The club received 178 nominations for the meeting which is a record for Ladies day and will assure Patrons of top class racing for the entire day.

The 2008 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup field is outstanding with leading trainers Peter Snowden (Gergis), Gai Waterhouse (Armstrong Jones),  Jack Denham (Nuclear Sky), Clarry Conners (Cos in Court & Kick’N’Chase), Joseph Pride (Raise), along with local trainers Garry White (Coalesce) and Wade Slinkard (Ausbred King) all supporting the race

There are also two last Sydney winners in the race with Barbara Joseph starting Vintage Rock and Robert Price has One Way Ticket engaged and he has won his last two Sydney starts.

The Cup Field for 2008 is;

Horse                       Trainer                                    Jockey                   Price

Nuclear Sky            Jack Denham                           Glen Colless          8/1

Coalesce                  Garry White                                                           25/1

Grand Zulu              Gwenda Markwell                   Rod Quinn              33/1  

Belmonte                 Bernie Howlett                        Jeff Lloyd              10/1

Alverta                    Paul Messara                            Glyn Schofield       5/1

Crosswise                 Danny Williams                      Tye Angland           12/1

Gergis                       Peter Snowden                         Josh Parr                  4/1                                                         

 Kirra Sand                 Jason Coyle                            Peter Wells             50/1                                                   

Kick ‘N’ Chase         Clarry Conners                         Kathy O’Hara         12/1

Ausbred King            Wade Slinkard                         Patrick Murphy          50/1

Raise                          Joseph Pride                           Larry Cassidy           10/1

Soiled                        Jason Coyle                             Peter Robi                  12/1

Vintage Rock            Barbara Joseph                        Grant Buckley          8/

One Way Ticket        Robert Price                           James Innes              6/1

Armstrong Jones       Gai Waterhouse                     Criag Agnew               10/1

Cos in Court              Clarry Conners                                                           50/1

Selecting the winner of the 2008 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup is not an easy assignment as this is the most open Cup run over the last fourteen years which is the time Panthers has been associated with the Hawkesbury Race Club.

Many years ago a smart punter told me always back a horse the has been specifically set for a race and I spoke to Peter Snowden a month ago and he told me he setting Gergis for the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup and after his impressive win last Saturday week at Rosehill over Let Me Adam, I do think Gergis will win the 2008 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

The $100,000 Yalumba Wines Listed Cup has drawn together one the best field of open company gallopers seen at Hawkesbury for many years.

The 2008 Yalumba Field is;

Horse                                  Trainer                               Jockey                               Price

Flaming                              Gerald Ryan                      Brad Stewart                        12/1

German Chocolate              Paul Cave                         Peter Robi                              4/1

He’s Canny                         Greg Hickman                  Grant Buckley                       4/1

Mr Ubiquitous                    Chris Waller                      Jeff Penza                             10/1

Ollie Vollie                         Sue Grills                         Robert Thompson                  20/1

Party Crasher                      Gai Waterhouse                Daniel Ganderton                   5/1

Blessus                                Bart Cummings                Jeff Lloyd                               10/1

Testimonial                         Peter Snowden                  Rodney Quinn                         8/1

Strong Choice                     Paul Messara                     Glyn Schofield                        15/1

Savage Sevens                    Joan Pracey                       Daniel Edmonds                      33/1

Real Strike                          Noel Mayfield-Smith        Joshua Parr                               33/1

Scorched Earth                   Joseph Pride                      Dale Spriggs                             25/1

Mr Incredible                       Guy Walter                      Kathy O’Hara                           15/1

The Take                             Paul Perry                          Peter Wells                               15/1

Mulaman                             Bart Cummings                 Craig Agnew                            12/1

News Alert                          Garry White                     D Gauci                                       8/1

The Yalumba Wines $100,000 Cup (Listed) also looks a very difficult race on paper, but rarely does Gai Waterhouse come to Hawkesbury on feature days and not go away with one of the main races and that’s the reason I’m tipping Party Crasher to take out the Yalumba Wines Cup 1300 metres.

Party Crasher has had one run since returning from a long spell and finished fourth to Gergis beaten under a length and was well fancied in the market on that occasion. Party Crasher has won second up before and has had one start at the track for a second to Rabbuka in the Rowley Mile back in May 2008.

Main dangers to Party Crasher will be German Chocolate and He’s Canny with both gallopers proven at group level.

==============================================================    

Punters looking for winners on the supporting programme tomorrow should pay special attention to a couple horses that have performed well at the recent Hawkesbury barrier trails and if they carry that form onto the track tomorrow they will prove hard to beat.

Hawkesbury trainer Wanda Ings has Miss Lindy nominated in the Class Two Handicap 1200 metres and going on her brilliant trial behind News Alert at Hawkesbury last Monday week, Miss Lindy looks placed to advantage and should prove one of the better bets on the programme tomorrow. Miss Lindy is a winner at Hawkesbury having broke her maiden status back in July and did win with relative ease by three and a half lengths and she can handle all types of track conditions. Hardest for Miss Lindy to beat will be the Danny Williams trained galloper Goldridge who is a winner of his last two starts at Goulburn and Wagga.

