap run over 1000 metres.

Next to enter the winners circle was Hawkesbury Leading trainer Garry White who prepared Lago Force, ably piloted to victory by Adrian Robinson in the Winning Appliances Benchmark 65 Handicap run over 1200 metres.

The MIDWEEKER covered nineteen barrier trials held at Warwick Farm last Tuesday week and the big guns were on show preparing for a spring campaign.

Golden Slipper second place getter Decision Time looks to have returned in good order after tracking the leaders two lengths in astern and was let down over the final furlong by jockey Craig Williams to go on and win the heat by one and half lengths.

Hawkesbury Guineas winner Neeson toyed with his rivals in heat fifteen defeating Trusting and Hy Dare and at no stage was Neeson extended plus he did win four races last campaign and he should continue on his winning way again this campaign.

Other well performed gallopers to trial well were Run For Naara, Small Minds and Purple

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I received an email last week from Rob Ferguson who is a part owner of the Magic Millions regarding crowds on the increase at York.

The email stated that the York has reported record attendance for the modern era, with 42,586 attending last Saturday’s Sky Bet Stakes- featured card, with Madness and X Factor stars providing the after – racing entertainment.

The main point coming from the email is that James Brennan head of marketing remarked that the Hugh crowd was there for as much as the after racing concert as they were for the racing.

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Hawkesbury Race Club held ten barrier trial heats last Monday morning in conditions that were barely visible for riders and not visible for race course broadcaster Paul Ambrosoli who expertly guessed the horses prior to the home turn until they became visible and from then on Paul had little difficulty in calling the runners in correct order as he always does.

Hawkesbury Lady trainers performed well at the trials with Wendy Haynes, Beth Johnson, Wendy Haynes, Karen Outtrim and Wanda Ings all producing trials winners and a couple of horses for punters to follow particular the Wanda Ings trained Dark Arts and Karen Outtrim’s galloper Tamohar.

Other horse to trial well were…………………………………………………………

The trial winners were;

Heat                       Winner                                 Trainer

One                       Reigns Above                      Wayne Andrews

Two                       Shotgun Boogie                  Brian Firth

Three                    Tamohara                             Karen Outtrim

Four                      Mister Ego                            Wendy Haynes

Five                       Misverdot                             Garry Frazer

Six                          Copy Cat                               William Slater

Seven                   Native Shadow                     Garry White

Eight                     Dark Arts                               Wanda Ings

Nine                      Adamant                               Beth Johnson

Hawkesbury star apprentice Josh Adams has been crowned winner of the 2009-10 Racing NSW Rising Apprentice Series.

Young Adams was sidelined through suspension and had to sit out last Thursday week’s Final run at Hawkesbury.

Adams finished with 51 points, defeating Spriggs by four points. Nathan Berry finished right on their heels with 44 points after winning the final aboard the Peter Snowden trained Incitement.

Final tally for the apprentices;

51 Josh Adams

47 Blake Spriggs

44 Nathan Berry

32 Mitchell Beadman

31 Tommy Berry

26 Michael Palmer

To say I was disappointed is an understatement when I heard that  the New South Wales trainers association led by Chairman John Rouse who was only recently appointed replacing Anthony Cummings, were going to move a vote of no confidence in the Racing NSW Board and their Chief Executive Peter V’landys.

It was only back 2007 that Peter V’Landys negotiated the EI compensation package for all trainers in New South Wales which gave them all an enormous cash injection and now just three years later they are lodging a vote of no confidence in Peter and the Board of Racing NSW at time when the industry should be united in our fight to charge 1.5% tax on turnover to the Corporate Bookmakers and Betfair.

Peter V’Landys being the Chief Executive of Racing NSW is blamed for all that is wrong with racing in New South Wales, but one thing he should not be blamed for is Benchmark programming and Merit based handicapping as this was the brain child of Racing NSW board member Allan Bell ( in Allan’s defence he was only acted on complaints from trainers about the previous class system not working) who attended all briefing sections over NSW to explain merit based handicapping and Benchmark programming. In my opinion it was not explained thoroughly, not enough time was spent at each briefing centre and another tour of the provincial and country centres to further explain the Benchmark programming and Merit based handicapping by the handicapping department would be very beneficial to all trainers.

The NSW Provincial Race Clubs have become increasingly concerned that some participants in the NSW racing industry do not appreciate the consequences of Racing NSW being unsuccessful in the current legal proceedings over race field’s legislation.

“NSW race clubs have become increasingly reliant on wagering revenue and unless wagering operators pay the 1.5% under the legislation, all sections of the industry will feel the impact”, Geoff Barnett, Chairman of the Provincial race Clubs Association said last Tuesday.

“NSW Provincial Race Clubs know better than anyone how their operations and financial viability have been affected by the failure to receive an appropriate return , to this point, from certain operators for wagering on provincial race meetings” he added.

 Hawkesbury Race club have started  planning for their October race meeting Sunday 10^th 2010 which is to themed around Celebrating the Bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and an invitation has been forwarded to Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO Governor of NSW to be the special guest at the race meeting.

Meetings are being held with Racing New South Wales and local member John Aquilina and his steering committee to help turn these celebrations into something special for the Hawkesbury Race Club.

This day traditional is the Wine, Food and Music Race Meeting and that will still be happening in conjunction with the Celebration of the Bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

A fortnight ago  I attended a Racing Industry Consultation Group meeting and tabled at the meeting was a paper to review Benchmark programming and merit based handicapping.

General opinion of the meeting was the Benchmark programming and merit based handicapping was working very well in the metropolitan area, also acceptable in the provincial association and not so well accepted in the country areas which is hard to understand as the country field sizes are larger since the introduction of Benchmark programming and merit based handicapping.

The racing NSW Board has considered the review of Benchmark racing and have now asked for trainers and owners for their feedback.

