THE all clear has been given for racing at Naracoorte this afternoon for the meeting transferred from Mount Gambier.
After four abandoned meetings to commence the local 2017-18 racing season since August 1, an inspection of the Naracoorte track yesterday revealed it to be in safe condition to race, albeit with a Heavy 8 rating.
However, horse numbers for the meeting are very low, with just 50 acceptors for the eight race program, a dramatic drop from the original 94 nominations, plus there are already three early scratchings.
The Naracoorte meeting is the meat in the sandwich of five race meetings in the space of a week in the region and has been the one to suffer.
Prior to Naracoorte, there were meetings at Halidon (Sunday) and Casterton (Monday), to be followed by both Coleraine and Murray Bridge next Sunday.
Spice to the mid week meeting today has been added by the state’s in form jockey Jamie Kah accepting five rides, plus top Morphettville co-trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas sending two runners down to race.
Also of interest is Goolwa trainer David Jolly having two first starters at the meeting, as Jolly is well known for producing winners on debut on Naracoorte cup days over the years.
With Naracoorte officials not expecting a big crowd (as is normally the case with transferred meetings), there will be free admission for everyone this afternoon.
Unusual competition
A SPANIARD born trainer and a Chinese jockey are a most unlikely combination, but the two will link for the first time this afternoon and could quite easily provide the winner of the 1430 metre Benchmark 56 handicap.
Edenhope based John Tarin has spent most of his life here in Australia in this region but still retains a distinct Spanish accent, while Hong Kong jockey Victor Wong has only been in Australia for seven months and the dialogue between the pair will be interesting to say the least when Tarin issues riding instructions for his consistent galloper San Gregorio.
The five year old gelding has been a model of consistency in the past six weeks with three placings from his last four starts at Coleraine, Warracknabeal and Casterton.
It was his latest effort when second at Casterton that really caught the eye as San Gregorio travelled wide for the first 600 metres, then boxed on like a caged lion after appearing well beaten at the 400 metres.
That race was over 1800 metres, and San Gregorio is today dropping back substantially in distance (370 metres), something that can often be the undoing of many gallopers.
The early scratching of Zeze Ulater, which would have been one of the main fancies, makes the task of San Gregorio somewhat easier in a race which does not appear hard to win.
There are plenty of out of form performers in the now six horse field and the main danger may be the Adelaide visitor Pierremont from the Ryan Balfour stable.
Pierremont has had four runs this campaign, easily the best of those a second on the dirt at Quorn earlier this month and his only start at Naracoorte resulted in a win over today’s distance.
Three of the gelding’s six career wins have come on heavy tracks.
The Ron Daniel (Warrnambool) trained Grecian Spy should be ready to improve on two unplaced efforts this preparation and her record at Naracoorte shows a win and a third from three starts.
Easily the best
WITHOUT question, the best race of the day is the Benchmark 80 handicap over 1200 metres, already reduced to six runners after the scratching of Trupt.
A winning case can be found for at least half of the field and it appears that Naracoorte trained runners hold the key to the race.
Wong picks up the good ride on the Sue Murphy trained Bianmagic, having only his second run back from a break.
Bianmagic lugged 61 kilograms when a first up 10th at Casterton earlier this month in the 1400 metre Heywood Cup, and will not know himself with just 55 kilograms today after the 1.5 kilogram claim for Wong.
The six year old gelding is twice a winner when second up (from five tries) and has been in the money at three runs from six attempts on heavy going.
From the neighbouring stable of Sue Jaensch is Knightoftherealm, resuming from a three month spell and twice a winner in the past when first up but yet to win on a heavy track.
The only Victorian in the field is the Adam Chambers (Warrnambool) trained Blacktein and although the mare has finished well back at two runs this campaign, she is quite capable of causing an upset.
One of her four career wins was on a heavy track and she did beat a good field here at Mount Gambier on cup day back in May when superbly ridden by Damien Thornton.
Former Tasmanian apprentice Raquel Clark, who has made a big impression since moving to Adelaide, is in the saddle today and Blacktein will have to carry the allotted 54 kilograms as Clark has out ridden her claim on the provincial circuit.
The Grant Young (Murray Bridge) trained Ilgattino does have wet form to recommend him, but is jumping considerably in class from a second on Balaklava cup day last week in a BM 60 event.
Top weight Neat Feat is a former Darwin galloper, now with Shane Oxlade at Woodchester, and has done nothing in three runs since heading south.