Newcastle trainer Paul Perry has won a race at the last three Hawkesbury race meetings and tomorrow will be no exception as he has two gallopers engaged Saggiatore  and Basilica and both gallopers are last start Hawkesbury winners and I see no reason why both gallopers won’t win again.

Last Monday week their were six barrier trial heats held at Hawkesbury with the heat winners being;

Heat                               Winner                              Trainer

One                              News Alert                        Garry White

Two                             Royal Doctor                     Tommy Wong

Three                           Sunnyside Road                 Garry Frazer

Four                             Diesel Force                       Wendy Lapointe

Five                             Razorback Princess             Scott Wade

Six                                Kidding                              Clarry Conners

Looking for horses to follow from the trials I suggest you write the name Miss Lindy down in capital letters as her effort to finish fourth in heat one behind winner News Alert was outstanding and if this mare Miss Lindy does not progress to the winners circle it will only be due to bad luck.

Heat one placings were filled by the Garry White trained gallopers News Alert first, New Hampshire second and Rouillac third and all three gallopers trialled nicely.

Racing Minister Kevin Greene last Monday week announced he will intervene in the appointment process of a new independent Board of Racing NSW which is great news for the five provincial clubs (Hawkesbury, Gosford, Wyong, Newcastle, and Kembla) and all country race clubs as they were not represented on the previously proposed five member board.

Unfortunately, the process initiated in early August has still not reached a conclusion and I believe this uncertainty means the industry may not have the confidence it should in the final decision Mr Greene said

Mr Greene reported that the report from the independent expert to the affect that the process can not be given a probity assurance.

Mr Greene will now appoint a selection panel to choose the five member Board on merit in accordance with skills-based criteria.

The selection Panel will be comprised of three eminent people with racing industry knowledge.

This process probably won’t start now until the new year.

Following his fifth straight win last Saturday week at Rosehill, Faulconbridge now has heading towards the Group 3 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup as his next assignment.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse told connections that she would give Faulconbridge a couple of easy weeks following last start win over 2000 metres and set him for the 1600 metres Cup at Hawkesbury on Thursday 6^th November 2008, which is also Hawkesbury’s Ladies day.

Rosehill trainers Gerald Ryan and Chris Waller have indicated that they will be starting Tommifrancs, Flaming and Bellagio Wynn in the Panthers Hawkesbury Cup, with Bellagio Wynn being a winner at Hawkesbury at the last Stand Alone Saturday race meeting.

Hawkesbury trainer Wade Slinkard has indicated that he will be attempting to win the cup with Ausbred King following his impressive return from a spell at Rosehill last Saturday week where he finished a creditable seventh to Blessus who may also be heading towards the Panthers Hawkesbury Cup 1600m come Thursday 6^th November 2008.

Warwick Farm trainer Peter Snowden has also indicated that he has his eyes set on the Hawkesbury Cup with his last start winner Gergis and Testimonial who was runner up to Gergis at Warwick Farm on Monday 6^th October 2008.

Prior Cup winners have been;

2006 Wild Queen   Gai Waterhouse   Lenny Beasley

2005 Court’s In Session   Guy Walter   Danny Beasley

2004 Stoway   Gai Waterhouse   Chris Munce

2003 This Manshood   Tim Martin Lane Moloney

2002 Carael Boy Bob Milligan Brad Pengelly

2001 Huge Demand   Graeme Rogerson   Michael Walker

2000 Huge Demand   Graeme Rogerson   Lenny Beasley

Every now and then punters find a race that becomes a very good form race to follow and a good judge told me to follow the first six placegetters out of the 1200 metre 3yo maiden race run at Hawkesbury on the Wine, Food & Music race day on Sunday 12^th October 2008.

The winner of the race was Fusakeo from the Gai Waterhouse stables and is obviously very smart having won the race by three lengths in the very good time of 1.10.73 for the 1200 metres.

Fusakeo is by Fusaichi Pegasus out of the very good race mare Miss Jakeo and if breeding means anything this 3yo galloper could be a star of the future.

Now for the ones that finished behind Fusakeo, firstly the second placegetter Royal Doctor (Royal Academy – Whispering Pines) trained at Hawkesbury by Tommy Wong and his run was outstanding coming from a long way back on the home turn with his run having back me next start written all over it.

John O’Shea trained the third placegetter Rising To Win (Viscount—Secret Liaisons) and he settled down in the back end of the field and was really motoring home at the end of the 1200 metres.

Tara Vigouroux trained the fourth placegetter Biscay Star (Catbird – Star County) who was sensationally backed in the betting ring from $16 to start second favourite at $4.60 and he displayed exceptional speed to lead to only folded up over the last 100 metres as it was his first race start and a win is just around the corner for this galloper.

The Fifth placegetter Bellevelon (Falvelon – Danger Girl) from the Gerald Ryan yard will also break his maiden status in the near future..

Barrier Trail Publication THE MIDWEEKER spotted four horses at the recent Randwick trials for punters to follow over the coming weeks.

Maiden galloper Ambassador from the Gai Waterhouse stables looked good in winning a open heat defeating Dillinger and Causeyacan and he should have little trouble breaking his maiden status when he appears at the racetrack.

Two 2yo’s that trialled like early comers were Not A Snip A Doubt from the John O’Shea stables and Coco Kerringle from the Graeme Rogerson establishment, with the later looking pretty smart.