A few of the proposals put forward for trainers and owners to consider are;

1)      Increase Minimum top weight by 1kg to 59kg for all benchmark races

2)      Increase the 3yo allowance by 1kg for open age races 2000m and beyond

3)      Invite regional trainers to racing NSW for information sessions

4)      Discontinue the practice of lowering the weights by increasing the benchmark of a race when no horse in the field has the minimum weight.

5)      Amend the publishing of a maiden horse’s benchmark from after 3  race starts to after 10 starts

6)      Retain the programming of Class 1 and Class 2 races in the country and provincial areas to levels before the introduction of benchmarking.

7)      Introduce a number of restricted benchmark races: BM1w, BM2w Country/Provincial areas and BM3 Feature Country Meetings minimum $15,000 prizemoney and Provincial meetings minimum $25,000 prizemoney.

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The MIDWEEKER covered sixteen barrier trail heats at Warwick Farm last Friday week and highlighted three horses for punters to follow.

Warwick Farm trainer Rick Worthington had his smart 2yo Howdidydoit trailing in heat three which he won the trial effortlessly and in his prior campaign finished second in the Fernhill Handicap and going on his trail he does appear to have come back in good order.

Peter Snowden has given Beltane two trials now and his trial behind Circle Of Power finishing second after being slow to jump was an indication that a win is not far away.

Patinack Farm galloper Middlemount scored a ridiculously easy win in heat thirteen scoring by just under four lengths and he is ready to grace the race track in a winning mode.

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Boystown San Miguel Family Centre Race Day organizers Sue Eastwood and John Gollan are over the moon with wonderful response they have received from the public for their annual charity race day to be held tomorrow at Hawkesbury with the proceeds from their function which has 350 people attending going towards the support of homeless families.

San Miguel Family Centre in North Richmond, New South Wales, provides short term accommodation for families experiencing homelessness. San Miguel is one of the only refuges in Australia that supports large family groups, including fathers and adult males.

On any one in Australia almost 100,000 men, women and children are homeless. Almost half of these are younger than 25 years of age. Not surprisingly, these children often experience a lack of stability in their home life, which can affect their education. They may experience violence, mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues and poverty.

Tomorrow’s fund raising race meeting helps in a large way to bridge the gap that is required between the funding received from the New South Wales government and what is required to run the San Miguel Family Centre.

Sadly while it is difficult to determine the true number of homeless children, families have become the fastest growing group facing homeless in Australia. Families with children now comprise approximately one third of the nation’s homeless population.

Tomorrow’s race meeting is well supported by local trainers and metropolitan trainers and there does appear to be some value for punters looking away from the favourites.

Last week I told you that 81 year old trainer Andy Shaw informed me that his galloper That’s Cricket would improve greatly on his first up victory at Hawkesbury last Saturday week and who am I to disagree and that’s the reason I’m suggesting punters take the tip off Andy and back That’s Cricket in the $16,000 Class Two handicap 1400m at Hawkesbury tomorrow. The hardest for That’s Cricket to beat tomorrow could be another last start Hawkesbury winner Pay And Play who is prepared by the inform trainer Chris Waller.

Once again I am sticking to last Saturday week’s Hawkesbury form selecting Lago Force to take out the $16,000 Class One handicap to be run over the 1000 metre course. Last start Lago Force demolished a maiden field scoring by just under three lengths and ran the smart time of 1.11.56 on a slow track for the 1200 metres and back to 1000 metres tomorrow won’t cause any problems for Lago Force.

One of the better bets on the programme is the Peter Snowden trained galloper Jeopardy who last campaign finished fourth in a Kensington maiden and she has been wound up with a couple of nice trials.

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Tomorrow’s Hawkesbury race meeting will see the running of the National Apprentices Series Final which will include apprentices from Western Australia (Jarrad Noske), Tasmania (Ronan Keogh), South Australia (Kate Dyson) and Scott Hillebrand from Northern Territory plus  there will also be apprentices representing Queensland and Victoria at the meeting.

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Hawkesbury Race Club sponsor John Rippon and his wife Sheenah of Reavill Farm Stud certainly are going to take some beating in the Horse of the year award following last Saturday weeks performance of their Star filly Melito (Redoute’s Choice – Cloister) who was successful in the $500,000 Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm adding to her present campaign of netting connections two Group One wins and four minor placings at Group One Level.

Reavill Farm is situated at Freeman’s Reach and is the breeding home  of Stratum, Dealer Principal, Pillar Of Hercules and the brilliant filly Melito who failed to reach the reserve price at the Easter sales and was retained and raced by Peter and his wife Sheenah and to date has won $1,577,150 in prizemoney.

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Hawkesbury trainer Lisa Cohen may have her hands on a very handy stayer going on the five length win of her 6yo gelding Spence at Randwick last Tuesday on the Kensington track.

Ridden to perfection by leading jockey Corey Brown, Spence simply spaced his rivals scoring by five lengths from Walpersdorf $7 with Hydrophilic $41 a further one and three quarters of a length away in third placing in the Maroubra Handicap 2400 run over 2400 metres.

Barrier Trial Publication THE MIDWEEKER covered the fifteen barrier trials held at Gosford last Monday week and spotted a couple horses for punters to follow in the upcoming weeks.

Peter Snowden trialled two likely types in the shape of Beltane and Languid with Beltane finishing third in his trial and Languid scoring a comfortable win in her trial.

Beltane missed the jump in his trial, but was running on quickly at the end of his trial, whereas Languid led throughout her trial and was going away on the line.

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Hawkesbury Race Club finished their financial year with a very successful race meeting held last Saturday with the meeting having good field sizes which allowed each way betting on all eight races, betting turnover was above expectations and in excess of 600 people booked into private functions making the day a sound financial success for the club.

