TAMWORTH trainer Leon Davies will have three runners in tomorrow’s $100,000 HNWRA Country Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Tamworth – and maybe even four.
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Davies will start Crooked Blaze and Gelsomina and St Luke in the rich heat of the $300,000 Country Championship after It’s A Shamozzle was scratched yesterday.
Gelsomina and Crooked Blaze had already earned berths in the $100,000 Qualifier but stablemate St Luke was first emergency and will now run.
Another stablemate, Brilliant Poet, is second emergency and will run if there is another scratching.
Both Crooked Blaze (15) and Gelsomina (11) are not far apart in their wide barriers but Davies wasn’t sure if that would be a disadvantage on race day.
“It’s a pretty good start there at Tamworth [from the 1400m] so he [Crooked Blaze] can take a sit in behind the pace and he’s better when he takes a sit,” Davies said.
“She [Gelsomina] is a tough filly and she’ll take a sit behind them too. She likes racing outside horses and if she doesn’t lead she might be [racing with him].”
Gelsomina is coming off a win at Muswellbrook on February 14, while Crooked Blaze was very impressive at his last start Wyong victory on February 15.
Jockey Sam Clipperton rode him to an easy three and a half length win that day, and he’s won at his only start at Tamworth and was strong at the end of 1350 metres at Wyong.
“He was running away from them at Wyong so the 1400 metres won’t be a problem,” Davies said.
“He’s done well since his Wyong win and I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s come along.”
City-based hoop Clipperton will make the trip out to Tamworth to ride the three-year-old, which is having its sixth start since a first-up second at Gosford on November 13.
“He can last a while and his runs have been spaced out,” Davies said while also suggesting St Luke would be “very competitive”.
Scone trainer Rod Northam also has a strong hand in tomorrow’s HNWRA Qualifier.
He has Voodoo Lad (10) and Husswick (18) engaged while fellow Scone trainers Greg Bennett (In A Wink) and Paul Messara (Tarangower) also have high hopes n Continued page 34
Muswelbrook trainer Todd Willan also has last start Scone winner Artlee in and he and will jump from barrier six with Mitchell Bell aboard.
Jane Clement’s Chrysolaus drew one inside Artlee (5) while Quirindi Lightning winner Opera Blu drew barrier three for Walcha trainer George Woodward.
Blake Spriggs will reunite with the Walcha gelding after his Lightning success.
Tamworth gelding Capitano, third to Opera Blu at Quirindi, didn’t fare as well in the barrier draw and will go from 12 with Darren Jones aboard.
Mark Mason’s Strictly Concert attempts to win the Qualifier first up from a spell on his home track and goes from barrier two with Anthony Cavallo while Luke Berger has booked Priscilla Schmidt to ride last start Armidale winner Waikiki Gold in tomorrow’s feature. They jump from nine.
Quirindi’s Cocktail Time is teh topweight (59kg) and goes from barrier eight with Matthew Paget aboard.