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Thursday July 17th's Meeting In Review
Posted on 17/07/2008 | Posted by Geoff Whittle | Back to News Archive
After some early trepidations about the meeting going ahead, the Northam Race Club�s fixture went ahead without a hitch on Thursday albeit on a slow track. RWWA Stewards Rick Mance, Terry Bell and Doug Mead inspected the track early on Thursday morning and deemed it safe for racing. The Go For 2 & 5 Handicap, race six over 1600 metres, added a local touch to the meeting after the Keri D�Orsogna, York trained seven-year-old Oaksville won at big odds. Having not won for almost two-years, coincidentally over 1600 metres at Northam, Oaksville went out at a return of $27.00 but he won like anything but a long shot. Apprentice Richard Rhodes would not have expected the win after a came to the turn second last on the fence. However the Higginsville gelding unleashed a strong run down the outside of the track and over-powered Second Show and Briccone to win by ¾ of a length. Race one, the Eat More Fruit and Veg Maiden over 1100 metres saw the well bred debutant Follow The Road first across the line from the fast finishing Flaming Tom and Shady Business. But as a result of Follow The Road running out badly and interfering severely with Shady Business, a protest was fired in by Shaun O�Donnell (Shady Business) alleging interference in the run to the line. After a lengthly deliberation the protest was dismissed. Pipe Of Blue led the race and had Follow The Road outside her. After hitting the lead, Follow The Road appeared to resent the whip and ran out taking Shady Business� running but he appeared to be being safely held at the time. Favourite Extra Grand made a short run in the straight but did not get into the race. In race two over 1100 metre, the Eat More Fruit Maiden, Arcade Attraction was another runner to race outside the leader and win. The Gary Burger trained and Shaun McGruddy ridden mare showed speed from a wide gate (12) to join the front-runner Adazzle early. Meanwhile, The Golden Dynamo was trapped three wide from the outset and forced to work hard. Arcade Attraction got to the lead in the straight and beat The Golden Dynamo who felt the affects of covering extra territory while Got Nuthin Ta Fear took third. The Eat More Veg Maiden over 1600 metres saw William Pike register his first win back after a term of suspension on Neville Parnham�s Last Curtain. Pike had only two runners behind him at the 600-metre mark while Genuine Silence was making play in front. Under vigorous riding into the straight, Last Curtain ran on strongly to storm home and race to an easy win over Demelza�s Wings and Genuine Silence. Apprentice Duncan Miller flies out to join the Danny O�Brien Racing stables in Melbourne tonight. He will leave on a winning note after scoring a slashing win with Gambero in race four, the 1300 metre Enjoy Healthy Eating Maiden. Trained by Miller�s mother Sharon, Gambero was raced near the tail and held eighth spot at the 400-metre mark. Miller got clear running mid-track in the straight and the horse let down with a strong sprint to win comfortably from Bindooli (three wide from the 700 metre mark) and Kensington Ridge. In race five it certainly was a case of At Long Last when the gelding broke a sequence of three seconds and scored for apprentice Shane Gilchrist and Capel trainer Ross Price. Gilchrist placed At Long Last on the outside of the leader and got him to the lead in the home stretch. Venetian Gold and Publicans Horse ran on for the placings but never looked likely to threaten the winner. The Alan Mathews trained maiden Hakadaad was another fast finishing outsider to win in one of Thursday�s features, the Healthway Handicap over 2200 metres. Jockey Jessica Hill had the backmarker a clear second last at the 600-metre point and he looked to have the task ahead of him. However similar to Oaksville in the previous race, when pulled to the outside of the track the chestnut stormed home to collar the Kalgoorlie grey Hot Time who had also run on from back in the field. Obuasi held third after Jarred Noske had made a lightening move at the 850-metre mark to race to the lead. Halos For Us and Hallowell Mist put in moderate efforts after being prominent on the bend. Paul Harvey was at his brilliant best to get Divine Star home in the final event. Harvey had the mare camped fourth in running and while other riders scouted wide on the home bend, the champion jockey stayed as close to the fence as possible. Under strong whip riding Divine Star overcame pacemaker Devdas and scored well. Master Marlon ran on from back in the field to finish close up in third All going well, the next Northam meeting will be on August 14. The three meeting break should see the track rejuvenate to a sufficient level to get through to season�s end. As well, Nicole and Kym should be able to recharge their batteries somewhat in readiness for the remaining meetings.
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