The quality of horse was helped with the following leading trainers supporting the meeting, Peter Snowden with having four runners, Gai Waterhouse (4), Garry White (6), Anthony Cummings ( 2), Bart Cummings ( 2), Guy Walter ( 3), Chris Waller(2), John McNair (2) Kevin Moses (2) and the list goes on with all trainers supporting the Hawkesbury Clash with Randwick as Hawkesbury is the most central race track of all tracks in the Metropolitan and Provincial areas which is a hugh savings on travelling expenses for all trainers and owners.

Hawkesbury’s favourite trainer 81 year old Andy Shaw showed his younger counterpart’s a trick or two preparing his smart galloper That’s Cricket for a first up victory in the Tyrepower – Men of League Sprint Class 2 handicap run over 1200 metres. That’s Cricket finished his last campaign on a winning note demolishing a maiden field at Hawkesbury back on April 1^st and going on the ease of his first up win last Saturday That’s Cricket is going to win many more races for his marvelous old trainer Andy Shaw.

I would suggest to punters to keep following That’s Cricket as trainer Andy Shaw thought he would need the run first up and going the ease of his win and the improvement he will take out of the run, That’s Cricket should win again at his next start.

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Garry White and jockey Adrian Robinson combined to take out the Quakers Inn Maiden Plate 1200m with their Encosta de Lago gelding Lago Force who won with plenty in reserve and it won’t be the last time you see Lago Force in the winner’s circle.

Warwick Farm trainer Paul Cave pulled off a massive plunge in the first race when galloper Miss Dodds stormed home from the tail of the field at the home turn to score an impressive victory in the Men of League Foundation Maiden Plate 2000m and in doing so landing the plunge being backed from 16/1 into 6/1.

Hawkesbury trainers certainly had a day out with Scott Singleton joining Garry White and Andy Shaw in the winner’s circle with his galloper Bold Issue who led all the way and was brilliantly rated by Melbourne apprentice Rebecca Williams who travelled all the way from Melbourne for the one ride and what an excellent ride it was.

Rebecca is apprentice to her mother Jennifer Williams who is a license Melbourne trainer.

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Hawkesbury trainers and jockeys premiership’s are at an interesting stage with Garry White having an a hugh lead in the Local trainers premiership with Eleven  wins, nine  ahead of Wanda Ings and wade Slinkard both with two wins each.

The Open Trainers Premiership sees Peter Snowden on top with twelve wins one ahead of Garry White on ten and Guy Walter a further two wins away on eight.

Jockey’s Premiership is a very interesting contest with Tye Angland and Josh Parr both equal leaders with 9 wins each and back in third placing is Jon Grisedale with seven wins.

Hawkesbury’s star apprentice Josh Adams continues to ride city winners combining with Guy Walter at Warwick Farm last Tuesday week to steer Tempo Manner to victory in the Lansvale Handicap 1200m much to the  punters delight , as Tempo Manner was heavily backed in the Bookmakers ring firming from $4.60 to start at $3.90.

 New South Wales Provincial Clubs held their annual conference at Wyong last Tuesday week and some disturbing results came out of the conference especially on the financial affairs of the five Provincial clubs.

CEO of Newcastle jockey Club Maurice Sinclair presented a report on the 2009/10 Financial results of Wyong, Gosford, Newcastle, Kembla and Hawkesbury and following his analysis of each club’s affairs, Maurice reported the combined results for the five club’s could escalate in loses to $3.5m to $4m.

The battle between Sky Channel and TVN to increase their market share took a significant turn in favor of Sky Channel last Thursday when Queensland Racing confirmed that it will commence exclusive negotiations with Sky Racing to finalise a 10- year media contract for the thoroughbred racing media rights.

Chairman Bob Bentley said Queensland Racing had engaged Colin Smith of LEK Consulting to collectively negotiate the TAB club’s media rights renewals with both Sky Racing and TVN.

One interesting point the Chairman Bob Bentley made was the vast improvement these negotiations were on the previous one’s where the broadcaster would come to Queensland and do a deal with the Metropolitan clubs first and then give the Provincial Clubs what they thought was fair, which was exactly what in New South Wales where the AJC and STC took the major share of the original Sky Channel rights fees and left Provincial and Country clubs with the crumbs.

Hawkesbury Race Again This Saturday

Hawkesbury residents are treated to another Saturday race meeting at Hawkesbury this Saturday June 26 with an excellent eight race programme set down for running with the first race commencing at 12.20am

Punters looking to end the 2009/2010 financial year on a positive note should invest on the following three horses as they do look blue chip investments.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Garry White has targeted this meeting to overtake Peter Snowden who is presently two wins ahead of Garry in the Hawkesbury trainer’s premiership and after looking at the nominations and studying the form I am persuaded to think Garry could be equal leader in the Hawkesbury Trainers Premiership after Saturday’s race meeting.

Garry has two full brothers Colonel Light and Color Purple nominated and both gallopers perform at their best on the Hawkesbury course and will take plenty of beating on Saturday.

Color Purple is returning from a sixth placing at Canterbury June 2 on a heavy track and back to a Benchmark 65 race on Saturday and hopefully a better surface, Color Purple does look well placed.

Colonel Light is resuming from a spell, but did trial well at Rosehill June 15 winning the trial defeating smart galloper Bureaucratic and prior going for a spell finished second in a Hawkesbury Benchmark 70 and a Class Two, whereas Saturday he drops to a Benchmark 65 and will be suited by the 1000 metre journey. Both Color Purple and Colonel Light will be piloted by jockey Adrian Robinson who could be for a big day.

Third good thing on the day is Power Stroke a Gai Waterhouse trained galloper who finished second at her first career start at Newcastle June 12 and with natural improvement from that run should prove hard to beat Hawkesbury on Saturday.

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All Legal’s win at Randwick last Saturday week confirms once again the Hawkesbury Guineas form where All legal finished third the very smart galloper Neeson.

