34 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>September</strong> <strong>20</strong> <strong>20</strong>23
Wednesday <strong>September</strong> <strong>20</strong> <strong>20</strong>23 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> RACING 35 Aardie’s Express too strong in Hannon Memorial on Sunday • By Jonny Turner A POWERFUL victory in the Hannon Memorial doesn’t necessarily mean Aardie’s Express is heading straight towards the New Zealand Cup. The Stonewall Stud mare powered along the inner to clinch victory in the traditional New Zealand Cup lead-up at Oamaru on Sunday for driver Tim Williams. Despite being the veteran of just 13 starts, the four-year-old showed all of the poise and power required to be a genuine New Zealand Cup contender. But the Stonewall Stud camp, headed by Rolleston trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, is not ready to make definite plans for the mare on the second Tuesday in November. “She is nominated (for the New Zealand Cup) but it is not a certainty she will go there,” Amanda Telfer said. “We will take every race as it comes and she will tell us what we are going to do. “There is also the Junior Free- For-All, so you don’t have to go to the cup.” Aardie’s Express was one of several horses to take the lead in a hotly contested Hannon Memorial. Driver Tim Williams eventually found a trip in the trail for the mare and she sped along a rain-soaked Oamaru passing lane to score. The performance drew on Aardie’s Express’ speed and stamina and she displayed excellent standing start manners in the process. “She can really do anything, she is tough, she has got speed, she is the complete package really,” Telfer said. Aardie’s Express had a lowly ranking of 30th on the order of entry for the New Zealand Cup before her Hannon Memorial. The pacer is sure to skyrocket towards the top-15 qualifying spots following her victory. Republican Party was among those horses who pressed forward to take the lead in Sunday’s feature. The four-year-old fought on bravely in testing conditions to run second. Another of the leaders in the event, Anything Goes took third in a solid effort. Aggressive tactics from driver Bob Butt clinched victory for Resolve in the Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Stakes. Butt launched the Paul Nairn Leeston-trained mare at the 600m, turning the final stages of the race into the staying contest, which was just what Resolve wanted. “She is a good staying mare and with the way the race panned out, I was quite happy,” Butt said. “I thought I would try to turn the last 800m into a staying contest and it worked out well.” Tempo for Kaikoura meeting amps up ONE OF harness racing’s most iconic meetings is about to get bigger, busier and faster. The two-day Kaikoura meeting will be held at the picturesque South Bay racecourse on October 29 and 30. Normally the Sunday meeting is a lower key six-race affair that leads into Monday’s big cup meeting, which is also Marlborough Anniversary day. But this year things are going to be different, with an eight race Fast 10 meeting confirmed for the opening day. The concept, devised and owned by Glenn Hames and Tony Russell (Quick Horse Racing Ltd) is all about fastpaced action, with lots of music and colour, and less than <strong>20</strong> minutes between races. All races will be held over 1900 metres with 10 starters in each, six off the front and four off the back. All horses are allocated coloured and numbered saddlecloths determined by their draw, with drivers wearing the same-coloured caps. They aim to bring to the races what T<strong>20</strong> has done for cricket, and Fast 5 for netball. “We will start at 3.30pm and be finished before 6pm,” said Hames, who is also the administration manager for the Kaikoura Trotting Club. It’s the fourth Fast 10 meeting POPULAR: Crowds flock to the annual Kaikoura meeting. in this country, following on from two at Addington and one in Invercargill. “We wanted to try something different because we are expecting a huge crowd for the two days, we have had a lot of interest.” Hames hopes they’ll get upwards of <strong>20</strong>00 people on the Sunday, and double that for the cup meeting. Such has been the demand for space on-course that more than 180 campsites, 50 gazebo sites and 11 mini marquees have sold out. “We put the campsites out for sale in June and they were snapped up in four weeks.” For $100 campers can stay at what’s been called the world’s most scenic raceway for four nights, from Friday October 27. Said Hames: “It’s the most ever. We have about 10 groups on the waitlist at the moment as well. “And we have organised them so everyone’s view of the track won’t be compromised.” Sunday’s meeting will coincide with the final of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France in Paris. “We will definitely have coverage in the hall of the final and on a big screen potentially – we are still working that through,” says Hames. On the Saturday night before, there will be entertainment of a different sort – a bingo night in the hall. The two day meeting will feature a number of prizes and giveaways for trainers and others who support the meeting including accommodation and meal packages, as well as general admission tickets to the New PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Zealand Cup at Addington on November 14. The NZ Cup will also be on display. GCH Aviation (Garden City Helicopters) is also offering scenic flights around Kaikoura at reduced rates for those camping on course. “We are very keen to get the message out to trainers and racegoers – we want them to know what we are up to and of course we are very keen for them to support the meeting, on either or both days,”said Hames. Monday’s big day will be highlighted by the two feature races, the $60,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup, and the $40,000 IRT South Bay Trotters Cup, as well as the $50,000 NZB Aged Stakes Classic. Hames is hopeful the timing will work in the club’s favour in terms of attracting the best horse flesh. “Usually there’s a week between the Kaikoura and New Zealand Cup meetings but this year it’s two so that should fit perfectly for trainers and their cup preparation.” In recent years the cup has been taken out by the likes of three-time winner Classie Brigade as well as subsequent NZ Cup winners Lazarus and Arden Rooney while the South Bay Trotters Cup has also featured some of the very best including Sundees Son (<strong>20</strong>22), Muscle Mountain (<strong>20</strong>21) and the only three-time winner, I Can Doosit (<strong>20</strong>10-<strong>20</strong>12). Hames is expecting the Kaikoura track to be in top condition for its annual meeting. “It was re-surfaced last year and we had something like six track records – it will be in great nick again. “We just need the weather gods to play ball.” – Harness Racing Desk