By David Gilbert
NOBODY could deny the consistent performer Thrill Kill a country cup victory which eventually came the gelding’s way last week at Penola.
Up until last Thursday, Thrill Kill had raced 38 times for four wins, 10 seconds and nine thirds – and four of those placings had been in country cups in the past two years.
Following seconds in the 2022 Penola Cup, the 2023 Coonawarra Cup, the 2023 Edenhope Cup and a third in last year’s Naracoorte Cup, it was beginning to seem the six-year-old’s 12 owners were not destined to ever get the silverware.
But, the stars were aligned last week in the $30,000 Coonawarra Vignerons Cup when everything eventually fell into place for what was a popular win with many punters.
Following a fourth at Morphettville Parks, a second at Gawler and a third at Morphettville, (all in the past month in stronger company), trainer Peter Hardacre had Thrill Kill placed to perfection to give the owners something to be excited about.
Excited they were after Thrill Kill ($5.50-$4.60 equal fav.) overcame a stirring battle with Dale’s Rocket all the way up the straight to land the major prize by half a neck.
Jockey Callan Murray did his bit to set up the win with a top ride which saw Thrill Kill track the leader Dale’s Rocket for most of the 1700-metre journey.
“He (Thrill Kill) doesn’t win that often and it has often been heart in your mouth stuff watching him,” trainer Peter Hardacre admitted after winning his second Coonawarra Cup, having previously won it with Tahnee Tiara in 2019.
“Today, he really dug his heels in when it was needed.”
It continued the great run of success at Limestone Coast meetings this summer for the Hardacre stable.
The Murray Bridge based mentor brought two runners to the Mount Gambier meeting on December 1 for a win (Chill With Teejay) and a second, his one runner at Mount Gambier on January 3 (Ovabent) won and Thrill Kill was his only runner at Penola last week.
Dale’s Rocket ran the race of his career to narrowly go under while fellow Mount Gambier galloper Scenic Host ran home strongly for the minor placing.
SUSPENSION REDUCED BY A MONTH
THE three-month suspension recently imposed on jockey Kate Walters has been reduced by a month following an appeal at the severity of the penalty by Walters at a Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing.
The Mount Gambier based rider was charged with improper and insulting behaviour towards a female steward at Nhill on Boxing Day.
It means Walters can now resume race riding on March 5.
At Penola last Thursday, stewards took a dim view of the ride by Dominic Tourneur on Scenic Host in the Coonawarra Cup and suspended him on a careless riding charge for three meetings, commencing this Sunday.
PERFECT SETTING/PERFECT DAY
EVERYTHING went according to plan for the Penola Racing Club for the Coonawarra Vignersons Cup meeting last Thursday.
The weather was perfect (30 degrees with a light breeze) and over 1,000 racegoers took advantage of enjoying one of the feature days of the year for Limestone Coast racing.
While no records were set attendance wise, it was easy to move around to have a bet, get something to eat and and enjoy a drink.
Numbers were down on previous years in the Vigneron’s marquee, as fewer invitations were issued this year due to tough times at present in the local red wine industry.
The track was upgraded to a Good 4 prior to race one and the only minor hiccup occurred after race four when the wheel arm of the barriers broke and needed immediate repair works.
Honours on the track went to apprentice Jacob Opperman and Stawell trainer Andrew Robbin, each with winning doubles.
Opperman’s all the way win on the well supported Final Atom ($5.50-$4.20) in the opening race made it a memorable day for young trainer Charlotte Parker.
The Hamilton-based mentor has only had her licence since December 19 and Final Atom gave her almost immediate success.
“I’ve only got two horses in my stable and Final Atom was a cheap purchase for $700,” Parker explained.
“Having a winner with only my second starter has really got the monkey off my back early and there are lots of people I’d like to thank, including Darren Kolpin (ex Mount Gambier).”
Opperman and Bobbin completed their doubles early in the day when Verbosity took out the BM 68 handicap, beating a handy field in the process.
The Bobbin trained Ibutho had earlier brought off a plunge ($12-$2.60 fav.) by winning the 1400-metre maiden plate.
The only Limestone Coast stable to be seen in the winner’s stall was after the final event when Sir Sway was a most-impressive winner of the 1100-metre BM 58 handicap.
Trained at Naracoorte by Sue and Jason Jaensch, Sir Sway came from a mile back to beat a good field fair and square.
Black bookers from Penola are Dale’s Rocket (should be something to bet on when he drops back in class) and Sir Sway (unbeaten from two starts).
There is speculation the Coonawarra Vignerons are toying with the idea of moving their big day on the racing scene to October.
Why move such a proven successful product?
Moving feature, cup day meetings can be fraught with danger as quite a few country clubs have discovered, including Mount Gambier.
CUP IN SA HANDS
THE 2024 Border Cup for harness racing is in South Australian hands following the final conducted last Sunday afternoon at Hamilton.
Last Tuesday week, the three heats were conducted here, with Victorian stables claiming two wins.
But it was the local Graeme Howard stable which came up trumps in the $10,000 final when Burning Hot ($4) atoned for his narrow heat defeat with a well-deserved victory.
It was also a welcome change of luck for Howard after a frustrating run of placings recently on the local scene.
Concession driver James Herbertson had the drive in the final and he gave the seven-year-old gelding every chance by lobbing in the one-one sit after coming from the outside of the front row.
A classic example of how Victorians and price assessors seem to completely disregard South Australian form occurred later in the program at Hamilton in the NR 50-55 pace.
The three-year-old pacer Gunna Rock had previously had four career races for two wins and two seconds, all in South Australia.
Last Tuesday week, the Alyce Finnis trained youngster was a $1.70 favourite and was beaten half a head here by Maverick Star.
To the delight of plenty of local punters, Gunna Rock was way over the odds as a $23 chance at Hamilton and stormed home for driver Jayson Finnis to get the photo in a close three-way finish.
TRIPLE HEADER ON SUNDAY
IF you are a follower of the four-legged racing variety, then you have plenty to choose from locally this Sunday with all three codes (gallops, harness and greyhounds) staging meetings here in Mount Gambier.
The greyhound club is gearing up for a big afternoon with the annual family day fixture which has been well promoted.
At the same time, there is the Summer Cup race meeting at Glenburnie, followed immediately by a twilight harness meeting at the Greenwald Paceway.