The Kevin Moses trained galloper All Legal put up an excellent performance to win after running into a dead end at the top of the straight before apprentice Jamie Quinnell was able to pulled All Legal to the centre of the track and over the concluding stages he was too strong for the Peter Snowden trained galloper Parthian.

After studying the Randwick race book last Saturday I was amazed that their colour page Add on the inside of the front cover of their race book has a picture of Larry Cassidy winning a race. I would have thought after Larry defected to Queensland racing it was time to change the add and promote those who contribute to Racing in New South Wales.

Then to my amazement I was reading the RacingNSW Strategic Plan and guess what they have a picture promoting Glen Boss another defector to Melbourne racing in their printed plan – time to promote New South Wales participants.

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Hawkesbury trainer Garry White is going through a frustrating time with his good staying mare Shadow Minister who has been a tragedy beaten at her  two of her last three starts finishing second on each occasion.

Last start Shadow Minister  was beaten on her merits behind the Gerald Ryan trained galloper Ironstein and the start prior Shadow Minister came from the tail of the field on the home turn to beaten in a photo finish by Trebbiano at Randwick June 12 and at her start prior to that was beaten a half a head by the Peter Snowden trained Buffalao.

One thing is for sure that the winners circle for White and Shadow Minister is waiting for them to enter in the very near future.

Garry produced Star Shadow (Dane Shadow—Star Hussar) a unraced 3yo at the Rose hill trials and she looked to have plenty of ability winning heat twelve after being badly away and ran on without much pressure from jockey Adrian Robinson over the concluding stages and my information is she will start at Hawkesbury this Saturday and will be winning. 

Tara Vigouroux need not worry about bad luck as her 3yo gelding Cierto Segura survived a protest at Muswellbrook last Tuesday week before being declared the winner of the Benchmark 50 Handicap 1280m.Ably piloted by leading country jockey Greg Ryan, Cierto Segura $5 scored by a head from Bottled $7, with Mob Rule $11 a further two and a half lengths away in third placing.

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One of the biggest decisions in the history of New South Wales racing was handed down last Wednesday by Judge Nye Perram on whether Racing New South Wales has the right to charge 1.5% per cent fee on turnover for the use of race fields.

The decision to most racing purist was straight forward as Racing New South Wales should have the right to set its own price for any Bookmaker, Corporate bookmaker or Betfair to use their product and Judge Perram agreed on that matter and that the legislation for charging 1.5% tax on turnover was valid and that RacingNSW was within it right to charge Corporate Bookmakers for free riding off racing industry race fields legislation.

The Federal Court Judge Nye Perram ruled in favor of Sportsbet on discriminatory grounds as RacingNSW was not within its right to have installed a $5million threshold minimum for New South Wales on course bookmakers which is ridiculous as RacingNSW should have the right to set whatever fees they think is reasonable for their business model and if they Corporate Bookmakers and Betfair want to bet on New South Wales racing they pay the fees set by RacingNSW.

Judge Perram handed down a win for RacingNSW in the Betfair case ruling that Racing NSW is within their rights to charge 1.5% fee on turnover.

RacingNSW CEO Peter V’Landys has indicated that they will appeal the Sportsbet ruling and has 28 days to file an appeal.

The decision on the appeal will be make or break for the 50,000 New South Wales racing participants as their income streams and livelihood all depends on funding and with a win with the appeal against the Sportsbet case will see an extra $40m in funds each year to distribute amongst the racing participants in New South wales.

Another reason the appeal to be successful is that Racing New South Wales has $50m in kitty ready to distribute in extra prizemoney, upgrading club facilities and lowering the costs for owners and trainers.

A favorable decision on the appeal will see from July 2012, Metropolitan Prizemoney increase on a Saturday to $100,000 per race up from $70,000, Provincial prizemoney up from $16,000 to $25,000 and country prizemoney will jump from $9,000 to $15,000 per race.

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Barrier trial publication THE MIDWEEKER covered eighteen trials at Warwick Farm last Friday week on a slow track and noted three horses for punters to keep a note of.

Two of the four horses they noted are trained by Gai Waterhouse and both horse Squamosa and Cross Bow won their trials and went to the line unextended and both gallopers will have little in winning a provincial maiden in the near future.

The other horse to follow is Bernanke (Peter Snowden) who was a narrow winner of the heat and he has shown ability in prior trials.

THE MIDWEEKER also covered the Rosehill trials held on Tuesday 15^th June 2010 and they predict a bright preparation for Commanding Girl (Chris Waller) and Cymbal (Peter Snowden) following their impressive trial performances.

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One of the biggest decisions in the history of New South Wales racing will be handed down today by judge Nye Perram on whether Racing New South Wales has the right to charge 1.5% per cent fee on turnover for the use of race fields.

The decision to most racing purist is straight forward as Racing New South Wales should have the right to set its own price for any bookmaker or corporate bookmaker or Betfair to use their product.

The decision will be make or break for the New South Wales racing as their will be an extra $40m in funds each year to distribute amongst the racing participants if the judge Perram sees fit for Racing New South Wales to charge for it product.

Another reason the decision has such a big bearing is that Racing New South Wales has $60m in kitty ready to distribute in extra prizemoney, upgrading club facilities and lowering the costs for owners and trainers.

A favorable decision will see from July 2012, Metropolitan Prizemoney increase on a Saturday to $100,000 per race up from $70,000, Provincial prizemoney up from $16,000 to $25,000 and country prizemoney will jump from $9,000 to $15,000 per race.

If a favorable decision is handed down by Judge Perram the racing industry Australia wide will be indebted to RacingNSW CEO Peter V’Landys who single handedly has driven the Corporate Bookmakers Tax revolution.

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Hawkesbury Jockey Grant Buckley had a great day out at Canterbury last Wednesday ridding a winning double and now leads the NSW Jockeys Premiership with 97.5 wins across New South Wales this season.

