The place to be tomorrow is undoubtedly the famous Toompang Racecourse for the running of the 2014 Burrangong Picnic Cup.
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Always a picnic race calendar favourite, the Young course looks magnificent with the lush green track and a splendid array of gold and green colour from the canola that is in full bloom.
Last year’s race was taken out by the Kevin Higgins-trained Chateau Royal chestnut mare Port Solitaire ridden by Blake Ryan who defeated Elusive Shadow, ridden by local girl Rebeka Prest.
Wagga-trained Rite Of Honour claimed third money for trainer Trevor Sutherland and Nyssa Burrells.
The preparation of the track over recent weeks should produce fast times and hopefully close finishes.
The current track record of 1.21.4 held by the Harden-trained Norms Bridle was set way back in 2001 with the current class record of 1.23.8 was set by Marview in 2012.
Last year’s winner equalled that time and expectations are that the time could be bettered tomorrow.
The McAlister Motors Isuzu Ute 2014 Burrangong Picnic Cup has attracted a quality field of eight starters with the Greg Gooch-trained Padstow Bay being the top weight with 66.5kg and to be ridden by Stuart Brown.
The 1400 metre journey will be run at a frenetic pace with the Andrew Molloy Cowra galloper, and noted leader, Poker Pro looking to finally break through after two excellent seconds at Grenfell and Mudgery recently.
Last year’s winner, Port Solitaire, has yet to hit top form, having been placed only once in five starts since resuming.
Distinctly Sports won two starts back and could surprise, while Emplus for Chris Heywood and Rebeka Prest could finish off the day with a rewarding win after some unplaced runs following a win six starts back.
Racing commences with an 800 metre sprint and has attracted a good field of seven runners.
With five of the seven starters resuming from a spell and the other remaining starters having limited success, the last start winner Sound The Alert from the Peter Kirby stable looks the winner although drawn out wide in gate six.
The run to the sweeping bend should, at the 600 metre sign, be interesting with a number of these trainers expecting their charges to be in a forward position.
Ex-local trainer Chris Heywood knows what it takes to win a race here and has the services of another ex-local in Rebeka Prest on board Steel Bullet for Ron and Lorraine Fitzgibbon from Cowra.
Of the other starters possibly Royal Regard who will be ridden by another ex-local girl, Samara Johnson, and trained by a great supporter of the Young club Darryl Rolfe.
The second of the day returns back to the 1000 metre start at the top of the Shute and again another run to the 600 metre will be critical.
The testing last 400 metres will be a true test of stamina for these eight runners and again Chris Heywood and Rebeka Prest look to have a good chance with Living Fire who has been racing consistently of late in harder company.
Coming out of the inside gate two, the advantage should be enough to secure a winning break and get the money from Outback Wanderer who was fourth first up for Peter Kirby and will be ridden by capable jockey Alan Barton from gate one.
The third of the day, the John Boyd Memorial will again start from the 1000 metre shute and has attracted a field of eight runners.
The much travelled Forbes trainer, Billy Hayes, has two starters in the race and could easily take out the Quinella.
Cleary’s Creek was an eye-catching fourth first up, while the stable mate was fifth first up, the form prior to that outing being acceptable.
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary usually has a handy galloper in work and with the services of John Nisbet could be thereabouts over the concluding stages.
Race four on the day will be the Class B 1600 metre longest race of the afternoon over the old mile journey and with a small field of five it should result in an exciting contest.
Grenfell trainer George Wright has Big Sunday racing consistently at the moment and looks a good chance in this small field while She’ Karroozing has the good gate and should be forward throughout for Tim Phillips.
Race five is a maiden plate over 1400 metres and again a small field of five will contest the second last race of the afternoon.
Astute local trainer Tricia Anderson could sneak one in here with Cousin Bonnie from a handy gate three.
With accomplished jockey Ashley Boyd in the saddle, the opportunity of taking home the winners cheque of $2500 is a distinct possibility.
Those with form to take it up to the selection include Star Crazy and the Billy Hayes trained Mooringsbureaucrat who was second last time out.
A reminder that the free bus service from the Empire Hotel will commence at 11.30am and will continue well into the evening.
Burrangong Picnic Race fields for Saturday, October 11
Race 1 - 1.05pm SOUTH WEST SLOPES CREDIT UNION TROPHY HANDICAP (800m) Of $3,500.1st $2,450, 2nd $700, 3rd $350
Open Trophy Race, Handicap, Minimum Weight 62kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.
