Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sports World |
- Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup Consolation, Gloucester Park, Friday
- Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup, Gloucester Park, Friday
- Apalachi hoping for one more Aintree glory day
| Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup Consolation, Gloucester Park, Friday Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:41 AM PST For those who didn't quite make the cut in the evening feature of the Australian harness racing schedule, the Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup Consolation race provides an opportunity to still bag a handy prize on the night. $25, 000 up for grabs and a competitive field to boot, and there look to be three main protagonists. Motu Treasure is a well drawn 6yo here and could dominate as there isn't stacks of great early pace up his inner. He was second here last week to Albert Jaccka, who runs in the big one, and that is good form. There is no reason why he shouldn't reproduce that effort and is certainly a live wire here. Jumbo Operator for the R J Huston team, who do really well here at Gloucester Park, is another with strong credentials in the harness racing betting. The 6yo has won 21 of his 29 career starts, showing that he is usually well placed by connections and he is a winner of his last two outings. Either one of those efforts reproduced would make him the one to beat here. In this sort of line-up, he could go off at something like 5/2, which if the case could well be good value. Ohoka Georgia is the other interesting one. This 7yo won in a good time here last week and although has only won 20 from 90 career starts (still a good strike rate but not as impressive as a few of his rivals), this experienced pacer wouldn't shock too many if playing a big part here. If doing so, could provide trainer G E Hall snr with a very profitable night. Jumbo Operator is an admirable performer but we will just oppose him with Motu Treasure, who is fancied to go one better than last week in this similar company. Watch out, however, for the price available on Ohoka Georgia as he is fancied to make the frame.  |
| Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup, Gloucester Park, Friday Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:39 AM PST It's a usual high class feast of racing action at Gloucester Park this Friday night, and on this card the $400, 000 Sew Eurodrive WA Pacing Cup is by far in a way the highlight of the harness racing action. Plenty of well-known names and several chances amongst them make this a mouth-watering spectacle. We'll start by having a look at the harness racing odds for the first line and turn to R A Olivieri's Ima Spicey Lombo. The 6yo mare has been holding her form well and has only 15 metres to make up on the likely favourite I'mthemightyquinn from their run here against each other last week in the Fremantle Cup. Ima Spicey Lombo this time has the pick of the draw but will have to be at her very, very best to see a few of these off. Washakie finished second last week in the same race (13 metres ahead of I'ma Spicey Lombo). John McCarthey's charge is another who has been a real money spinner of late and rates a danger to all once again. I'mthemightyquinn is no doubt the one that they all have to beat though. This horse won in the manner of a top class act last week and G Hall snr's 7yo is likely to again be popular to oblige. There is always a worry with pacers that if they are running to this level of form week in, week out and enduring tough battles in the process, their good run will end sooner or later. But until we see a sign of that, keep getting those pennies on! Of the others, it's the selection's stable-mate Albert Jaccka who has a small EW chance for those of you who like value. He was a deserved winner of a slightly weaker affair last week following some honest efforts in better company and, even though now he is once again pitched in at the deep end, he shouldn't be ruled out. He is a very smart horse, although, clearly the stable second-string here. They should all be chasing the shadow that belongs to I'mthemightyquinn, although saying that it isn't just a one horse race. Washakie was closing on him here last week and his driver will be well aware of the tactics required to possibly get him that bit closer if not in-front. He rates the main danger.  |
| Apalachi hoping for one more Aintree glory day Posted: 27 Jan 2011 02:18 AM PST He might be getting on a bit these days, but even at 12-years-old Black Apalachi remains a leading contender for the forthcoming John Smith's Grand National at Aintree, a race in which he put up such a tremendous performance last year to be a gallant runner-up to Don't Push It, writes Elliot Slater. That wasn't the first time the gelded son of Old Vic had run well at the idiosyncratic Liverpool track. Indeed, 12 months earlier Black Apalachi had been clear of the field when coming down at Becher's second time round and many observers felt that had he stood up he may well have gone close to defeating eventual 100/1 winner Mon Mome. In November 2008 Dessie Hughes' grand stayer had put up a performance that had regular Aintree fans drooling, when landing the Totesport Becher Chase by no less than 74-lengths, possibly the widest margin of victory in modern times. That had proven to be a significant improvement on his first encounter with the Aintree fences when Black Apalachi got no further than the second fence in the 2008 Grand National won by Comply Or Die. Ever since his brave effort in 'the world's greatest steeplechase' in April last year, Dessie Hughes has had a repeat attempt at the forefront of his calculations. Probably taking into account the age of his horse, Hughes has chosen to keep Black Apalachi at home and keep him as fresh as possible for a spring campaign. Doubtless, following the publication of the weights for the race, Hughes will give his contender at least one outing before the big event itself for which he is currently quoted at odds of around 25/1. Anyone with a Grand National free bet to place shouldn't rule him out. The racing public love Grand National specialists who keep on trying, such as Greasepaint or Suny Bay, and Black Apalachi is sure to have his supporters in April, many of whom will not have forgotten his brave effort last time around.  |
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