Buckley’s first winner at Canterbury was on the country trained galloper Dave The Dude $4.80 in the Benchmark 71 Handicap run over 28oo metres and Grant once again showed race goers what a great distance he is.

Magic Millions owners Rob Ferguson, John Singleton, Gerry Harvey and Katie Page-Harvey were certainly rewarded for the contribution their January sales contribute to the Gold Coast economy with the announcement that the Queensland Events Corporation along with the Bligh Government promising to contribute $15.7m to ensure the Magic Millions will stay at the Gold Coast for the next seven years.

Queensland Government will increase its contribution from $600,000 to $1,6m for the next two years, and then $2,5m each year until 2017.

Funding from the Queensland Government is relatively cheap for them as the January Magic Millions sales and Race Meeting contributes at least $24.6 million to the Queensland economy.

Magic Millions and Gold Coast Turf Club have for the first time secured a long term deal (7 years) as previous administrators had only been able to secure one year deals, which now with the long term deal assuring both parties a long and healthy relationship.

New Racing Chief Executive of the Australian Jockey Club Darren Pearce who was appointed on Saturday 24^th 2010 has wasted little time in announcing significant financial improvements in their budget figures up until 30 April 2010 compared to the same period last year;

·         Operating surplus up $6,5m on last year

·         Operating surplus up $362,000 or 57% on Budget

·         Expenditure savings of $1.71m or 2% on budget

Hawkesbury race again Saturday week 26^th June 2010, with $112,000 in prizemoney to be distributed over the following eight race programme.

$14,000 Benchmark 65 Handicap 1000m

$14,000 Benchmark 65 Handicap 1400m

$14,000 Class 2 Handicap 1200m

$14,000 Class 1 Handicap 1600m

$14,000 Maiden Plate 1200m

$14,000 Maiden Handicap 1500m

$14,000 Maiden Plate 2000m

$14,000 Maiden handicap (3yo) 1000m

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Continual Heavy Rain Causes abandonment of Hawkesbury Race Meeting.

Hawkesbury’s race meeting schedule for Last Friday was abandon following nine days of continual rain with 31 mils falling the Thursday night prior to the meeting and another 38 mils on the Friday.

Stewards inspected the track at 6am on the morning of the race meeting and had no alternative than to abandon the meeting following 31 mils overnight and a weather report that showed the rain would continue all day Friday.

Last Friday’s abandon race meeeting was the third meeting that Hawkesbury Race Club has lost in the 2009/10 racing season due to extreme wet weather.

Barrier trail Publication THE MIDWEEKER covered the Rosehill trials held on Tuesday 1^st June and highlighted three horses for punters to take note of.

Hawkesbury Race Club Director and horse trainer  Wayne Andrews has taken over the training of the locally owned King Galahad from Rosehill trainer Chris Waller and going on his trial Wayne has certainly added a couple of lengths to King Galahad’s ability. King Galahad won heat two of the trials going to the line under restraint and is a winner first up last campaign at Canterbury, so keep your eye out for this galloper first up as that appears when King Galahad races best.

Recent Hawkesbury winner Pimpala Secret was sent back to the trials after a small break and was kept up to the mark winning heat five and at no stage was knocked about and there is little doubt this galloper has above average ability.

Peter Snowden produced unraced 2yo Bernanke in heat three who was given a very easy trial in finishing fourth and had a prior trial finishing second and now appears to ready for a winning debut on the race track.

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 Hawkesbury Race Club Limited Directors at their monthly board meeting held on Monday 31^st May 2010 resolved to pay the Late Ted McCabe the ultimate tribute by naming a race in his honor on the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup race meeting programme 4^th November 2010.

The late Ted McCabe became a member of HRC in 1965 and was elected to the committee in 1983 and became vice-chairman in 1989, serving a light apprenticeship before becoming chairman in 1992- a position he held up until his passing September 2009.

Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm certainly opened their pockets at the 2010 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sales purchasing 23 broodmares for a total outlay of $7.2m.

On the positive side of Nathan purchases is that the Top Stallions Service fees have been reduced and the top ten stallions fees are;

Redoute’s Choice -- $176,000

Encosta de Lago -- $143,000

Fastnet Rock -- $137,500

Street Cry -- $137,500

More Than Ready (USA) -- $121,000

Medaglia D’Oro (USA) -- $88,000

Lonhro -- $88,000

High Caparral (IRE) $88,000

Commands -- $66,000

Shamardel (USA) -- $66,000

Exceed and Excel -- $66,000                                                 

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Form behind Neeson in the $100,000 Hawkesbury Guineas 1400m run on the Stand Alone Saturday race meeting is certainly standing up to listed status with the fourth place getter Girl Hussler winning the $125,000 Treasury Casino Daybreak Lover Plate 1400m at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Aided by a brilliant Larry Cassidy ride Girl Hussler prove too good for Tromso and Latin News who was one of the best things beaten I’ve seen in the past three years.

Hawkesbury trainer Wanda Ings saddled up Two Towers in the Coolmore Winter Cup 2400 at Rosehill last Saturday and his run was full of merit to finish fourth beaten under two lengths and he is now on target for the $100,000 Stayers Cup to be run over 3200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday 19^th June 2010 and Two Towers will have no trouble running the journey and the wetter the better.

Wanda also started another smart galloper in her stable at Rosehill last Saturday in the shape of Halfametreshort and Wanda had to be content with a third placing behind the Gerald Ryan trained galloper Ironstein, but watching the way Halfametreshort ran on over the last 100 metres it won’t be long before Halfametreshort and Wanda are entering the winners circle on a metropolitan Saturday.

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Hawkesbury Apprentice Jockey Josh Adams will always remember the day Randwick racecourse celebrated 150 years of racing which was last Saturday with young Adams adding to the celebration with a winning treble.