Griffon (Bart Cummings) now wound up following three barrier trial wins should have little difficulty in entering the winners circle especially if he starts over 1400 metres first up.

According to John Hiatts history book on Hawkesbury the very successful sire OVER won his first race at Hawkesbury on the 15^th December 1998 winning a 2yo maiden handicap and then went on to win races including 19999 Flemington Carbine Club (G3), 1999 Sandown Guineas (G2), and the A.J.C. Doncaster (G1).

Also in 1998 Referral trained by Steve Englebrecht won the 1998 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup and then went on to win the 1998 A.J.C. Villiers Stakes and then in the year 2000 Referral finished third in the Group One Cox Plate.

Following the race meeting held at Hawkesbury on the 3^rd December 1998 the reconstruction of the course proper was commenced and completed during the early part of 1999 at a cost $1.3 million.

The 1999 Hawkesbury Guineas which was run at Rosehill and won by Mr Innocent who also went on to win many high class races including S.T.C. 1999 Phar Lap Stakes(G2), Doomben 1999 Classic (G3), A.J.C. Expressway Stakes (G2), and the Group One 2000 Doomben 10000.

Hawkesbury Race again tomorrow and looking for a couple of safe investments at this time of world financial distress I suggest you have a small wager on the following two horses.

Firstly there’s a galloper Sleek Machine in the 1000 metre maiden Handicap who was a tragedy beaten here at her last start behind Megem’s Boy and with any amount a luck tomorrow Sleek Machine should be winning.

Graeme Rogerson has Relentless Lad nominated in the 2250 Class One Handicap and this galloper has been crying out for a dry track and a drop in class.

Well hopefully tomorrow the track will be no worse then a dead 4 and Relentless Lad is certainly dropping in class as his last run was in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes held at Randwick over the Spring Carnival.

With the help of perfect weather and good racing the Wine, Food & Music race day at Hawkesbury last Sunday was an outstanding success.

Punters invested in excess of $2.6m with Bookmakers and the Tote, with punters finishing on the right side of the ledger.

Punters who gave the bookmakers a complete hammering in the first half of the programme with three of the four first favourites on the day greeting the judge in first placing and the fourth one was first past the post only to have relegated to second place on protest.

Punters kicked off in the first race where they backed Pyramids from $2.40 to $2.10 and they never had a moments worry as Pyramids strolled home to score by one and a half lengths from the second placegetter Leinster Lad and Roman Interlude was a further one and a quarter lengths away in third place.

In race two the stewards dealt punters a fatal blow when they upheld the protest which seen the short priced $2 favourite Long Journey Home (G.Buckley) being displaced as the winner by the second placegetter Belle’s Cat (J. Cassidy) who became the winner due to interference caused by Long Journey Home over the final 100 metres.

Not to be deterred the punters bounced straight back courtesy of the Peter Snowden trained galloper Jove $2.15 in the Ishak’s Half Century Class One Handicap 1660 metres who again gave the punters little concern as she raced away over the concluding stages to score by three lengths from Captain Charles $6 with Ruapehu $8 back in third place.

Now armed with plenty of ammunition the punters unloaded on the Paul Perry trained Saggiatore in the Tony Chicken Man Acevski Maiden Plate 1500 metres and it was a sit and steer job for jockey Jim Cassidy as Saggiatore scored by the big space of five and a half lengths from the Garry White trained galloper Lord Windsor $19 with Mio Mondo $6 a further half neck away in third place.

Punters looking for horse to follow from the meeting should continue backing the Paul Perry trained galloper Saggiatore as his five length victory definitely signaled there are more wins in store.

Gai Waterhouse produced Impressionist in race five who was resuming from a eighteen month spell and at no Stage in the running did the galloper look comfortable lumping the huge impost of 60.5 Kilo’s and it was only over the last 100 metres that Impressionist started to motor to the line and what Gai normally does is increase gallopers in distance and if that happens with Impressionist , well then he will be winning at his next start.

 Further extracts on the history of the Hawkesbury Race Club from John Hiatt’s research which has Larry Cassidy riding five winners at the race Meeting on the 22^nd December 1994.

Larry’s winners were Enhance (Jack Denham), Primitive (Bill Prain), Battle Tactics (Phillip Hood), Turridu (Garry Frazer’s Champion) and Purewin trained by Brian Mayfield-Smith.

In 1994 was the commencement of the Ron Dufficy punters club which was the most successful promotion carried out by the Club over the past fifteen.

The 1993/94 racing season had sadness attached with the deaths of Jim Walsh, Maurice Bailey and Paul Carpenter who were all past committeemen of the Hawkesbury Race Club.

Also in 1994 members of the Hawkesbury Race Club conferred Life Membership on Mr Geoff Heidtman. Geoff joined the HRC in 1978 and was elected to the committee for a period of 7 years (1981-1988) including a term as Vice Chairman from 1984-1988 and was acting secretary in 1989.

Geoff Heidtman was a successful owner/trainer having had wins with such horses as Mobellair, Brideway, Aluet and Sherwood.

Being only one month away from the running of the 2008 Melbourne Cup I was interested in the following facts and figures on the prestigious race.

