Latest News

By Doug Ryan

Hail the return of 2017 Taree Cup winner Pirate Ben trying for his first win at the Taree track since in the Hydrahose Summer Cup (1600m) at Manning Valley Race Club’s bumper Christmas TAB meeting on Sunday.

The now nine-year-old gelding trained at Wyong by Damien Lane has since recovered from doing a tendon found after the galloper raced in the Wyong Cup in September 2017. Pirate Ben’s only start at Taree after having 82 weeks off recovering from the injury was for a sixth to Sydney galloper Hogmanay in the 2019 Taree Cup (2000m).

The horse's only win in a couple of short campaigns was in the 1600m Wellington Cup in April this year and the gelding will be having its second run back from a spell after a fifth (5.2 lengths) to stablemate All But Gone over 1506m at Port Macquarie on November 24.

His last run was on a good track, the win at Wellington was in heavy ground, and Sunday’s track looms as being heavy following plenty of rain.

“He was a little plain first-up but probably needed the run,” Lane said. “He is crying out for soft ground as he definitely likes it wet. It was a dominant win in the Taree Cup (two lengths) and I expect him to run well,” he said.

Lane has a two-pronged attack in the cup as he has also accepted with last start Port winner nine-year-old gelding All But Gone. The gelding is unplaced four times at Taree but has won two races at the distance and two in heavy ground.

“He gets back in his races but the wet track brings him into contention. He won last start against his normal racing pattern,” Lane said.

A win by Pirate Ben would take his prizemoney over $300,000 whereas one by All But Gone would bring his earnings to just under that mark.

Both gallopers meet a field mostly capable at 1600m, none more so than five-year-old Port gelding Chamisal, the recent Krambach Cup winner over the journey for trainer John Sprague and elderly head owner Jan Tate and her bunch of “girls”.

Since then Chamisal has been a model of consistency with seconds over 1450m at Kempsey, 1506m at Port and 1500m at Coffs Harbour on December 3. The horse has had two tries on heavy ground for no placings but it was a soft track at Coffs Harbour at its last start to suggest it shouldn’t be over duly disadvantaged.

Newcastle gelding Got Unders may be 11 years old but the Jay Hopkins trained galloper is still competitive, the horse being just under a three-length fifth in Chamisal’s Coffs race won by Lose The Snip, it being capable in the heavy.

Taree six-year-old gelding Editors rates a hope as it has won three races for trainer Ross Stitt at Taree and should be fresh after its Sawtell Cup run over 1500m on December 3. Port six-year-old gelding Mister Smartee, trained by Tas Morton, is very fit and is due for a win after a handy seventh in Lose The Snip’s race, it only being out of a place twice in nine starts at Taree.

Two gallopers resuming from spells may shine a light on their chances should they go to the popular Harrington Cup at Taree’s TAB meeting on January 4 when they clash in the Thank You Greg Hile Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1250m. They are five-year-old Taree mare Diplomatic Miss, trained by Michael Byers, and Lochita from the strong Newcastle stable of Jason Deamer.

Diplomatic Miss is having its first start for Byers after being bought for $5000 off the web in August, the horse having had 15 starts in Queensland for three wins and four placings. Byers said the mare was a replacement for his Eyebea Danser which was sold for the same price.

He said Diplomatic Miss “is a beautiful mare which reminds me of my handy galloper She’s A Gypsy.” Byers said he had kept Diplomatic Miss fresh, she has won first-up, has won on a heavy track (two from two) and is being aimed at the Harrington Cup.

Five-year-old mare Lochita is no stranger to Taree where she has won twice from two starts and has the benefit of seconds in trials at Muswellbrook and Newcastle.

“She is much stronger, has filled out and will be ridden by Christian Reith. “She is a good-sized mare which gets across the ground well,” Deamer said.

The NPC Electrical Heat Of The Rising Star Class 2 Handicap over 1250m holds plenty of interest and as of Thursday Scone apprentice jockey Mikayla Weir, a regular rider at Taree meetings, is leading by a point on 10 points and is on top hope Stonecold Flex, trained at Port by Tas Morton.

EACH-WAY SPECIALS
RACE 4: STONECOLD FLEX
RACE 5: LOCHITA
RACE 6: PIRATE BEN

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Taree here