Once again bad weather hampered the AJC celebration of 150 years of racing at Randwick, but thanks to Josh the day finished with a buzz with Adams guiding the last winner Delago Star to victory giving young Adams a winning treble at headquarters which is a marvelous feat for this young eighteen year old apprentice who amazing has only been riding for two years under his master Garry Frazer.

Adams was successful on With Ice $21, Love Conquers All ($4.80 into $3.90) and Delago Star ($8.50 into $5) and shared the Sydney Jockeys Challenge with Kerin McEvoy on ten points.

Josh has ridden 120 winners in his short career and as I have reported on many prior occasions that young Adams is destine to have a wonderful career as a jockey after his finishes a successful apprenticeship under Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer.

Sydney trainers will be rushing to use the services of young Adams over the next three month’s as his 3kilo allowance on wet tracks will give his mounts a distinct advantage.

Talking about young Adams successful we must also mention another Hawkesbury Jockey Grant Buckley who continues to ride winners week in and week out and last week Buckley rode winners at Canberra (Milly Turncoat) and a double at Gosford ( Prima’s Reply & Matt’s Secret).

Another Hawkesbury jockey who is having little luck, is Adrian Robinson who had a nasty fall at Bathurst and is recovering on the sidelines at the moment and hopefully Adrian will be back in the saddle in the coming weeks.

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Hawkesbury Race Club will be holding their first Friday race meeting for the 2009/10 racing season this Friday 4^th June 2010 and after carefully looking at the nominations punters should come away from the meeting with their pockets full of cash if we select the right mud runners.

The first punting proposition looks to be in the $16,000 Set Weight Maiden  to be run over 1600 metres in the shape of the 3yo galloper Well Handled trained by David Payne who last start was beaten into second placing behind World War at Canterbury last Wednesday week on a heavy track. Tomorrow at Hawkesbury Well Handled is dropping back in grade to a provincial maiden at set weights which to my eye allowing Well Handled to carry 4 kilo’s less then he would in a Handicap maiden and with that in mind and his ability to handle wet tracks Well Handled does look one of the better bets on the programme.

Another galloper that is dropping back in grade from a metropolitan maiden placing to a provincial maiden tomorrow is the Keith Dryden trained Spanish Halo (NZ) who last start was beaten just over a length by Al Nakhla in a set weight maiden at Randwick last Tuesday week on a heavy track over 1800 metres and the extra 200 metres tomorrow will cause no concerns plus the prospects of a heavy track is no concern either.

Bart Cummings has prepared Shakit All for tomorrow’s 1300 metre maiden with a solid hitout at the Warwick Farm trials on Friday 21st May 2010 where he finished second to the smart galloper Rumour And Scandal beaten just over two lengths and run on without much pressure being applied on a dead track and he should prove a little too classy for his opposition tomorrow.

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Barrier trial Publication THE MIDWEEKER covered the fifteen barrier trial heats conducted at Warwick Farm last Friday week and suggested that punters follow the following five horses after their impressive barrier trials.

Dee Bee Nine last preparation won a Kembla maiden from two starts and upon returning from a spell has had two trials winning both which suggests he has returned in good order.

Buona Fortuna from the inform Joe Pride stable has won a Wyong Maiden and a Benchmark 65 Handicap last preparations and last Friday’s trial which he won by five lengths and recorded strong overall time augurs well for his future prospects.

John Thompson produced two smart 2yo’s Inadequate and Found The One and the later recorded strong overall and sectional times and she should have little trouble finding a suitable race.

Last week I was reading the autumn 2010 edition of the NSW Breeders magazine which had Gary Crispe’s Timeform Ratings listed for 2yo, 3yo, & 4 year olds with the top four in each age group being;

2Yo

Crystal Lily – Rating 122

Beneteau, Decision Time, Skilled & Star Witness all on 121

3yo

Starspangledbanner and Wanted on 126

So You Think 125

Denman, Rock Classic, Shoot Out & Zabrasive all on 124

4yo

Whobegotyou 127

Heart Of Dreams, Mic Mac, & Predatory Pricer all on 126

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Hawkesbury Race Dates for the 2010/11 racing season are as follows;

July 2010

Thursday 8^th & Sunday 25^th

August

Thursday 5^th & Thursday 19^th

September

Saturday 4^th , Thursday 9^th & Thursday 23^rd

October

Sunday 10^th & Thursday 21^st

November

Thursday 4^th & Thursday 11^th

December

Thursday 2^nd, Sunday 12^th & Sunday 19^th

2011

February

Thursday 3^rd & Thursday 17^th

March

Thursday 10^th & Thursday 31^st

April

Thursday 14^th & Saturday 30^th

May

Thursday 12^th

June

Monday 13^th 

Hawkesbury’s next race meeting will be held on Saturday 26^th June 2010 and is a fund raiser for the Men Of League with eight races programmed and $112,000 in prizemoney to be distributed.

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Racing NSW Strategic Plan 2010 certainly has plenty of positive news attached to the document especially in the prizemoney department.

Minimum prizemoney levels provide a vital platform for racing and sustainably. Increasing minimum prizemoney levels allows for a broad spread of returns to owners who must be looked after as they are along with punters the two most important people associated with the thoroughbred industry.

Metropolitan Saturday prizemoney will increase from $70,000 to $80,000 as from 1^st July 2010 and eventually rise to $100,000 from 1^st July 2012.

Provincial prizemoney as from 1^st July 2010 increase to $20,000 from present $16,000 and from 1^st July 2012 will go to $25,000.

Group One prizemoney has had a substantial increase with the following races receiving extra funding;

Golden Slipper $3,500,000 to $4,000,000

Doncaster Mile $1,500,000 to $2,000,000

Australian Derby $1,300,000 to $2,000,000

Racing NSW last Friday released the NSW thoroughbred race dates for 2010/11 with a number of changes being made for the upcoming racing season.