·        No Cup winning mare has produced a Melbourne Cup winner

·        Delta Blues (2006) is the first Japanese trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup

·        Efficient (2007) became the first Victoria Derby winner to win the cup as a 4yo since Phar Lap in 1930

·        Bart Cummings has won the Cup eleven times (Light Fingers 1965, Galilee 1966, Red Handed 1967, Think Gig 1974-75, Gold And Black 1977, Hyperno 1979, Kingston Rule 1990, Let’s Elope 1991, Saintly 1996, and Rogan Josh 1999.

·        The most successful current jockeys are Glen Boss (Makybe Diva 2003-04-05) Damien Oliver (Doriemus 1995 & Media Puzzle 2002) Jim Cassidy (Kiwi 1983 & Might And Power 1997) and Darren Beadman (Kingston Rule 1990 & Saintly 1996)

·        The jockeys that have rode the most Melbourne Cup winners are Bobbie Lewis and Harry White who both have rode four cup winners; Lewis (the Victory 1902, Patrobas 1915, Artilleryman 1919 & Trivalve 19270) White (Think Big 1974-75, Arwon 1978, Hyperno 1979)

The new minister for Gaming and Racing Kevin Greene will immediately change the Race Fields Legislation to close the loophole that allowed the court to rule that Tom and Bill Waterhouse did not have to pay a fee for exploiting NSW race fields in their betting operation.

Once the minister changes the race field’s legislation to my way of thinking Tom and Bill Waterhouse challenge of the legislation was an exercise in futility.

After watching last Saturday’s races at Caulfield I feel pretty confident that I witness the Caulfield Cup winner go round in the shape of the David Hayes trained Guillotine who was beaten into third placing by Douro Valley and Pompeii Ruler.

Guillotine was previously trained by David Payne and is now in the hands of David Hayes who has only had two races in mind for Guillotine since taking over the training,  those being the 2008 $2.5m Caulfield Cup 2400m and the $5.5m Melbourne Cup 3200m.

So why can Guillotine win the Caulfield Cup this Saturday, well for a start he drops from 58 kilo’s to 50 kilo’s, a weight relief of 8 kilo’s and meets last year’s second placegetter Douro Valley 2 kilo’s better for being beaten a neck and a short half head when beaten into third placing last Saturday.

Littorio will prove the hardest for Guillotine to beat and the seven times Group One winner Weekend Hussler will also offer stiff opposition for Guillotine.

Hawkesbury’s leading lady trainer Joan Pracey continues to show her city counter parts a trick or two when she prepared her brilliant mare Queen And Country for a first up victory at Randwick last Tuesday week.

Following a brilliant barrier trial win at Rosehill on September 16^th, Queen And Country $12 showed plenty of gate speed and was able to race outside the leader until the home turn where jockey Jeff Penza gave the mare more rein and she simply exploded to the lead and was able to hang on over the concluding stages to defeat the short priced favourite Visa Lisa $2.50 by a neck with Rendzina $15 a further two and a quarter lengths away in third placing.

Joan has her sights set on the $100,000 Yalumba (Listed) Cup 1300m to be run at Hawkesbury on Thursday 6^th November 2008 which is Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup/Ladies Day race meeting.

Joan’s late husband Terry Pracey was the longest active horse trainer at Hawkesbury during the period of 1970 -- 20000  

Terry trained his first Hawkesbury winner, Golden Archer on the 17/6/1970. He has trained 31 Hawkesbury winners since that time as well as having considerable success on Metropolitan and other race tracks. One of his early owners was Brian Chapman and Terry Pracey was successful winning many Hawkesbury races for Chapman with horses including Dales Gift, Selamat, Swift Gain, Left Hook, Good Landing and Under Dale. Other good horses Terry trained were Harlequinn Lad, Pray, The Phlips, Fun Idea, De Shiftway, and Au Lion.

On the 14^th September 2000 Au Lion won the S.T.C. Listed New Starlight Stakes over 1100 metres.

 Joan up until the year 2000 had trained 5 Hawkesbury winners and since the year 2000 Joan has established herself as one of the leading trainers at Hawkesbury.

Further extracts on the history of the Hawkesbury Race Club from John Hiatt’s research which has Larry Cassidy riding five winners at the race Meeting on the 22^nd December 1994.

Larry’s winners were Enhance (Jack Denham), Primitive (Bill Prain), Battle Tactics (Phillip Hood), Turridu (Garry Frazer’s Champion) and Purewin trained by Brian Mayfield-Smith.

In 1994 was the commencement of the Ron Dufficy punters club which was the most successful promotion carried out by the Club over the past fifteen.

The 1993/94 racing season had sadness attached with the deaths of Jim Walsh, Maurice Bailey and Paul Carpenter who were all past committeemen of the Hawkesbury Race Club.

Also in 1994 members of the Hawkesbury Race Club conferred Life Membership on Mr Geoff Heidtman. Geoff joined the HRC in 1978 and was elected to the committee for a period of 7 years (1981-1988) including a term as Vice Chairman from 1984-1988 and was acting secretary in 1989.

Geoff Heidtman was a successful owner/trainer having had wins with such horses as Mobellair, Brideway, Aluet and Sherwood.

The $130,000 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup is only six weeks away and Warwick Farm Trainer Guy Walter is already looking towards the race with Spy Zaim who finished an excellent fourth to Judged at Randwick Saturday 27^th September in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap 1400 metres.

