NOMINATIONS CHANGE

October 3rd, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

VIEWING nominations on-line prior to fields being drawn up is set to become a thing of the past in New South Wales.

Harness Racing NSW earlier this week announced changes to the way race fields are selected, with trainers who nominate their horses now unable to see what other horses are to be engaged in the event.

At present, a trainer who nominated their horses for a C7 or better event, for example, would be able to see which other competitors were set down for the race. If there is a horse, like Divisive for instance, nominated for the same event and the trainer believes the race is too hard, then they have the option of pulling out.

That practice will now cease.

The change comes on the back of small race fields throughout the country, especially in NSW, and is designed to combat races failing to stand up because trainers make last-minute withdrawals.

NSW Harness Racing Club Racing Manager David Wonson said there has been a push for a change in the system for quite some time.

"This idea was put forward about two years ago," he explained.

"I believe we are going to see an interesting transitional period between the old system and the new.

"Personally, I can see both an administrator and trainer's point of views and the arguments for and against this new system.

"This system has been bought in to place to obviously maximise race fields and therefore, turnover."

Wonson said under the current format, that it is too easy for trainers to withdraw horses out of races prior to the close of nominations, without incurring a scratching or stand out period.

"While this is a good way to ensure that race fields stand up, I can also see an owners point of view on the situation," he said.

"They want to place their horse as best as possible and to also get the best result.

"If they are in the same race as an infinitely superior horse, then they will be more inclined to withdraw their nomination because they will be of the opinion they cannot win."

Newcastle Harness Racing Club General Manager Ross Gigg decided to sit on the fence regarding the issue, stating he didn't really have a firm opinion either way.

"I don't have a great problem with this new system," he said.

"Really, I don't have an opinion either way. I think either system is just as good as the other."

Bathurst Chief Executive Danny Dwyer said the new format would be foreign to many trainers, some of which, religiously check nominations before they enter their own horses.

"From my experience in our district, I know a few of the trainers like to jump on-line and see what horses are in the nominations first before putting in their own," he said.

"In saying that, most of the big stables probably don't do that because they simply don't have that luxury in picking and choosing.

"Many of the big stables in this area try to get their horses runs in whatever race they can, with the only situation they want to avoid sometimes is having a few of their horses clashing.

"I don't think this new system will impact on the size of race fields, however, I'm surprised that this new rule has come about."

GOTASHOTAWAY

October 3rd, 2008 by Amanda Rando

TRAINER-driver and former rugby league player John McMartin would have had his week topped off nicely if his old club, the Cronulla Sharks, made it into this Sunday's NRL Grand Final.

Unfortunately, they didn't fire a shot, unlike McMartin's stable star, Gotashotaway, which saluted twice last week.

Sporting his team's colours, light blue and white halves, black band and armband with the sharks logo on his helmet, McMartin steered Gotashotaway to victory at Menangle last Tuesday week.

In a mile rate of 1:58.0, the son of Dream Away obtained an inside run just in time to narrowly beat the smart mare Aldebaran.

Backing up three days later, the pair reunited for the Wanless Enviro Services Pace over 2160 metres at Harold Park last Friday night.

Drawn in barrier six, McMartin eased the gelding back and gained a position midfield.

Showing patience, McMartin latched onto the back of Victorian visitor Quantum Kiwi for a three-wide trip home.

This proved to be the winning move with Gotashotaway producing a powerful finish to beat Abercrombie Dexter by a neck, with Quantum Kiwi a similar margin back third.

The quarters were run in 32.2, 31.1, 29.7 and 28.3 seconds, resulting in a 2:00.2 mile rate.

"I was confident the horse would back up because his race on Tuesday was only over a mile," McMartin declared.

"He has terrific constitution and the weather was not that hot.

"I didn't do anything with the horse in between races - I just let him work himself in the paddock.

"He has done a great job for me this week and has nearly won $14,000. If the Sharks win tonight and make it into the grand final, it will top it all off."

It was through McMartin's association with football that eventually lured him to the sport of harness racing.

"When I was playing for Parramatta, a few of the boys and I in the team formed a little syndicate and bought a horse together," McMartin recalled.

"We won the odd race here and there.

"A friend of mine, Johnny Smith was training a horse for me and I started helping him and then one day decided to have a crack at it.

"Then I started helping Clarrie Sweeney and he mentored me as a driver but it was through Peter Sullivan and his grandfather that made me keen on the trotters.

