HOT INITIATION FOR CHRISTMAS RACING
THE chances of the Penola Racing Club attracting a big crowd for its initial foray into conducting a race meeting between Christmas and New Year this afternoon have been tempered somewhat by the weather forecast.
Very hot conditions, with a temperature around 38 degrees, will most likely have prospective racegoers and holiday makers considering heading to the beach instead of tracking inland.
The meeting is the first of many in the next 12 months to be transferred from Mount Gambier while that track undergoes a lengthy reconstruction.
Extra prizemoney on offer today due to the meeting being granted provincial status has been welcomed with open arms by owners and trainers, resulting in 102 acceptors for the eight race program.
This comes on top of very good fields, comprising a strong South East representation, at the western Victorian meetings at Nhill and Penshurst yesterday.
Not surprisingly, the Penola track has been well watered in the days leading up to the meeting and it was rated a Good 4 yesterday.
NEW FACES IN THE SADDLE
FOUR jockeys will be riding at Penola for the first time today.
Hong Kong born apprentice Alfred Chan has just arrived in South Australia following a two year stint in New Zealand where he rode 47 winners.
Chan is indentured to Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell, and started his Australian riding career yesterday at Morphettville with four rides.
Today, the two kilogram claiming apprentice has a heavy commitment with six rides.
The Victorian based pair of apprentice Leticia Griffin and senior rider Jacques Luxe each have two rides for their Penola debut, while apprentice Lewis German has one ride for his first look at the vineyard’s circuit.
Making the long trip from Seymour with just the one runner for the day is trainer Michael Quadara.
The battle for leading trainer in the Limestone Coast this season is heating up, and the leading contenders – Wayne Walters, Sue Murphy, Sue Jaensch and Michael O’Leary – all have runners today.
Holly McKechnie, the leading jockey at present, has six rides while her closest rival Dominic Tourneur has five mounts.
A COUPLE OF STAND OUTS
ALTHOUGH there are big fields all day, there is every opportunity to recoup some of the costs incurred over Christmas.
McKechnie could extend her lead at the top of the ladder when she rides Kapaulenko for trainer (and partner) Paul Preusker in the 1300 metre BM 72 handicap, the feature race of the day.
It is a good quality event, and Kapaulenko should be at backable odds as he chases career win number six.
Although the form guide shows the six year old gelding running seventh at Donald two starts ago, he made up many lengths in the straight to be only beaten 1.75 lengths.
Western Australian apprentice Fred Kersley had the mount on Kapaulenko last start at Geelong when narrowly beaten by Jester Halo.
This will be his fourth run this campaign and Kapaulenko should get a charmed run from barrier three.
Respect must be given to the Jaensch trained Any Given Glass, first up since late August but a winner fresh in the past.
Of note is his record at Penola where Any Given Glass has had four starts for two wins and a second.
The top weight Mista Holyfield had backing when a first up sixth in a much stronger Volcano Handicap at Mount Gambier just over three weeks ago.
He will still have to lug 59 kilograms after the claim for apprentice Trent Germaine, but has been in the money at all six Penola starts.
The Jamie Opperman pair of Woakwine and Rhythmatic were both disappointing when down the track in Adelaide on December 2, but drop significantly in class today.
On paper, the best bet of the day is Queen’s Palace in the final event, the 1700 metre BM 56 handicap.
The five year old mare came of age when a winner at Mount Gambier on December 4 when backed from $41 into $21 in BM 60 company.
Although fourth at her only run since, that was in open company in the Bordertown cup when she put up a huge effort after being caught four wide on the first turn, and was then left in front a long way from home when No Fairy ran out of gas.
Back to BM 56 handicap grade today, Queen’s Palace will not know herself and regular rider Krystal Bishop is again in the saddle.
Bassons, a recent Dunkeld winner, can rebound from a disappointing effort when 12th to Queen’s Palace at Mount Gambier to be some sort of danger, along with Resettheodds, an eye catching fourth at Horsham last start.
READY TO STRIKE AGAIN
AFTER a couple of ordinary seasons by his standards, trainer Michael O’Leary seems to be on the rebound and is gathering a good team together again.
O’Leary sits in fourth spot on the premiership ladder but is only one win off top spot.
His consistent sprinter Squadron Leader is ready to claim career win number three in the 1100 metre class two handicap.
The four year old gelding won at Penola in mid October, then led until the shadows of the post when second at Horsham before a very close third last start to Bunumburt on Mount Gambier cup day.
In a race of limited winning chances today, Squadron Leader – despite his big weight of 60 kilograms – again has the services of Raquel Clark and has drawn perfectly in barrier one.
Millicent owner/trainer Krystal Trembath is still looking for her first career winner, and Brobak has to be a threat following thirds at Bordertown and Mount Gambier, followed by a last start seventh at Mount Gambier when beaten less than two lengths.
Preusker has two runners in the race, and McKechnie has shown preference for last start Horsham maiden winner Burnvale Lady which is jumping two classes today.
