CROOKWELL trainer Tommy Fahey enjoyed a welcome return to the winners stall on Monday night at Canberra’s Exhibition Park when Glads Grin was an all the way winner of the $3,000 Canberra Cup on February 2 Pace.
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A 4yo gelding by Grinfromeartoear, Glads Grin is not only owned and trained by Tommy, he was also bred by the veteran horseman being out of his former race winning mare Merley Perly.
Drawn in barrier 1, and starting at the good odds of $6.50, Glads Grin was taken straight to the front by Gunning based reinsman Dean Cernovskis. The pair was untested as they strolled through a very leisurely first half of 65.7 seconds, but as they travelled into the back straight Glads Grin was temporarily headed by the Frank O’Sullivan trained and driven Shootdown who had made a sudden dash from the back of the field.
The challenge was short lived as Glads Grin not only rallied strongly to regain the lead passing the 400 metre mark, he proceeded to set up a winning break as he reached the top of the home straight. Under Cernovskis urgings, Glads Grin held the opposition at bay and ran out an easy winner over the Scott Hewitt driven Seashellsinthesand and Dess Delight who ran on strongly in the closing stages.
The official winning margin was 6.6 metres with the winning mile rate a moderate 2:03.4. “I was very happy with that win, it’s nearly 12 months to the day since his last win which was at Canberra in a similar race” explained Fahey. As to the future, Glads Grin is likely to have a few days off before Fahey determines what to do with him.
Fahey added, “He’s a bad blooded horse having a deficiency in Vitamin B12. I’ll just see how he recovers and take it from there”.
In other harness news former Crookwell trainer David Hewitt was involved in a very nasty fall in race 6 at Canberra when driving one of the favoured runners Soo Special. Travelling towards the 400m point of the race, the 3yo Riverina trained filly commenced pacing roughly when outside the leader. The filly then stumbled and fell to the track with Hewitt being ejected before being catapulted forward by one of the following pacers.
Hewitt sustained a second fracture of the shoulder he broke at Young in another race fall not long ago. He was taken to Canberra Hospital and kept overnight for observation. “I’m feeling much the worse and will have to take things slowly” commented Hewitt when returning home to his Goulburn stables Tuesday afternoon.
As a result of the fall, half the field failed to finish the race and whilst all horses walked off the track with bruising and lacerations, Canberra based trainer and driver Michael Hawke sustained a fractured hand. All other drivers escaped injury.
In local harness racing news, the Goulburn Club will host their main race meeting of the season with the Carnival of Cups race day scheduled for the Australia Day public holiday on Monday the 27th January.
In local harness racing news, the Goulburn Club will host their main race meeting of the season with the Carnival of Cups race day scheduled for the Australia Day public holiday on Monday the 27th January.
Featuring the $30,000 Goulburn Cup, the $18,000 Goulburn Soldiers Club Goulburn Rose and the $12,000 Goulburn Mulwaree City Sprint, the day’s entertainment will be highlighted by a mid-afternoon concert by country music star Adam Brand.
Featuring the $30,000 Goulburn Cup, the $18,000 Goulburn Soldiers Club Goulburn Rose and the $12,000 Goulburn Mulwaree City Sprint, the day’s entertainment will be highlighted by a mid-afternoon concert by country music star Adam Brand.
The day will also feature musical support by Goulburn’s Kerri O’Keefe, Shoalhaven mini trots, entertainment for children including face painting, jumping castle, show bags and the Lieder Youth Street Theatre. The club has also organised the attendance of renowned harness commentator Marshall Dobson who will also host a punters club during the afternoon.
The day will also feature musical support by Goulburn’s Kerri O’Keefe, Shoalhaven mini trots, entertainment for children including face painting, jumping castle, show bags and the Lieder Youth Street Theatre. The club has also organised the attendance of renowned harness commentator Marshall Dobson who will also host a punters club during the afternoon.
The Goulburn Harness Club invites all to come out and enjoy an outstanding afternoon of entertainment and top class racing all in the comfort of the recently completed facilities at the track
The Goulburn Harness Club invites all to come out and enjoy an outstanding afternoon of entertainment and top class racing all in the comfort of the recently completed facilities at the track