The amazing observation I made about the $125,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap was that the Nomination and Acceptance fees for owners were $1875 compared with $130,000 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup which has No nomination or acceptance fees attached to the race.

Back to Spy Zaim his run behind Judged was full of merit being only beaten just over a length and the 1600 metres of the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup will be right up his alley.

Back in 2006 Spy Zaim finished second in the Hawkesbury Guineas behind The Free Stater and then in 2007 went on and won the Scone Cup over a mile.

Past winners of the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup have been;

2007      EI

      2006 Beauty Watch /Chris Munce/Gai Waterhouse 

      2005 Wild Queen /Lenny Beasley/Gai Waterhouse    

      2004 Court’s In Session/Danny Beasley/Guy Walter

      2003   Stoway/Chris Munce/Gai Waterhouse

      2002 This Manshood/Lane Moloney/Tim Martin

      2001 Carael Boy/Brad Pengelly/Bob Milligan

      2000 Huge Demand/Michael Walker/Graeme Rogerson

     1999 Huge Demand/Lenny Beasley/Graeme Rogerson

     1998 Referral/Jim Cassidy/Steve Englebrecht

     1997 Quick Flick/Mark DeMonFort/Tim Donnelly

 Grand old Galloper Magic Road completed the cup double in 1995 and 1996

Hawkesbury trainers continued on their winning way at Orange and Newcastle last Saturday and Sunday week training four winners.

Marc Quinn saddled up Coast To The Post (Anabaa – Nanny Maroon) at Newcastle and aided by a brilliant Dale Spriggs ride Coast to The Post $5 was able to score a short half head victory in the Ratings 65 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Hawkesbury trainers once again cleaned up at Orange preparing three of the eight winners on the programme.

First into the winners circle was Noel Mayfield-Smith with his 5yo Commands galloper Captain Charles $2.30 who was piloted to victory in the 1600 metre maiden handicap by jockey Robbie Brewer.

Scott Singleton continues his success on the country tracks preparing Maximus Fortius (Canny Lad – Emma) $3 to take out the Ratings 62 handicap 1400 metres much to the punters delight.

Bernie Kelly then gave the bookmakers some relief when his 7yo Marauding galloper Let’s Devower scored an impressive two lengths victory in the Macquarie Stud Ratings 57 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Hawkesbury trainer Garry White and Owner Frank Scali again combined with their talented galloper News Alert to give the Bookmakers a canning at Canterbury last Wednesday week.

Superbly ridden by master jockey Jimmy Cassidy, News Alert $2.45 raced in second place until the home turn where Cassidy gave News Alert more rein and the 4yo galloper raced away over the concluding stages to score by two and three quarter lengths from Goldrossa  $8 with Toughened $14 a further length and a quarter away in third placing .

Being only two months away from the running of the 2008 Melbourne Cup I was interested in the following facts and figures on the prestigious race.

·        No winning mare has produced a Melbourne Cup winner

·        Delta Blues (2006) is the first Japanese trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup

·        Efficient (2007) became the first Victoria Derby winner to win the cup as a 4yo since Phar Lap in 1930

·        Bart Cummings has won the Cup eleven times (Light Fingers 1965, Galilee 1966, Red Handed 1967, Think Gig 1974-75, Gold And Black 1977, Hyperno 1979, Kingston Rule 1990, Let’s Elope 1991, Saintly 1996, and Rogan Josh 1999.

·        The most successful current jockeys are Glen Boss (Makybe Diva 2003-04-05) Damien Oliver (Doriemus 1995 & Media Puzzle 2002) Jim Cassidy (Kiwi 1983 & Might And Power 1997) and Darren Beadman (Kingston Rule 1990 & Saintly 1996)

·        The jockeys that have rode the most Melbourne Cup winners are Bobbie Lewis and Harry White who both have rode four cup winners; Lewis (the Victory 1902, Patrobas 1915, Artilleryman 1919 & Trivalve 19270) White (Think Big 1974-75, Arwon 1978, Hyperno 1979)

The new minister for Gaming and Racing Kevin Greene will immediately change the Race Fields Legislation to close the loophole that allowed the court to rule that Tom and Bill Waterhouse did not have to pay a fee for exploiting NSW race fields in their betting operation.

Once the minister changes the race field’s legislation to my way of thinking Tom and Bill Waterhouse challenge of the legislation was an exercise in futility.

If Racing NSW made all bookmakers betting over the telephone display a betting board on the NSW race meetings they are taking bets on then that could also close the loophole exposed.

Leading Metropolitan trainers Guy Walter and Rod Craig and Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer, plus Racing NSW steward Marc Van Gestel were full of praise for the condition of the Hawkesbury Race Track following the race meeting last Thursday.

Gun Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman went out of his way to let me know how much the track had improve and stated that the track was in excellent order.

Racecourse manager Adam Campton, his assistant Rick Johnston and their fellow ground staff deserve a huge pat on back for the condition of the course proper, which is in as good of order as any metropolitan track according to the above trainers and jockey.

Last Thursday meeting was highlighted by the performance Warwick Farm trainer Peter Snowden and Jockey Danny Nikolic who both had winning trebles and veteran trainer Jack Denham who prepared a winning double.

