Sport
6 August, 2024
Herbertson's haul: champion drive nets 16 winners in just eight days
Harness racing returns to Horsham with 9 race card, free entry.
Horsham
From the Sulky
Harness racing returns to Horsham on Wednesday afternoon for a nine race card of action from 12.05pm with the running of the What The Hill @ Woodlands Trot and curtain closing with the Hyland Harness Colours Pace at 4.48 pm.
Entry is free through West Side, Jen's Canteen will be in full swing as usual with a great range of foods and beverages.
There will be full TAB service available and Sky Channel coverage of and no matter the weather patrons can enjoy racing from in the comfort of the Track View Lounge.
Our Readers can access full fields, form, gear changes and race analysis at www.harness.org.au.
If you can't get trackside all races will be streamed live and free on your device @ Trots Vision.
Stawell trainer Jason Ainsworth's team have been going great guns of late and the lightly raced, 5yo mare Daisy Bouchea (4) looks the one to beat in the opening event of the afternoon.
The winner of two races from nineteen starts last season trialled in solid fashion at Bendigo on Sunday on should be primed for a solid effort over the 1700m sprint trip.
Race four, the David Manning 50 Years Of Racing Radio Pace, promises a hot contest between Dance Affair (James Herbertson), Til Heavens Rockn (David Murphy), Keayang Blue Jeans (Jason Lee), Nosweetsforyou (Michelle Wight) and Sweet Nikkilou (Aaron Dunn).
It may well come down to a tactical battle, with the spoils going to the pilot who makes the best decisions.
Aaron Dunn's 3yo filly Gemaedde (3) should be ready to show her best in race five, the cluBarham Rock By The River Aug. 22-25 Pace with three starts under the belt since resuming from a break.
A repeat of her win on this track back in March would see the daughter of Madazhell go awfully close in this contest.
*The Allbenz Park team of Kerryn Manning and Grant Campbell enjoyed success at Bendigo with 4yo mare Ideal Assassin too tough for the opposition in the $8000 Benstud Mares Pace.
Drawn gate nine on the second line, Ideal Assassin slotted into the running line shortly after the start and enjoyed a sweet trip for the first lap of the 1650m journey.
Manning made her move heading into the back stretch and Ideal Assassin maintained a long sustained run to score by a half-neck from Didafull Oneeighty (Amy Day) with Delightful Charm (Chris Svanosio) and You Beauty (Aaron Dunn) close up third and fourth.
The daughter of American Ideal USA stopped the clock in a rate of 1:54.8 to notch up her 6th win from 17 starts for her owner/breeder Greg Bettiol and will likely head to the Vicbred Super Series heats at Melton on August 30th.
Meanwhile, Stawell owner-trainer Toby Ainsworth and driver Ada Massa combined to capture $6000 Aldebaran Park Trot at Bendigo with 4yo gelding Robert John.
Massa bought Robert John well timed run from the tail of the field with 500 remaining, to over-run Blackrange Glory (Peter Sanderson) and Judielle (Grant Campbell) in a rate of 2:02.9 for the 2150m journey.
The team have done a great job with the squaregaiter which was unplaced in all 10 outings during its last preparation. Since returning to racing in May, the son of Aldebaran Eagle USA has shown steady improvement, leading to a victory at Stawell in June and a second success with just a single start in between.
FInally, Horsham horseman Aaron Dunn notched up his 28th training winner for the season last week at Bendigo when his smart 3yo gelding Komodo outstayed older rivals to capture the $9000 VHRC Pace.
After Dunn took a bit of an early but unsuccessful look to see if the lead was up for grabs it seemed the combo would have to sit outside them for the entire trip but were given cover shortly after, when Jack Laugher took Ozzie Punta forward, up into the death seat.
Dunn made his final move with Komodo three wide from the 700 and the son of Fear The Dragon USA responded with a quick sprint to find the pegs half-way round the final bend.
In the final charge to the line Komodo proved too strong and scored by 2m in a rate 1:59.1 for 2650m journey. His record now stands at 5 wins and a third from 13 starts and no doubt will head to Kilmore for the Vicbred Super Series heats on August 29.
They're off @ Horsham (D) Wednesday August 7th; Terang (D) Wednesday 14th; Charlton (D) Monday 19th and Hamilton (D) Wednesday 21st.