"I had a bit of fun with the trotter Tiger Galleon."

Tiger Galleon took out the New South Wales Trotters' Derby and earned almost $130,000.

McMartin also had luck with the trotting mare Krysta ($70,183, 2:03.2).

"I had a lot of success with Krysta but I think Gotashotaway is one of the best horses I have had," McMartin said.

Gotashotaway was given his name after accidentally siring a foal.

Now gelded, he has earned $78,889 and in 58 starts registered 14 wins and 11 placings.

With a career best mile rate in 1:55.2, he is the fastest progeny of his sire Dream Away on Australian soil.

NATHAN 'RUSTY' WILSON

October 3rd, 2008 by Amanda Rando

YOUNG New South Wales reinsman Nathan 'Rusty' Wilson left Australian shores last Saturday to join Geoff Small's team in New Zealand.

The 20-year-old has been making a name for himself not only as a driver, but a trainer also, winning races all over the State including Harold Park.

"I'm going over to New Zealand to work for Geoff Small," Wilson declared.

"He was looking for a junior driver and I felt like doing something different.

"Geoff has a big team and it will be a great experience.

"I only found out a few days before I left that I was going to go over."

Wilson will live on Small's Pukekohe property, just south of Auckland on the North Island.

"I'll live at Geoff's property on the North Island where the weather is a bit better," Wilson stated.

"I have always wanted to go over there and work - I even considered going to the United States.

"The opportunity came up to work in New Zealand and I took it straight away.

"Hopefully working for Geoff will open further avenues for me."

Wilson has had experience working with various leading stables in New South Wales including Peter Morris and Susan Hunter.

During EI, Wilson served a stint in Victoria with Kialla mentor Steve O'Donoghue and drove a few winners.

His first winning drive was aboard Step Right in a mile rate of 1:55.7 at Newcastle in 2004.

Wilson was also the regular driver of the tough mare Nidya, which has now been exported to the United States. One of the best wins the pair shared was their victory in the Newcastle Cup.

Wilson has also contested the NSW Rising Stars Series.

MAKE ME SMILE

October 3rd, 2008 by Amanda Rando

MAKE ME SMILE will head into the Bankstown Cup full of confidence following his strong all-the-way win in the Kevin Robinson Memorial over 2160 metres at Harold Park last Friday night.

The seven-year-old was back to his best and showed he will be in prime order for Bankstown's $30,000 feature on October 11.

Driver Gavin Fitzpatrick was a shade disappointed in the gelding's previous start, when running second to Special Albert at Newcastle almost three weeks ago, but his most recent run made up for it.

"He was a bit disappointing at Newcastle," Fitzpatrick declared.

"The race wasn't run to suit him but tonight he did a far better job."

From barrier three, Fitzpatrick steered the son of Grinfromeartoear straight to the front and dictated terms.

Inter Dominion runner-up Karloo Mick loomed up outside the leader during the first half, which was covered in 62.0 seconds (31.3, 30.7), before a third quarter in 29.6 seconds saw Make Me Smile kick clear on the home turn.

Divisive, which was in the one-one and having his first start since March, sprinted quickly over the concluding stages but his condition gave out slightly, failing by three metres to pick up the winner.

Karloo Mick fought on for third, five-and-a-half metres away, with the final quarter run in 27.6 seconds.

"He crossed to the lead easy and once he is rolling in front he is very hard to beat," Fitzpatrick stated.

"I thought he had a good chance of leading tonight but I just didn't know how much pressure he would have to get there.

"In our favour there wasn't much pressure put on until the mile mark.

"He felt really strong over the line - I'm very pleased with how he went."

Clocking 1:59.8, Make Me Smile extended his record to 31 wins and 13 placings in 52 starts and earnings of $425,263 - Grinfromeartoear's fastest and highest earner on Australian soil.

That was not the stable's first win in the Kevin Robinson Memorial. In 2006, Place Of Glory took out the feature.

"We have won the race before with Place Of Glory," Fitzpatrick said.

"I didn't get the chance to know Kevin because by the time I started in the sport, he was concentrating on the gallops but I know his children (Chris, Terry and Mary-Anne) quite well.

"Dad (Paul) tells me what a great trainer and driver he was so it is an honour to win the race.

"Our horse Esprit De Kayjay is owned by Mary-Anne and is named after her father."