Danny Nikolic combined with Peter Snowden to land two of his winners White Room $3.80 and Lighthouses $6.50 and then teamed up with Denham to land Metal Bender winner of the Kennards Hire Class 2 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Snowden’s three winners were White Room, Lighthouses and Jove who was ridden by Rodney Quinn  

Jack’s double commenced in race one where Megem’s Boy $2.10 defeated the very unlucky Sleek Machine $5 by half a length with Catcha Rising Star $31 a further one and a quarter length away in third placing.

The second leg of Jack’s double was courtesy of the smart 3yo galloper Metal Bender $3.50 who came from the back of the field to over haul his opposition over the last 100 metres and on the line had a length and a quarter to spare over the second placegetter Friday Nights $4 with Bombay Diamond $4.20 a further three and three quarters of a length away in third placing.

Horses to follow from the race meeting would definitely be the Jack Denham trained Metal Bender as this galloper is only a 3yo was taking on older horses and over the concluding stages of the race he simply toyed with his opposition and I have no doubt there are better races in store for Metal Bender.

Other gallopers worth noting are Sleek Machine which was tragedy beaten in the opening race behind Megem’s Boy and with a little more luck at his next start he should be winning.

Anthony Cummings galloper General Chaos was another galloper who had little luck when finishing second to Jove in the Samuel Morris Foundation Maiden Plate after being trapped three wide for most of the journey.

Hawkesbury’s history book shows that the late Terry Pracey (1970 – 2000) up until the year 2000 was the longest active horse trainer at Hawkesbury.

Terry trained his first Hawkesbury winner, Golden Archer on the 17/6/1970. He has trained 31 Hawkesbury winners since that time as well as having considerable success on Metropolitan and other race tracks. One of his early owners was Brian Chapman and Terry Pracey was successful winning many Hawkesbury races for Chapman with horses including Dales Gift, Selamat, Swift Gain, Left Hook, Good Landing and Under Dale. Other good horses Terry trained were Harlequinn Lad, Pray, The Phlips, Fun Idea, De Shiftway, and Au Lion.

On the 14^th September 2000 Au Lion won the S.T.C. Listed New Starlight Stakes over 1100 metres.

Last week I was studying the form in the Midweek Edition of the Sportsman and the prizemoney levels for the Tuesday and Wednesday interstate race meetings caught my attention.

Prizemoney levels in New South Wales for all Provincial midweek race meetings are a minimum of $16,000 compared with Warrnambool in Victoria on Tuesday 23^rd September 2008 were their races were an average of $11,000 per race. Balaklava in South Australia the prizemoney for their meeting on Wednesday 24^th September 2008 was an average of $6750 per race less then half of the New South Wales prizemoney for Provincial Racing.

In Queensland where at times you are feed the misinformation that racing is going ahead in leaps and bounds, well last Wednesday at Eagle Farm a Metropolitan track the Prizemoney levels were a miserable $13,000 per race, not even up to the provincial levels in New south Wales.

As I have said before if NSW racing is in trouble (which it is not) pity help the other states.

Hawkesbury’ next race meeting is the Wine, Food and Music race meeting at which there will be $112,000 in prizemoney to be distributed over the following eight race programme on Sunday 12^th October 2008.

$14,000 Ratings 71 Handicap 10000m

$14,000 Class 2 Handicap 1300m

$14,000 Class 1 Handicap 1000m

$14,000 Class 1 Handicap1600m

$14,000 Maiden Handicap 1200m

$14,000 Maiden Plate 1500m

$14,000 Maiden Handicap 1800m

$14,000 Maiden Plate 1200m

Hawkesbury’s Wine, Food & Jazz a ‘V’ienne Raceday starts at 10.30 am with excellent wine, food and a variety of other stalls.

Other Entertainment on the day will contain the following;

• Jazz Quartette du Noumea led by Jazz Professor Alexandre Harvey
• John Morrision NEW AGE with Jackie Cooper
• ZOOO Superbande with Suzanna Wellink
• Smoooth Jazz Ensemble
• Nucleas- New Orleans Marching Band
• Dance performances by Fusion dance
• 100 Free Harley rides
• Cute and Cuddy Farm Animals

Patrons on course will also be eligible to win $1,000 fuel voucher courtesy of Blakes Marine

Hawkesbury trainer Garry White unearthed three of his early 2yo’s at last Monday weeks Hawkesbury Barrier trials. Star of the White performers was Vain Shadow a Dane Shadow filly who looked impressive in winning the 2yo trial by one and a quarter lengths in the slick time 46.33 seconds for the 760 metre trial.

Other horses to impress at the trials were Biscay Star a 3yo gelding trained by Tara Vigouroux who was hard held when finishing third in heat one behind Oscarmania, also trailing like a future winner was Helvia from the Guy Walter stables who looked good in winning heat three without being given full rein down the home straight.

No doubt the star of the trials was Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter who saddled up four trial winners.    

