Aussie News – 29 July -2019

[Wandering Eyes]

Emm Stewart.

YOUNG Queensland star Colt Thirty One is most unlikely to tackle the Auckland Inter Dominion.

The four-year-old, who burst into the big league with his Group 1 Blacks A Fake win last Saturday week, looks set to stay home and target races like the Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup in the new year.

“We haven’t made a final decision, but I’d say the Inter Dominion is unlikely,” owner-breeder Kevin Seymour said.

“We certainly want to give him his chance in the big races now, but he’s having a bit of a break now after a big campaign to win the Blacks A Fake.”

 

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TODD McCarthy’s growing dominance at Menangle reached new levels last night (Saturday).

McCarthy became the first NSW driver to land six winners at a city-class meeting when he won aboard six of his seven drives.

His wins came on: Fouroeight, Captain Rocky, Commander Kirk, Major League, Majordan and Plata O Plomo.

Len Smith Mile winner Majordan returned to winning form despite the outside draw in the free-for-all, scoring easily in a 1min50.9sec mile.

But it was his emerging stablemate Commander Kirk who turned more heads.

Having just his 15th start, the son of Somebeachsomewhere powered clear to win by 10m in a blistering 1min49.7sec mile.

It was his fifth win from as many starts this campaign.

Trainer Kevin Pizzuto thinks the gelding is a star in the making for US-based owners Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks.

“He’s very, very good. He’s needed a little time, but it’s all coming together now. Gordon and Marc will get the rewards for their patience,” he said.

 

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STAYING on the dominance theme and it continued when Emma Stewart snared seven winners on the 12-race card at Melton last night.

It was just one short of Stewart’s own metropolitan record of eight wins, set at Melton on June 29, last year,

Stewart’s wins last night included the $50,000 Group 2 Tatlow Stakes for 2YO colts and geldings where she landed the quinella with Be Happy Mach beating Mirragon.

Be Happy Mach chased home Jilliby Nitro in Australian Gold and then beat him in the NSW Breeders Challenge.

The latest win further boosts his Australian 2YO of the Year claims with the Breeders Crown still to come.

 

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PHIL Williamson always commands respect when he heads across to Australia.

And his latest raid has started with a bang, courtesy of sparkling wins from Liberty Stride and Ultimate Stride during the week.

iberty Stride was first out and made an almighty impression when she galloped at the start, lost at least 70m, was still 50m off the leaders with a lap to and still won running away by seven metres.

All that after driver Chris Alford was shoved four-deep down the back and five and six wide around the final bend.

“That’s one of the biggest wins you’d ever see,” boomed race caller Lachlan McIntosh.

She landed in Aussie with just two wins from six starts, but the regally bred daughter of smart trotter Jasmyns Gift (and by Muscle Hill) now looks a major player in the Victoria Trotters’ Derby and Breeders Crown.

Two days later it was Ultimate Stride’s turn to impress, making light work of his two-year-old rivals to win off a 30m backmark at Maryborough.

It was his first outing since a third in the Harness Jewels.

The win didn’t  come without it’s moments, especially when Ultimate Stride galloped for a few strides for driver Anthony Butt with a lap go and when still giving the leaders a 35m start.

Emilio Rosati races the pair and it’s no secret his wife, Mary, has a real passion for the trotters compared to pacers.

It looks an exciting month or so ahead for Mary and Team Williamson.

 

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WESTERN Australian Derby winner Major Trojan returned from a spell with another feature win at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

The former exciting Kiwi pacer now with Gary Hall Sr took his Aussie record to four wins, two seconds and a third from just seven runs.

Major Trojan looked a class above his rivals and drew to dominate in front in the $30,000 The Chandon from gate two, which is just what he did in a cosy 4.2m win, rating 1min55.6sec for 2130m.

Hall Sr has a massive opinion of Major Trojan and the next main goal is the Golden Nugget, one of Australia’s biggest 4YO races, at Gloucester Park in December.

 

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FORMER Kiwi pacer Bill Haley has been one of the “finds” of the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Just a week after an upset win in the Group 3 4YO ChampionshIp at Albion Park, the Darrel Graham-trained gelding stepped-up in grade again to win the Chris Garrard’s Patrons Purse at Redcliffe.

He ran down Inter Dominion runner-up Our Uncle Sam to win by 1.5m.

Kylie Rasmussen took the reins and continued her golden run off the back of a string of wins for the All Stars’ barn on the likes of Princess Tiffany and Self Assured during the Carnival.

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