By David Gilbert
THERE has been speculation around the traps that there will be no jumping races as part of the Casterton cup meeting this Sunday.
The Casterton Club is steeped in tradition when it comes to supporting the programming of hurdles and steeplechases at its meetings during the autumn and winter months.
Long-serving Casterton Racing Club manager John Donnelly was immediately on the front foot when the rumour was put to him.
“As long as I have anything to do with the Casterton Racing Club, there will be jumping races run here on cup day,” he said with conviction in his voice.
“Yes, our feature steeplechase of the year, the Twin Rivers Chase, has been moved from cup day to our meeting on Sunday, June 25.
“However, there will definitely be a steeplechase run here on cup day and maybe as many as three hurdle races, depending on the number of entries.”
Bookings for the free bus to Casterton and return to Mount Gambier on Sunday are still being taken (0419224402) but the departure time has been moved forward by half an hour.
The bus will leave the Park Hotel at 10am and the South Eastern Hotel about 10 minutes later.
For the first time, cup day will also be a family day with plenty of free entertainment for the children including pony rides and face paintings.
There have been 40 marquees pre-sold and with perfect autumn weather forecast (20 degrees), it will be another top day of country racing at picturesque Casterton.
ANOTHER CITY DOUBLE
OUR pool of horses may not be the size it once was but South East-trained pacers continue to produce the goods whenever they head to Adelaide to compete.
Last Saturday night saw local pacers in the winner’s stall at Globe Derby twice in the space of half an hour early in the program.
The Greg Howard-trained Sea Flyer is in career best form and made it four wins from her past six starts by winning the 1800 metre NR 52-59 pace for claiming driver Samantha Pascoe.
Two of those wins have been here at Mount Gambier and one at Victor Harbour and the four-year-old mare started an odds-on favourite ($1.85) at Globe Derby.
It was not all beer and skittles for the Greg Scholefield-trained Hanging Fire ($2.70 fav.) in the NR 60-71 pace.
The gelding caused a false-start but made amends at the second attempt and was able to lead all the way from gate three for Gaita Pullicino.
His mile rate of 1.55.2 was easily the quickest of the night and the former David Drury-trained performer has now made it three wins from his past five starts since transferring to Naracoorte.
Meanwhile, Brent Howard has only been training for six months and chalked up another winner at Horsham last Monday.
Despite being one of the outsiders of the field, Burning Hot ($21) overcame a tough run to take out the NR 51 pace over 2200 metres.
With Howard also the pilot, Burning Hot raced outside the leader before surging to the lead halfway around the home turn and boxed on strongly to win by two metres.
ON THE MELBOURNE CUP TRAIL
FOLLOWING his stylish win in the Port Adelaide Cup a fortnight ago, the Sue Murphy-trained Hasta La War is Melbourne bound tomorrow for a start in the $500,000 Andrew Ramsden over 2800 metres at Flemington.
Should he be successful, it will automatically qualify him for a start in the Melbourne Cup in November.
Hasta La War has drawn out in the cap park in barrier 21 tomorrow and will be ridden by Linda Meech. .
It will be no easy task – as his odds suggest ($26) – as he is up against the early Melbourne Cup favourite White Marlin.
RACING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER
THE Bordertown Racing Club has a rare Friday afternoon meeting today, followed on Sunday by the Casterton Cup meeting.
There are only six race meetings left to finish the 2022/23 season in the Limestone Coast with three meetings each at Bordertown and Mount Gambier.
The response from owners and trainers for Bordertown today has been massive, resulting in 111 final acceptors and the meeting extended to eight races with the 0-54 handicap divided.
May we suggest Naseeb in the final race as a good, each-way bet while Disco Tilmorn in Race 5 may be the best outsider on the program.
Meanwhile, trainer Jamie Opperman has a much improved stayer on his hands with West Cliff who was an eye-catching third at Horsham over 1800 metres a fortnight ago.
The six year old gelding improved further to be in the winner’s stall at Warracknabeal last Saturday.
Whereas $12 was bet about his chances at Horsham, bookmakers were much more cautious seven days later and West Cliff started the $3.60 favourite.
Melissa Julius retained the ride at Warracknabeal and employed different riding tactics by leading most of the way in the 2000 metre 0-58 handicap.
FUNDRAISER FOR CLUB
ALTHOUGH harness racing has ceased here at Mount Gambier until the spring, the local club is still very active and is having a fundraiser next Tuesday night.
It will be at the South Eastern Hotel and for every full sized schnitzel purchased (including takeaways), $5 will go into the coffers of the harness racing club.
Later on this month, there is the wind up for the 200 club on Sunday, May 28.
It will be held in the club bar at the Greenwald Paceway for three hours commencing at 1pm, and all the 200 club members are invited to attend for drinks, nibbles and the major draws of $1200, $500 and $300.
Last month I took the opportunity to attend the trots at Stawell on Good Friday, my first time there for nearly 40 years.
Trotting fans in Victoria are really spoiled with excellent facilities, mostly under cover and close to the action and Stawell is no exception.
The complex is also home to the pokies and the dining room – which overlooks the track – has tote and bookmaker facilities and was packed all afternoon.
It is a crying shame we do not have the same privileges here.
For a bit of nostalgia, there is a magnificent black and white photograph that adorns the length of the bar showing a Saturday afternoon meeting at Stawell in the 1960’s.
The infield was filled to capacity with cars of that era and the mound (there was no grandstand) was crammed full of people.
Back in those days, the trotting track infield was also the car park for the local drive-in theatre with a huge screen overlooking the track.
Patrons who kicked on after the last race could have got good value by staying around for the movies that night.