Hawkesbury trial winners were;

Heat                           Winner                                  Trainer

One                          Oscarmania                              Scott Singleton

Two                         The Astronomer                      Guy Walter

Three                       Helvia                                      Guy Walter

Four                         Tigerbright                              Robert Brooke

Five                        Dakalie                                     Garry Lye

Six                          Caleb                                        Graham Brown

Seven                      Super Strop                              Scott Singleton

Eight                      Free Form                                  Guy Walter

Nine                       I’ve Got Talent                          Guy Walter

Ten                        Vain Shadow                             Garry White

Hawkesbury Race Club hold another race meeting tomorrow with all the leading Metropolitan and Provincial trainers having horses nominated in what looks to be a well balanced seven race programme and hopefully contains a couple of gallopers who could be worth putting your hard earned cash on.

The first horse I suggest you follow is Enarelle who has been screaming out for a dry track and 1600 metres and guess what that is exactly what he gets tomorrow at Hawkesbury.

Last start Enarelle finished fourth to Bolero Queen in a Ratings 75 Handicap at Randwick 9^th September 2008 on a slow track only beaten just on five lengths and dropping back to a Class One Handicap 1600m at Hawkesbury tomorrow he does look suitably placed.

Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter is experiencing an exasperating run of outs at the present moment, but I am predicting that will all change tomorrow when he saddles up Helvia in the 1200 metre maiden Handicap at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

Helvia is coming off a brilliant barrier trial win at Hawkesbury last Monday week and if Helvia reproduces his trial form tomorrow at Hawkesbury he will be winning.

Newcastle Chief Executive John Curtis was all smiles late last Thursday following the running of the successful two Newcastle Cameron /Cup Carnival which yielded record crowd figures and mammoth betting turnover figures.

Having the pleasure of witnessing the crowd, punters, bookmakers and atmosphere it truly was an outstanding Cup Carnival with probably the strongest betting ring seen at the provincials for many years, with the Bookmakers ring including leviathan Melbourne bookmaker Michael Eskander who laid bet in the cup of $200,000 to $40,000 about the eventual winner Bianca.

Punters over the two day carnival turned over in excess of $12 million with the TAB and Bookmakers, with bookmaker Wayne McDonald holding in excess of $600,000 on the first day.

Bookmakers commenced the Newcastle Carnival with a bag full on money after the first day, but punters certainly recouped their first day losses plus more and left the bagman on the wrong side of the ledger for the two day Newcastle Carnival.

All of the feature races were won by the leading trainers with Gai Waterhouse winning the Group 3 $185,000 Newcastle Cup 2300m with Bianca, Peter Snowden winning the $175,000Group 3 Spring Stakes 1600m with Sousa and Anthony Cummings was successful with Raheeb in the $140,000 Patinack Farm Cameron Handicap 1400m.

Their was one tragedy at the meeting that of Rhyno Chaser being beaten into second placing in the Spring Stakes by a short head after missing the start by a couple of lengths and then in the home straight had difficulty in obtaining a clear run and to be only beaten a short head was an outstanding effort

Remember the name Rhyno Chaser trained by Kevin Moses as this galloper will be winning the $400,000 Spring Champion Stakes 2000m at Randwick on Saturday 4^th October 2008.

Once again congratulations to the Newcastle Chairman Brian Reardon and his fellow directors on what was a very successful Newcastle Cup Carnival.

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Only one member of the old board of Racing NSW made it on to the new Independent Racing Board that person being Phillip Esplin who will join John Messara, Kim Harding, Tim Hughes and Joe Crepaldi on the new Independent Board of Racing NSW and hopefully steer NSW racing to the new dizzy heights that all participants would relish.

The Provincial Race Club’s Association of New South Wales which includes Hawkesbury, Newcastle, Wyong, Kembla and Gosford owe gratitude of thanks to their long serving Member on the Racing NSW board Brian Reardon who has served as the Provincial nominee for the past eight years and has made sure the Provincial club’s interest have been well looked after, I hope the new members of the board are as passionate about Provincial racing as Brain Reardon was.

The five new board members of Racing NSW which will be in place by October 1 have a Racing Industry Consultation Group which is made up of one representative from the following AJC, STC, Unions NSW, Provincial Association, Country Racing Council, Owners, Breeders, Trainers and Jockeys and they have a function of consulting with and making recommendations to Racing NSW on matters concerning horse racing in the state.

For racing to go ahead quickly in NSW the Racing Industry Consultation Group will need to only take important matters to the New Independent Board and not bog them down with trivial matters that are of self interest and not in the interest of the industry as a whole.

Stayed tuned for big changes such as selling of Canterbury Racecourse, combining the Administration duties of the AJC and the STC and rationalizing racing in NSW.

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Hawkesbury racing participants enjoyed plenty of success last week winning races at Bathurst, Canberra and Kembla Grange.

Star performer from the Hawkesbury Racing fraternity was jockey Grant Buckley who rode a winning treble at Canberra on Friday and then saddled up at Kembla on Saturday for more success.

Grant’s winning treble at Canberra was courtesy of Trainer Barbara Joseph who prepared all three winners Be Mine Tonight $10, Sobeit $6 and Vintage Rock $7.

Then off to Kembla the following day Grant teamed up with Gerald Ryan to land the odds on favourite Mr Chairman $1.60 winner of the Ratings 65 Handicap 1000m.

Three Hawkesbury trainers Wade Slinkard, Brain Firth and Scott Singleton all had success at Bathurst last Friday along with Hawkesbury Race Club Member Warren Chalker the owner of Carn Euny who demolished his opposition in the 1000m ratings 62 Handicap at the very good odds of 9.30 on the NSW Tab.