The most significant change in the 2010/11 race dates was the Scone Race Club receiving a Stand Alone race date at the expense of the two Metropolitan race clubs and now will have a two day carnival on Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th May 2011 (Stand Alone)  which follows Hawkesbury’s Stand Alone Saturday on 30^th April 2011.

The fortnight gap between the two Stand Alone Saturday race meetings is ideal programming and allows trainers to target both meetings which carry prizemoney between them of $3 million.

Other major changes for the 2010/11 race dates in the metropolitan area include;

·        Friday night racing at Canterbury Park, with 10 meetings between late September and early April;

·        A return of Sunday racing to the metropolitan areas, with four Sunday meetings at Warwick Farm, including the weekend of the Scone carnival and

Hawkesbury Race Club conducted ten barrier trials last Monday with the result being;

Heat                         Winner                                         Trainer

One                         Readyor                                         John Thompson

Two                         Miss Opulence                              Garry Frazer

Three                       Patricks                                          Paul Cave

Four                         Spiderbiter                                    Terry Croft

Five                          Miszinfandel                                  Garry Frazer

Six                            Magical Tales                                    Garry White

Seven                      True Nature                                       Noel Mayfield-Smith

Eight                        Hanzo Steel                                        Joseph Pride

Nine                         Fairy Gumnut                                     John Thompson

Hawkesbury Race Dates for the 2010/11 racing season are as follows;

July 2010

Thursday 8^th & Sunday 25^th

August

Thursday 5^th & Thursday 19^th

September

Saturday 4^th , Thursday 9^th & Thursday 23^rd

October

Sunday 10^th & Thursday 21^st

November

Thursday 4^th & Thursday 11^th

December

Thursday 2^nd, Sunday 12^th & Sunday 19^th

2011

February

Thursday 3^rd & Thursday 17^th

March

Thursday 10^th & Thursday 31^st

April

Thursday 14^th & Saturday 30^th

May

Thursday 12^th

June

Monday 13^th

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Racing NSW Strategic Plan 2010 certainly has plenty of positive news attached to the document especially in the prizemoney department.

Minimum prizemoney levels provide a vital platform for racing and sustainably. Increasing minimum prizemoney levels allows for a broad spread of returns to owners who must be looked after as they are along with punters the two most important people associated with the thoroughbred industry.

Metropolitan Saturday prizemoney will increase from $70,000 to $80,000 as from 1^st July 2010 and eventually rise to $100,000 from 1^st July 2012.

Provincial prizemoney as from 1^st July 2010 increase to $20,000 from present $16,000 and from 1^st July 2012 will go to $25,000.

Group One prizemoney has had a substantial increase with the following races receiving extra funding;

Golden Slipper $3,500,000 to $4,000,000

Doncaster Mile $1,500,000 to $2,000,000

Australian Derby $1,300,000 to $2,000,000

Each week we give readers a couple of horses to follow from the recent barrier trials held at the Metropolitan and Hawkesbury tracks courtesy of the THE MIDWEEKER a barrier trial publication and have they been on fire of late.

Last week they mentioned Pimpala Secret, So So Sure and Lady’s Angel with all three gallopers winning at reasonable odds.

The latest horses mentioned as future winners are Tiger Don, Dee Bee Nine and One Sweet Day.

Talking about future winners a very good judge suggested I keep following Albert The Fat over the Brisbane carnival.

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Veteran Hawkesbury trainer Andy Shaw is about to set a record with one of his gallopers at Hawkesbury next Friday week when he starts his galloper Kadazan who will be having his 100^th race start.

Now a rising 9 year old, Kadazan has earned prizemoney in twenty of his 100 starts with his last win being at Cessnock back in February 2010.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the merger between the AJC and STC would go ahead courtesy of some help financial help from the NSW Government and after a meeting behind closed doors last week all indications are that there will be one Metropolitan Race Club sooner than later.

The merger will be a big win for AJC race goers as first up on the new plans is to tear down the Queen Elizabeth grandstand and make way for a new grandstand capable of housing 50,000 race day patrons.

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Garry White Cuts lead in trainer’s Premiership

Hawkesbury trainer Garry White following success at last Thursday’s Hawkesbury race meeting with Colour Purple now is within two wins of Peter Snowden in the Hawkesbury trainers Premiership.

Colour Purple $2.15 proved the form from the Hawkesbury Stand Alone Meeting after having finished sixth to Neeson beaten just over six lengths in the Hawkesbury Guineas 1400m and the drop back in grade to a Benchmark 65 Handicap 1500m at Hawkesbury last Thursday was more to Colour Purple’s liking and he little trouble in defeating Letchworth $6.50 by half a length with Le Gaze $13 a further three quarters of a length away in third placing.

White now has trained ten winners for the 2009/2010 two behind Warwick Farm trainer Peter Snowden who is on twelve wins with Guy Walter in third placing with eight wins.

Readers of the column should be happy as we suggested Pimpala Secret would taking no end of beating in the Colts and Geldings Maiden Handicap 1000m and Pimpala Secret simply toyed with his opposition scoring by one and a half lengths over the Guy Walter trained Kaskje.

The amazing part of Pimpala Secret’s win was the price bookmakers bet having opened him up at $2.70, but within minutes his price blew to $7 before a late plunge saw Pimpala Secret’s price trim up to $5.

Punters looking for horses to follow from the meeting should take note of the two winners on the programme last Thursday with those being The Warrior Woman and Pimpala Secret.

Pimpala Secret is only a 2yo and to come out at his first race start and beat an open maiden field tells me this galloper is destine for better wins in the future.

The Warrior King’s win was outstanding after coming from the tail of the field at the 600 metres to eventually wear down King of Dance to score by a long neck and as the distances increase so will the wins for The Warrior King.  

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The form out of the Hawkesbury’s Stand Alone Saturday is certainly standing up to the test at this early stage with Common Objective who finished fifth in the Blacktown Workers Rowley Mile going straight to town the following Saturday to take out the

The MIDWEEKER covered sixteen barrier trials at Randwick last Monday week and spotted three horses for punters to follow in the near future.

