The Dubbo Turf Club will host the first of the 2019 Country Championship qualifying races on Sunday, February 10, its Western Racing Association Country Championship Qualifier 1400 metre event highlights its eight-race program.
With each qualifying race worth a hefty $150,000, next is the Mid North Coast Racing Association to hold its qualifying race at Port Macquarie on Sunday, February 17.
Following is the Southern Districts Racing Association at Albury (February 23); the South-East Racing Association at Goulburn (March 2), the Central Districts Racing Association at Mudgee (March 3); Hunter and North-West Racing Association (March 10); and the Northern Rivers Racing Association at Grafton (March 17).
There is a final chance for a country trained galloper to qualify for the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (Randwick, April 6) in the “wild card”, a race scheduled for Muswellbrook on Sunday, March 24.
Awesome Pluck – trained by Jenny Graham at Port Macquarie and raced by Dale Miller from Wauchope – would have to rate an in-form prospective runner for their local qualifying race.
A four-year-old gelding by Vinery Stud’s shuttler Pluck, Awesome Pluck cemented his progress with a summer racing campaign in Queensland which yielded a second and two wins at his three previous starts late last year.
In the southern districts, four-year-old gelding Noble Boy is also taking up the challenge of gaining a final field appearance.
Prepared by Todd Blowes at Queanbeyan, Noble Boy – by the Bowness Stud, Young, based stallion Bon Hoffa – has won his only three starts, two in the country before taking a TAB Highway Handicap in December. His trainer confirmed the Country Championships could be next on the chestnut’s agenda.
Goulburn trainer Danny Williams is likely to have a number of runners vying for a place in the final field, including Reward For Effort gelding Coup De Main.
Picnic racing
“If only you come back to Condo once a year, make it the races”, that is the catch-cry the Condobolin Picnic Race Club has generated in promoting its forthcoming annual race meet.
Scheduled for Saturday, February 23, the Condobolin picnic races is on the annual summer/autumn picnic racing circuit.
For a $40 membership, the Condobolin Picnic Race Club offers value and includes a meal at its calcutta (the previous evening), gate entry, racebook, stubby cooler and four complimentary drinks on race day.
On Saturday, February 16 the tiny hamlet of Bedgerebong – about 35 kilometres west of Forbes, celebrates 100 years of racing on its lawn-like racecourse, which is surrounded by ancient old gums for shelter and shade.
While its six race card is highlighted by the Centenary Cup, there will be a band after the races, its annual foot-races, and an auction to keep trackside participants entertained.
While the Southern Districts located Carrathool Jockey Club will hold its annual meet on Saturday, March 2, on the same day the picnic circuit continues at Yass with its six race card.
The following Saturday is the Tottenham Picnic races (March 9), Crookwell and District Amateur Picnic Race Club (March 16), Ardlethan Picnic Racing Club (March 23), and Tullibigeal Picnic Racing Club (March 30).
Millions at The Farm this Saturday
Inglis’ $2 million Millennium, a feature race on the Warwick Farm program this Saturday, is shaping up to be an interesting contest.
The Chris Waller prepared Accession – a colt from to the first crop by Brazen Beau, won two Sydney races and is on track to be among the favourites for the inaugural event.
Accession was a $300,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds.
Bay colt, Dawn Passage blasted his way onto the racing scene, recently demolishing a field at his first start at Randwick, and is another Millennium favoured horse. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Dawn Passage is by former Godolphin shuttle horse Dawn Approach.
I Am Invincible filly and the Inglis Banner feature winner in Melbourne, Espaaniyah is another possible Millennium starter. Bred at Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, Espaaniyah was a $750,000 Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate.
First for Proisir
Queensland’s Aquis Farm, who stands seven stallions at its NSW base at Murrurundi, would have noticed the win of juvenile Tappy’s One at Tauranga in New Zealand recently.
Tappy’s One became the first crop two-year-old winner for his Australian bred and performed sire Proisir, a Group winner at Newcastle who stands at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand.
Proisir – son of Coolmore Stud’s outstanding stalwart sire Choisir, is a full-brother to the four years younger Group 1 winning stallion Divine Prophet, who stood his second stud season at Aquis Farm last year.
Winner of the MRC Caulfield Guineas-G1 and the ATC Up And Coming Stakes-G3 at Randwick, Divine Prophet and Proisir were produced from the six time winning Encosta de Lago mare Prophet Jewel.