By David Gilbert
THE time for receiving Christmas presents is still just over a week away but try telling that to some members of the Mount Gambier club on Penola Road.
Their Christmas gift came early for 18 of its members last Sunday afternoon when the locally-owned and trained Sebonna won the biggest race of his career so far.
Sebonna ($3.60-$4-$3.70) won the $31,800 Bordertown Cup over 2000 metres to make it six wins from 16 starts since joining the Yahl stable of Peter Hardacre in early 2020.
That solid winning strike rate is a far cry from the gelding’s first start for Hardacre at Penola in April last year when Sebonna stayed in the barrier stalls and took no part in the race.
The now-promising stayer was formerly trained in New South Wales by Kim Waugh, wife of former Aussie star cricketer Mark Waugh.
“I went to a Melbourne Cup luncheon at the club a few years ago and Peter Burchell came up with the idea for some members of the club to become involved with racing a horse,” Hardacre explained.
“In the early days when he stayed in the barriers, we wondered what we had here as he was petrified of the riders and very anxious.
“He has always had a bit of quality about him and we were hopeful of him running a big race in this year’s Naracoorte Cup back in February but he hurt a leg in the week leading up to the race.”
Regular rider Karl Zechner had the mount at Bordertown and a near-perfect ride saw Sebonna power to the lead at the furlong pole and win running away with 1.8 lengths to spare.
“The Bordertown Cup win qualifies Sebonna for a start in the $102,250 final of the Southern Speed series to be run over 2,000 metres at Morphettville on Boxing Day,” Hardacre added.
“That will determine his immediate racing future and, should he measure up, Sebonna will continue racing in Adelaide.
“Short of that, he will return to the South East and be aimed at some local cups such as the Coonawarra Cup at Penola next month and then the Naracoorte Cup in early February.”
Zechner can be expected to retain the ride on Boxing Day but a new jockey will have to be found for Sebonna in the new year.
While the South African born jockey has had increasing success here, he is relocating to Queensland for family reasons.
Zechner ended the day at Bordertown in a blaze of glory by riding the last two winners, including a ride-of-the-day effort aboard But Beautiful.
It was a memorable day for the five owners of Sebonna who made the trip north as they were feted by Bordertown officials after the cup and celebrations are tipped to continue tonight at the Mount Gambier club when the cup trophy goes on display.
CUP FIELDS A WORRY
WHILE nothing can be taken away from Sebonna’s splendid victory in the Bordertown Cup, the size of our open class cup fields continue to be a worry for local racing administrators.
Three scratchings on race morning meant only five horses fronted the starter in the Bordertown Cup.
Back in February, the Naracoorte Cup had just four runners and recent Mount Gambier cups (if you can recall back that far) have been very light on numbers also.
Sebonna upset the chances of a home town cup victory with Tatiara trained gallopers (Shock Alert and Wings Of Pastrami) filling the placings.
It was not all doom and gloom for the locals as Bordertown trainer Jeff Searle started cup day in a blaze of glory, winning the opening two races with Wonaeamirri and Saint Kitts.
Apart from Hardacre, fellow Mount Gambier trainers Lee Creek (Star Jan) and Richard Nicholson (Deforce) had success on the eight-race card.
Disappointingly, attendance last Sunday was the smallest for Bordertown cup day since the club was granted TAB status in 2000 and even less than last year when stricter Covid-19 regulations were in place.
THRILL OF A LIFETIME
IT is a huge step from winning a race at the Greenwald Paceway to competing in an Inter Dominion final.
So, it was the thrill of a lifetime for local owner/breeder/trainer Des “Whistle” Glynn and his wife Heather to be trackside at Menangle (NSW) last Saturday night to see their pacer Majestic Cruiser compete in the $500,000 final.
Majestic Cruiser won here on December 8, 2017 and was later transferred interstate to young trainer Jason Grimson who had two runners in last Saturday night’s big race.
In the final, Majestic Cruiser ran sixth picking up $7,500 prize money while stablemate Boncel Benjamin ($51) was second across the line but got the race on protest.
It seems hardly a week goes by without a local pacer winning in Adelaide and last Saturday night it was Naracoorte trainer Greg Scholefield back in the winner’s stall with perennial winner Stratofortress in the NR 60-71 pace.
Once driver Corey Johnson was able to lead after 50 metres, it was virtually all over for Stratofortress ($2 fav.) who went on to win his eighth race at Globe Derby Park this year.
There were a couple of local winners on Stawell cup day last Sunday, with the Bill Drury trained and David Drury driven Noosa Beach ($7.50) winning the opening event.
Bill Drury had a drive in the race but was dislodged when Your A Shocker fell in the score up behind the mobile.
Your A Shocker was a late scratching and Drury fortunately escaped serious injury.
Then the promising pacer Steele ($1.50 fav.) from the Steve Fennell stable had no trouble leading all the way in the NR 52 pace over 785 metres.
In a vote of confidence for the future of harness racing, Fennell is branching out to become a full-time harness trainer.
TROTS HERE TONIGHT
FATHER Christmas will be one of the highlights of the final local harness meeting for 2021 at the Greenwald Paceway tonight.
With a late start, it is anticipated the jolly old man will arrive by pony express around the starting time of the first race (8.30pm).
Also there will be a jumping castle to keep the younger ones entertained.
Only one Victorian stable will be represented tonight (Rebecca East) as entry to South Australia currently involves more red tape than ever before.
As one Victorian journalist suggested this week, and he is quite correct, it is probably easier to get into North Korea than South Australia.
GOT HER PRIORITIES RIGHT
AT 95 years of age, most people would agree the Queen has done an outstanding job in her 70 years of reigning over Great Britain and the commonwealth countries.
The Queen has always loved her racing and I was amused recently she reportedly only picks up the phone on a regular basis to speak to two people.
One is Princess Anne (no surprise there), however the other person was a bolt out of the blue, namely her racing manager John Warren.
The article did not elaborate just what Warren’s job specifications involved, whether it was keeping her updated on the racing scene and the horses she has an interest in, or perhaps even giving her a race tip or placing a bet for the great lady.
