Newcastle Paceway will host the final of the $100,000 Group 1 TAB Hunter Region Championships this Saturday night.
The regional championships series replaced the inaugural Million Dollar Pace which was abandoned due to the regionalisation plan introduced as part of restrictions to continue racing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The championships were spread over four regions with Newcastle Paceway the host venue for the Hunter & North West Zone.
Ten heats were conducted over the last two weeks with the finalists and barrier draws now determined for the 2030m feature race on Saturday night.
Barrier 1: WESTERN HEIR (Trainer: Clayton Harmey)
Barrier 2: ELSIES GEM (Trainer: Polly Downing)
Barrier 3: EMM AYE DEE (Trainer: Dean Chapple)
Barrier 4: KANYE CRUSADER (Trainer: Clayton Harmey)
Barrier 5: MASTER CATCH (Trainer: Lisa McDonald)
Barrier 6: HAZELNUTS (Trainer: Adam Ruggari)
Barrier 7: CORSINI – Emergency 1 (Trainer: Graham Moon)
Barrier 8: LIGHTNING BOB (Trainer: Jenny Sellers)
Barrier 9: QUE SERA (Trainer: Chris Bourke)
Barrier 10: ASHARK (Trainer: Melanie Elder)
Barrier 11: CAESAREAL – Emergency 2 (Trainer: Stephen Kilroy)
Barrier 12: ULTRA BLISS (Trainer: Neil Thompson)
Nine of the ten starters are trained by Hunter Valley trainers, with Tamworth based Dean Chapple rounding out the starting lineup with the fastest qualifier EMM AYE DEE.
Leading Hunter Valley trainer Clayton Harmey has two qualifiers, favourite WESTERN HEIR and KANYE CRUSADER.
Fullerton Cove trainer Lisa McDonald is hoping for a family quinella with her 5yr gelding MASTER CATCH up against her father Neil Thompson’s ULTRA BLISS.
Newcastle Harness Racing Club Secretary Manager Wayne Smith said, “the regional championships offered a fantastic opportunity for local horses and trainers to compete in what for most is their first ever Group 1 event. The format has been widely embraced by participants, particularly at a grassroots level”.
The $100,000 Group 1 TAB Hunter Region Championships Final will be race 4 on the card this Saturday night at Newcastle Paceway.