BOBS Bonus available: $1,250
1 SUPREME LAIRD Kevin Higgins Mr Troy Sweeney 7 70.5 66
2 A LITTLE ALERT Brad Witt Mr Tim Phillips 4 67 63
3 STEEL BULLET Chris Heywood Ms Rebeka Prest 3 64.5 54
4 TOTALLY ALERT Trevor Sutherland John Nisbet 2 62 48
5 ROYAL REGARD Darryl Rolfe Ms Samara Johnson 5 62 46
6 SOUND THE ALERT Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 6 62 45
7 RAMINO Debbie Prest Mr Ricky Blewitt 1 62 41
Race 2 - 1.40pm THE YOUNG WITNESS MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
Of $3,000.1st $2,100, 2nd $600, 3rd $300
Maiden, Set Weights, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.
BOBS Bonus available: $1,250
1 BUNWINA Trevor Sutherland Mr Tim Phillips 6 67 N/A
2 OUTBACK WANDERER Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 1 67 N/A
3 BARBEY’S NEWS Ricky Watt Mr Stuart Brown 8 65 N/A
4 LIVING FIRE Chris Heywood Ms Rebeka Prest 2 65 N/A
5 PINK Tricia Anderson Mr Ashley Boyd 5 65 N/A
6 PREFER Neil Osborne Mr Ricky Blewitt 3 65 N/A
7 CUPID ATTACK BOBS Bonus Scheme Tony Sergi Ms Samara Johnson 7 64.5 N/A
8 TOM KARROOZ Trevor Sutherland John Nisbet 4 64.5 N/A
Race 3 - 2.15pm JOHN BOYD MEMORIAL CLASS B HANDICAP (1000m)
Of $3,000.1st $2,100, 2nd $600, 3rd $300
Class B, Handicap, Minimum Weight 62kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.
BOBS Bonus available: $1,250
1 BEAMER DREAMER Darryl Rolfe Mr Ashley Boyd 4 65 46
2 BANROKKA Trevor Sutherland Mr Tim Phillips 6 63.5 43
3 KAMIYA Joe Cleary John Nisbet 7 62.5 45
4 INORR OF YISHAY Michael Plummer Mr Troy Sweeney 3 62 40
5 ARGUABLY REGAL Debbie Prest Ms Rebeka Prest 1 62 39
6 CLEARY’S CREEK Bill Hayes Ms Samara Johnson 8 62 39
7 DOMINICO Bill Hayes Mr Michael Gray 2 62 36
8 DOMESDAME Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 5 62 30
Race 4 - 2.50pm DONGES SUPA IGA CLASS B HANDICAP (1600m) Of $3,000.1st $2,100, 2nd $600, 3rd $300
Class B, Handicap, Minimum Weight 62kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim. BOBS & BOBS Extra PICNIC/NON-TAB CTRY, bonus available: $1,250
1 SHE’S KARROOZING Trevor Sutherland Mr Tim Phillips 1 62 42
2 BIG SUNDAY BOBS Extra Bonus Scheme George Wright Mr Ricky Blewitt 4 62 39
3 RATBAG Bill Hayes John Nisbet 5 62 34
4 JACK I AM Richard Coulton Ms Rebeka Prest 2 62 30
5 KING MARVIN BOBS Extra Bonus Scheme Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 3 62 28
Race 5 - 3.25pm BACK TO BACK FINANCIAL PLANNERS MAIDEN PLATE (1400m) Of $2,500.1st $1,700, 2nd $500, 3rd $300
Maiden, Set Weights, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim.
BOBS Bonus available: $1,250
1 MOORINGSBUREAUCRAT Bill Hayes Mr Stuart Brown 5 67 N/A
2 STARCRAZY Darryl Rolfe Ms Samara Johnson 4 67 N/A
3 TROJAN JIM Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 1 67 N/A
4 COUSIN BONNIE Tricia Anderson Mr Ashley Boyd 3 65 N/A
5 FRENCH MISTRESS Trevor Sutherland Mr Tim Phillips 2 65 N/A
Race 6 - 4.25pm MCALISTER MOTORS ISUZU UTE BURRANGONG PICNIC CUP (1400m)
Of $5,000.1st $3,500, 2nd $1,000, 3rd $500
Open Trophy Race, Handicap, Minimum Weight 62kg, Three-Years-Old and Upwards, Apprentices can claim. BOBS Bonus available: $1,250
1 PADSTOW BAY (NZ) Greg Gooch Mr Stuart Brown 4 66.5 58
2 POKER PRO Andrew Molloy Mr Ashley Boyd 3 63.5 52
3 EMPLUS Chris Heywood Ms Rebeka Prest 7 62 49
4 DISTINCTLY SPORTS Peter J Bloomfield Mr Ricky Blewitt 8 62 46
5 PARTEXPECTATION Trevor Sutherland Mr Tim Phillips 5 62 46
6 PORT SOLITAIRE Kevin Higgins Mr Troy Sweeney 6 62 44
7 BORALYN Nick Hill Ms Samara Johnson 1 62 42
8 DOUBLE DISSOLUTION Peter Kirby Mr Alan Barton 2 62 35