Secession from the Peter Snowden yard was given a very easy time in heat two finishing fourth behind Light Brigade and if jockey Josh Parr so desired Secession would have won the trial easily, definitely a horse to follow.

Kevin Moses produced a 3yo Tiger Don who finished too strongly for his opposition in heat four to win that heat very impressively and he has previously indicated ability in prior trials.

Hawkesbury trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith broke a run city outs last Wednesday at Randwick when his 3yo gelding Daybreak Command scored a nose win in the Watsons Bay Maiden handicap run over 1800m.

Aided by a brilliant Peter Robl ride Daybreak Command was able to gather in the early leader Amazing Eagle and Hugh bowman’s mount Breeze Up the short priced favourite in the shadows of the post to score by a nose from Breeze up with Amazing Eagle a further nose away in third placing.

Wade Slinkard continued on his hot winning trot with another winner at Kembla last Saturday courtesy of Lady Green who was ultra impressive in winning the Benchmark 60 Handicap 1400m and was piloted to victory by Grant Buckley.  

Last Saturday’s Hawkesbury Stand Alone race Meeting carried more prizemoney than any other Race meeting held in Australia on the corresponding day.

Hawkesbury Race Club held an eight race programme with a prizemoney distribution of $650,000, Brisbane held the first day of their Winter Carnival at Eagle Farm with eight races for $600,000 in prizemoney, in Melbourne Caulfield raced distributing $560,000 in prizemoney, in South Australia the Saturday meeting was held at Mount Gambier with a miserable $143,000 distributed over nine races and in Western Australia the meeting was held at Belmont with $520,000 in prizemoney distributed.

Hawkesbury Race Club Limited Directors are eagerly awaiting the court decision regarding the Corporate Bookmakers verses Racing NSW as a result in favor of RacingNSW would automatically see the Prizemoney for Hawkesbury’s 2010 Stand Alone Saturday race Meeting being increased to $1 Million, with the three Listed races all carrying $200,000 in prizemoney and the other five races on the programme carrying a minimum prizemoney of $100,000.

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Punters looking for horses to follow from the recent Warwick Farm trials should take note of five horses according to the Barrier Trial Publication THE MIDWEEKER and those are Launay (Peter Snowden), Pimpala Secret (Marc Conners), Title, So So Sure and Lady’s Angel all trained by Joseph Pride.

Last Saturday’s Hawkesbury Guineas winning trainer Joseph Pride looks to have three more winners coming forward in the next couple of weeks following three trial winners Title, So So Sure and Lady’s Angel he saddled up at Warwick Farm and all three won their trials with plenty in hand.

Launay from the Peter Snowden looked impressive winning trial five under a strong hold and is the winner of three of his four race starts, all in impressive fashion.

Sky Racing has launched their two additional channels and now we have Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky World and their numbers in order on your television are 519, 520 and 521.

Sky Racing 1 and Sky Racing 2 are the core racing channels which gives vision to all TAB races; thoroughbred, harness and greyhound. Sky Racing World is a Thoroughbred only channel covering the best racing in Australia, NZ, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Sky Racing 1 can be seen in 760 TABS, 3700 Pubs & Clubs and 70% of Pubs and Clubs are expected to subscribe to Sky’s new channels.

The winners out of the new channel Sky World will be the five provincial clubs (Hawkesbury, Newcastle, Gosford, Wyong, Kembla) as their meetings on week days now will be given full mounting yard coverage and interviews with trainers and jockeys.

Sky Racing has also launched additional services and I recommend punters go to www.skyracing.com.au for the following services

Video form guide

Video archive

Multimedia offer

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Last week I was running a few ideas past Peter V’Landys (abolition of track fees) and whilst talking to Peter’ I asked when will the Court decision with the Corporate Bookmakers be handed down and unfortunately Peter thinks it won’t be until the last week in May 2010.

Another matter that concerns the industry participants is the proposed merger between the AJC and the STC which is supposed to be back on the table following the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Hawkesbury race tomorrow with an eight race programme with the first race commencing at 12.35pm and looking at the nominations their does appear to be a couple of nice punting propositions on the programme.

Pimpala Secret the galloper we mention earlier in the column following a brilliant barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday 30^th April 2010 looks very well placed first up tomorrow in a 1000 metre E&G maiden Handicap.

In his trial Pimpala Secret ran above average overall time and the last 400m sectional suggest he is a galloper with ability.

John Hawkes and Sons Michael and Wayne have the smart galloper Brian’s Honour returning from a short stint in Melbourne engaged in the $16,000 Benchmark 65 Handicap 1500m tomorrow and he would only need to run up his last start at Bendigo run when beaten a head by Moudre and at his previous start was beaten a neck at Monee Valley to prove hard to beat tomorrow. Hardest for Brian’s Honour to beat tomorrow will be the Peter Snowden trained galloper Luxe who looked good in winning at Kembla Grange back on 24^th April 2010.

Hawkesbury trainer Wade Slinkard had a day to remember at Mudgee last Sunday week training a winning treble and using the services of three different jockeys.

Wade’s success started in race two with Swing And Sing $9 taking out the Widden Stud F & M Maiden handicap 1100m aided by a brilliant Jeff Penza ride.

Second leg of Wade’s winning treble was Lady Green $7 who was piloted to victory by Grant Buckley in the Winner’s Circle Maiden Plate 1400m.

Jon Grisedale combined with Wade for his third winner on the programme with Fresh Tell $7 taking out the Coolmore Australia Benchmark 55 Handicap 2000m.

Another Hawkesbury trainer tasting success at the bigger end of the prizemoney stakes was Wanda Ings who prepared Merconman to take out the $70,000 Masterton Homes Handicap 1300m at rose hill last Saturday.

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