Hawkesbury Race Club doctors Philip Chen and Robert Sheahan, Hawkesbury Race Club Director Greg Stevens and Race Club Member Anthony Carpenter along with respective wives went within a long neck of landing a huge plunge with their galloper King Galahad who was having his first race start and following four trials King Galahad was backed into $3.50 equal favourite only to be grab in the last  fifty metres by the eventual winner Let It Sing .It won’t be long before the connections recoup their losses with King Galahad as his run was full of merit.

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Hawkesbury Race Club Member Lyn Pate and her helpers raised in excess of $30,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Institute at last Thursday race meeting courtesy of their two major sponsors KSR Smash Repairs and Hawkesbury City Business Loins Club.

Other sponsors on day who contributed were Chalker Accountants Pty Ltd, Forkbiz, Sebel Resort & Spa, A.M.Y. Excavations & Demolition Pty Ltd,Lynwood Country Club and Buttsworth Industrial Supplies.

The race programme was full of high quality horses, trainers and jockeys, with Gai Waterhouse being the star on the day training a winning double much too the delight of punters.

Gai’s first winner came in race three in the shape of Joku $1.70 Favourite who gave his rivals a galloping lesson scoring by three lengths from Streetcar Desire $8.50 with Receding $19 a further head away in third placing.

Gai’s second leg of her winning double Armstrong Jones $2.30 scored with ridiculous ease having five and a half lengths too spare on the post over the Peter Snowden trained Lighthouses $11 with Lions Den $7.50 a further half length away in third placing.

In last week’s column we suggested punters put their hard earned cash Zacatecas a galloper from the Gregory Hickman stables and thankfully Zacatecas did not let punters down after being given a charm ride by jockey Grant Buckley Zacatecas $2.90 was bale to score by a length from the 50/1 pop Canadian Ruler with Silent Echo a further long head away in third placing.    

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Looking for horses to follow from the meeting I suggest you should write the three horses in your memory book that won at Hawkesbury last Thursday as they will be  in the winners circle again in the near future.

Gai’s two winners Joku and Armstrong Jones will certainly win again and Zacatecas is a galloper by Zabeel and as his races increase in distance so will his appearance in the winner’s circle. I spotted a locally trained horse Crowns In Credit getting to line in good style in the last race beaten just on two lengths behind the very smart Zacatecas and Hawkesbury trainer Steve Moore should have some fun with Crowns In Credit this preparation.    

Last Sunday week I was reading Phil Gould’s column in the Sun Herald were he was commenting on  Bronco’s departing coach Wayne Bennett’s post match speech where he stated that the Rugby League officials should make it their priority when making decision’s concerning Rugby League to consider only two ingredients they being Players and Fans.

I thought the to myself this can also apply to racing as there are only two ingredients that the New South Wales Racing industry should consider when they are making decision’s that effect the racing industry and they are owners and punters.

Another extract from John Hiatt’s history details on Hawkesbury Race Club sated that many smart sprinters and middle distance gallopers broke their maiden and Class status at Hawkesbury.

Sprint By trained by Gai Waterhouse won his maiden at Hawkesbury 20^th October 1994 and then went onto win the AJC Doncaster in 1996.

Juggler another Waterhouse trained galloper won a 3yo Class 3 at Hawkesbury on 23^rd March 1995 and then went onto win many major races including ACJ Packer Plate 1995, Mooney Valley Waterford Crystal 1995, AJC Apollo Strakes 1996, AJC Chipping Norton Stakes 1996 and the AJC Chelmsford Stakes 1997.

On the 2^nd March 1995 Gai Waterhouse produced Iron Horse at Hawkesbury to win a 2yo Maiden at its first start.

To complete the picture of firsts at Hawkesbury by Gai Waterhouse there was Assertive Lass who on the 28/3/1996 at Hawkesbury won the 2yo Maiden and went onto win such races as the S.T.C Tea Rose (G2) 1996 and the S.T.C Coolmore (G1) in 1997

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Last week I was talking to a very good judge about the Sydney Spring Carnival and particular the $600,000 AJC Epsom Handicap over 1600m to be run at Randwick on Saturday 4^th October 2009.

When talking about the Epsom Handicap the form student pointed out to me why I should have a small investment on Kishkat a mare trained by Gai Waterhouse who is presently paying $51 on the New South Wales TAB and he gave me three good reasons why I should follow his advice;

1)      Kishkat is trained by Gai Waterhouse (Gai Has trained more Epsom winner’s in the last decade then any other trainer)

2)      Kishkat drops 5 kilo’s from her last run where she finished third to Gallant Tess and Triple Honour ( last year’s Doncaster winner)

Last Saturday’s racing at Rosehill was simply outstanding on a day that I saw two of the best things beaten for quite a while.

The first of good things beaten was the Graham Begg trained All Silent who finished an unlucky fourth to Hurried Choice beaten under two lengths after at no stage gaining clear running down the home straight

Second of the good things beaten was Caymans from the Peter Snowden stables who traveled five wide for the whole journey of the AJC Ming Dynasty Quality over 1400 metres only to be beaten a long neck by Predatory Pricer and I am sure the placings will be reverse