Metropolitan businessman and long time supporter of the Young Harness Racing Club, Daniel Cordina will be ecstatic if his four-year-old Pet Rock gelding Ziggy Rocks can take out the Christy Park 2019 Cherry Festival Cup on Friday night.
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Daniel has had a long association with both Rachael and David Micallef of Christy Park at Monteagle over many years and with Bathurst trainer Mat Rue training the winner now of three races from 19 starts, the stage looks set for an exciting feature race that will be run at 8:33pm.
The form around the polemarker has been solid over recent weeks with some fast times that include a 1:55.6 winning performance at Menangle on October 27.
The possible dangers to the number one selection could include the Steve Turnbull trained Ring The Till who has also been consistent of late, Roger That for Brad Hewitt who has handed in some eye catching runs that include a third at Bankstown following a Blayney win and Deeceasar from the Scott Hewitt stable at Crookwell.
This fellow was a Menangle winner three starts back rating 1:52.2 over the shorter 1609 metres but will be finishing on here.
Young's only chance in the field is Nathan Hoy's trained Barkway Arnold.
The nine-year-old gelding scored a win in his last start at Young two starts back on November 19.
He finished fifth at Canberra on Monday night over 1720m.
Hoy takes the drive in the Cup and will leave gate two.
Should be the race of the season, weather permitting.
Racing starts at 6.55pm with the last at 10.32pm.
Racecaller Stuart Maxwell's expert selections and race summaries
Race one
Brad Hewitt should start the night off on a winning note with backmarker Sweet Sangria who has been around the money in three starts since resuming and should be fit for this.
Royal Feeling has been placed at latest four of 5 starts, best being second at Temora last time out. Ideal Flash ran three wide without cover here last start to finish fifth and an improvement is expected. Indi Rena just keeps coming and was fourth at Temora last start.
- 10 Sweet Sangria, 8 Royal Feeling, 5 Ideal Flash, 9 Indi Rena
Race two
Cathy Brown has impressed with two wins since coming from NZ and Amanda Turnbull has here firing well. Impressive at Parkes last start and should continue that form here. Caribbean Jack has won two from five starts including winner here last meeting and will be handy throughout. Ideal Billy continues to defy gravity and has been flying of late and could continue that winning form with some free air in running. Temora Reactor is as tough as nails and will give his backers a great sight once again.
- 5 Cathy Brown, 8 Caribbean Jack, 7 Ideal Billy, 11 Temora Reactor
Race three
Mat Rue looks to have a strong hold here with Smiling Sam who has been racing well with a win three starts back on this track in fast time. Was inconvenienced when third at Dubbo last start and will not disappoint. Real dash is drawn awkwardly but was a good second last start at Bankstown after being four back pegs over similar distance.
Long Hot Summer is a winner of 12 races and was fourth at Canberra last week and has drawn well, a possible leader from gate three. Our Pocket Rocket has drawn the pole and is a last start Young winner over this distance, not the roughest in a tough race.
- 5 Smiling Sam, 10 Real Dash, 3 Long Hot Summer, 1 Our Pocketrocket
Race four
Ziggy Rocks is drawn well and has form to suggest he is the one to beat in this. Roger That will be close handy and should be running on from a good gate.
Shannonstheman has been around the money and win would not surprise at good odds. Deeceasar won three starts back and is in the mix here. Ring The Till is from strong stable and has great chance with luck in running.
- 1 Ziggy Rocks, 3 Roger That, 6 Shannonstheman, 11 Deeceasar
Race five
Impersonate won easily two starts back before checked at Temora last start. Better than that and deserves another chance. I Wanna Dance chased home a handy first starter last time out and looks better suited here. Opal lead and won at Canberra last start, gets chance to sit and sprint from second line here. Sweet Luck is improving and was fourth at Blayney last start.
- 2 Impersonate, 6 I Wanna Dance, 7 Opal, 9 Sweet Luck
Race six
First up winner Arama reactor should be too strong for this field after posting impressive win on this track last start. Wotnow Swannee wont leave nothing in the tank here with an ideal draw, has won three from five including this track last time out after slow sectionals.
Stylish Grin posted an overdue win at Temora last start after leading throughout and could repeat that performance here. Chubbs has been handy of late, ran three wide when Temora winner last start and will be going forward here from an outside draw.
- 8 Arama Reactor, 4 Stylish Grin, 1 Wotnow Swanee, 6 Chubbs
Race seven
Chain Reaction is drawn to lead and was a close second at Temora after racing three wide beaten 1.7m last start, could improve here.
Swooped To Safety is yet to break through from 53 starts but is a place hope here with luck. Our Sams Home obtained inside run when Temora winner last start, drawn wide but in with a show. Rock This Way was disappointing last star but can be forgiven., go on good 2 nd run prior in fast time, watch betting.
- 1 Chain Reaction, 3 Swoop To Safety, 6 Our Sams Home, 5 Rock This Way
Race eight
The Warp Reactor has had no luck last two starts, go on previous two seconds at Dubbo and Parkes when showing gate speed. Sports Runna is resuming here and has 14 starts yet to win. Gets chance here if can produce previous consistent form. Power To Bolt resumed with fifth last time out at this track and will be fitter for this.
Moonstone Montana ran third after sitting outside leader here last start, winners mile rate 1:57.5. Improvement would not surprise here.
- 6 The Warp Reactor, 9 Sports Runna, 4 Power To Bolt, 8 Moonstone Montana
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