"Bring
a chair, bring an umbrella, bring a picnic, bring the kids and of course - bring an esky
!"
That’s the catchcry of the Moe club for
today’s innovative "Esky Day" at the country circuit.
Patrons thirsts will be catered for by bottle
shop prices from the lawn bar - provided they have an esky to put them in - whilst the
musical entertainment and children’s activities will ensure all ages enjoy a
"bottler" of a day with plenty of "champagne" racing !!
The nine race programme will kick off with the
Esky Day Open Hurdle over 2900 metres and has attracted a fine blend of experienced
campaigners and aspiring stars.
The Jim Houlahan trained Zubin will attract
most of the attention, with fans keen to assess his return to the jumps following a spring
break and two lead up races on the flat this time in. The horse showed great potential in
his only two starts over the sticks back in August of last year, collecting the prize at
his Werribee debut before blotting the copybook with a fall at Flemington 12 days later.
His rider, Craig Durden, will certainly be
hoping there is no repeat performance of that today and will be keen to chalk up his first
win of 2001 aboard the 7 year old Zabeel gelding.
With Durden relinquishing his association with
the Robert Lont prepared Dove Edwin, the door has opened for Wayne Smith to take the sit
on the 6yo for today’s event. His trainer would be looking for a much improved
performance here, following a very disappointing debut at Warrnambool when very well
fancied on the strength of his trial effort at Cranbourne last month.
Five of the nine runners engaged in
today’s battle are facing the obstacles for the first time this year, with the above
mentioned Zubin joined by Covet Cross, Gentle Habits, King Norman and topweight, Sheridan.
Trained at Mornington by Tony Rosolini,
Sheridan has spent nearly half his racing career chasing the spoils in hurdle events, with
his 23 attempts producing 5 wins, a second and 4 thirds - from a total of 52 starts which
have resulted in 7 wins and 10 minor placings - guided in two of those victories by his
rider today, Brett Scott.
Following the non acceptance of Moetman, Pat
Hyland is represented today by Covet Cross, a 7 yo Covetous gelding who has been
impressive in winning both his trials over the hurdles this preparation and looks to be on
the right track to finding the form that took him to 3 minor prizes from his only four
jump starts to date when last in work. He will lack nothing on the score of fitness for
this event, having clocked up runs over 1500, 1800 and 2000 metres on the flat with the
two trials over 2100 metres thrown in for good measure. He will also benefit from the
experienced hands of Brian Constable who will be aboard the horse for the first time
today.
With one "King" Norman chasing
victory on the greens in the Heineken Classic in Perth, the equine King Norman will be on
the other side of the continent, making the journey to Moe from his Geelong stables, with
trainer John Patterson hoping he can provide jockey Arthur Robertson with a winning
conveyance.
The 6 yo had a rather inauspicious
introduction to this caper with spills in both starts and a trial , prior to finding his
feet and plodding to a well beaten 10th at Terang in mid December of last year and it will
take a sharp rise in form to match strides with some of his rivals here today.
Amongst those will be Gentle Habits, the well
travelled Eric Musgrove galloper, whose 18 excursions over hurdles make him the second
most experienced jumper in the field. Jockey Ricky Maund will again join forces with the 8
year old, who has made several trips across the border to South Australia with mixed
results. He finished in fourth place at Oakbank in 1999, then ventured to Morphettville
where he captured the Cup Day Hurdle at the rich carnival. However, the two most recent
treks - in September and October of last year - have not been as successful, but an
encouraging effort here today may tempt Musgrove to select him in his team for the Easter
carnival again.
Tijuana Taxi will make it four appearances
from as many possible outings this year when he once again teams with Marty Mills in
search of an elusive win. The pair have shown they are within striking distance of that
goal and will no doubt make their presence felt again today.
After always being well out of contention at
Werribee on January 13th, Gary Carson has kept the workload well up to his charge Apollon,
who may appreciate the drop back in distance to 2900 for today’s race.
The one horse who will undoubtedly enjoy the
set down metreage is last start Werribee winner, Osborne Well, who will be returning to
the scene of his most memorable triumph, where over the same course and distance he
produced a stirring exhibition to score some 14 months ago.
Willie Harnett, who was the recipient of a
late pick-up ride on the Andrew Wilson trained 8 yo last start retains the mount here and
could be the first rider to reach 2 victories for the calendar year so far.
The race itself will be a "corker"to
open a magnificent meeting and we look forward to bringing you a full post race report
next week.
In the meantime - go and take your eskies to
Moe and ....GO JUMP!!!! |
