racing-preview, country, championships, NSW, racing, horses, Randwick, Royal, final
They'RE travelled far and wide since mid-February but all roads this Saturday – barring the usual traffic snarls – will lead to NSW’s headquarters of horse racing, Royal Randwick. The Country Championships final run this weekend brings a massive $400,000 in prize money to the table for country-trained gallopers. The first qualifier at Scone in February saw Clearly Innocent burst into contention and become the first ‘ticketholder’ to the final. This big, strapping chestnut is a horse that will go onto much bigger things on racing’s stage and it’s pertinent that many weeks on, that same horse – installed as TAB’s $3.50 favourite for the final back then – still holds clear favouritism for the rich race, now at $2.30. Trained at Scone by the Akubra-wearing Greg Bennett, Clearly Innocent had a ‘pipe-opener’ at Scone last week, sizzling down the outside to score with consummate ease from a strong line-up that included his stablemate and runner-up All Summer Long, himself a Randwick winner. “Obviously the 1100-metres [at Scone] was not going to suit him as much as the 1400-metres will at Randwick so it was a very satisfying win,” Bennett said. “The horse is right where we want him and will be cherry ripe on final day.” Bennett said Clearly Innocent is a horse that impressed him from day one: “I’ve always liked him, but funny thing I don’t think he’s ever gone through all his gears; and there are plenty of them. “He was one of those horses that took a bit of time because he had issues as a young horse but he’s now a lovely strong type.” Clearly Innocent will be partnered by Tommy Berry in the 16-horse final. One of the last horses to qualify for the Country Championships final was Something Borrowed who saluted at Dubbo. Trained by Justin Stanley, Something Borrowed scored by half a length from the fast-finishing roughie, Not a Shadow. Attending Dubbo’s race day was NSW’s Racing Minister and Deputy Premier, Troy Grant, a local boy. “The country has been crying out for a showpiece event such as the Country Championships,” Mr Grant said. “There’s so much competition on the entertainment front and people are looking for something of quality and I think that is what The Championships brings. “Last week at Wellington we saw the biggest crowd ever at a Country Championship qualifier — there was around 6000 people.” This preview of The Championships is brought to you by Racing NSW. Mark Brassel writes for Racing NSW Magazine, racingnsw.com.au and thechampionships.com.au
They'RE travelled far and wide since mid-February but all roads this Saturday – barring the usual traffic snarls – will lead to NSW’s headquarters of horse racing, Royal Randwick.
The Country Championships final run this weekend brings a massive $400,000 in prize money to the table for country-trained gallopers.
The first qualifier at Scone in February saw Clearly Innocent burst into contention and become the first ‘ticketholder’ to the final.
This big, strapping chestnut is a horse that will go onto much bigger things on racing’s stage and it’s pertinent that many weeks on, that same horse – installed as TAB’s $3.50 favourite for the final back then – still holds clear favouritism for the rich race, now at $2.30.
Trained at Scone by the Akubra-wearing Greg Bennett, Clearly Innocent had a ‘pipe-opener’ at Scone last week, sizzling down the outside to score with consummate ease from a strong line-up that included his stablemate and runner-up All Summer Long, himself a Randwick winner.
“Obviously the 1100-metres [at Scone] was not going to suit him as much as the 1400-metres will at Randwick so it was a very satisfying win,” Bennett said. “The horse is right where we want him and will be cherry ripe on final day.”
Bennett said Clearly Innocent is a horse that impressed him from day one: “I’ve always liked him, but funny thing I don’t think he’s ever gone through all his gears; and there are plenty of them.
“He was one of those horses that took a bit of time because he had issues as a young horse but he’s now a lovely strong type.”
Clearly Innocent will be partnered by Tommy Berry in the 16-horse final.
One of the last horses to qualify for the Country Championships final was Something Borrowed who saluted at Dubbo.
Trained by Justin Stanley, Something Borrowed scored by half a length from the fast-finishing roughie, Not a Shadow. Attending Dubbo’s race day was NSW’s Racing Minister and Deputy Premier, Troy Grant, a local boy.
“The country has been crying out for a showpiece event such as the Country Championships,” Mr Grant said. “There’s so much competition on the entertainment front and people are looking for something of quality and I think that is what The Championships brings.
“Last week at Wellington we saw the biggest crowd ever at a Country Championship qualifier — there was around 6000 people.”
This preview of The Championships is brought to you by Racing NSW. Mark Brassel writes for Racing NSW Magazine, racingnsw.com.au and thechampionships.com.au
