The Parkes Harness Racing Club (PHRC) will hold its April meeting this Wednesday night with a strong 8-race programme.
Racing commences at 5pm with the Toohey’s Is Best Pace. Our Castanea’s form reads poorly but has been trialling well and with the services of leading driver Mat Rue, he looks the horse to beat. Give Me Fifty is racing well for the Jason Gaffney stable and although poorly drawn, he will make his presence felt. Locally trained pacers Gran Lema Girl, Sporty Shannon and Bullion Hall are all trifecta chances.
PHRC is running a heat of the Club Dubbo Garrards Golden Gig and it will be Race 2. The final will be ran at Dubbo on a later date this April. Over the 1660 metres, the speed will be on from the start with Not My Sister and Cherry Express both quick starters drawn off the front. Our Reba Rose for Malcolm Hutchings is drawn to get a nice run from her draw and she could be too strong at the finish. Our Landsdowne Road and Karinya Gus are also racing well.
Dwyers Fresh Meat Pace is for the faster class pacers and has drawn a good field. Horses had drawn the second row look likely to fight out the finish. Smack Dab Shannon to be driven by Jess Prior likes the Parkes track and has won 2 races at the track this season. Montana Maestro and Curls Toby are both in good form and are sure to be in the fight. Poppy Cee is the emergency but if he gains a run he can also prove hard to beat.
Race 4 Parkes Farm Centre Pace has an even field and luck in running will decide the result. The Tommy Ward trained Bellas Charm gets her best draw for a while and that will help her chances. Wise Goddess has ability but she can do a few things wrong and she has drawn poorly. But if she is on her best behavior she can run a big race. Tulhurst Stacey and Mercy Mercy are also winning chances.
Greg Hando Appreciation Pace looks a good race for Charlotte’s Delight. Placed second at 2 of her past 3 starts, she gets a good draw over the 1660 metre journey. Tuapeka Glory is a former NZ pacer having his first start for the Wendy Turnbull stable and he has been trialing all right. Rays Choice ran a close 2nd last week at Dubbo and he will be also in the mix.
Col Fletcher Ford 3yo Maiden Pace sees most of the field only lightly raced. Son Of A Virgin from Mark Hewitts strong stable gets his best draw this season and he has been racing well recently. Parzival ran 3rd at his only start this season so he should only improve on that run. Lexy Can Wait (Bernie Hewitt) and Pretty Foxy (John O’Shea) are both from strong stables, so watch out for any betting moves here.
In Race 7 Telescope Tyres Pace, Jethros An Eagle, although poorly drawn, should still prove the testing material here. He has been racing well in better company and without bad luck he should be winning. Im Captian Morgan raced well last season without winning and he has come back to racing in good form. Ladyjoanna Shannon is a first starter but she has leading driver Mat Rue to help her chances.
Racing finishes at 8.40pm with the Parkes Leagues Club 2yo Pace. Bathurst trained 2yo’s Alwaysonourmind, Josephine Brook, and Amazme Grace are the most raced in the field and all 3 have performed all right in stronger company. That should see them fighting out the finish here
Selections:
R1:
1. Our Castanea
2. Give Me Fifty
3. Bullion Hall
R2:
1. Our Reba Rose
2. Cherry Express
3. Our Lansdowne Road
R3:
1. Smack Dab Shannon
2. Montana Maestro
3. Curls Toby
R4:
1. Mercy Mercy
2. Bellas Charm
3. Wise Goddess NZ
R5:
1. Charlottes Delight
2. Tuapeka Glory NZ
3. Really Cloudy
R6.
1. Son Of A Virgin
2. Pretty Foxy
3. Parzival
R7:
1. Jethros An Eagle
2. Im Captain Morgan
3. Ladyjoanna Shannon
R8:
1. Josephine Brook
2. Allwaysonourmind
3. Amazme Grace