Latest News

Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard has no qualms about Kiarra Rose handling 1800m 'first-up' at his home track’s final meeting of the season on Sunday.

The five-year-old mare runs in the Choosing Hope Walk Provincial Benchmark 70 Handicap, having not raced since scoring at Hawkesbury on May 24 in a Benchmark 60 Handicap over 2000m. It’s a 'new' Kiarra Rose who returns to the racetrack; her trainer naturally keen to win the last race of the 2017-18 season at home.

Kiarra Rose (Keagan Latham) scores at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

“After Kiarra Rose won here in May, she was floated to the Gold Coast the next day to be sold at the broodmare sale,” Attard explained.

“Some of her owners in the syndicate which raced her previously wanted to stay in her, and we were able to buy her back.

"Kiarra Rose also has some new owners, and I have a small share. She will race in my colours on Sunday.”

Having explained why Kiarra Rose has been on the sidelines since late May, Attard also was quick to stress that he is very happy with the mare’s condition.

“Because she had the trip to Queensland and back, I decided to give her a brief freshen up,” he said. “She trialled at home on June 26 over 1250m, and ticked all the boxes in finishing fourth to Just Shine (beaten only two lengths).

“That horse came out and won at Randwick last Saturday, so there’s nothing wrong with the trial form. I expect Kiarra Rose to run well on Sunday and feel she is capable of eventually winning a race in town.”

Expatriate South African Keagan Latham continues his association with the Testa Rossa mare. “Keagan loves her,” Attard said. “He has won all three races on her since she came to me and rode her in the recent trial.” Kiarra Rose’s victories have between 1600m and 2000m, and her trainer believes she will cope with even longer distances.

Attard has won nine races – including four on his home track and a recent Royal Randwick success - so far this season. But with 35 minor placings, better fortune would have given him an even more pleasing overall result.

Garry White, Hawkesbury’s leading local trainer with 10 wins this season, has two representatives. He runs Brown Thomas (Dr Super Maiden Handicap, 1300m) and Military Academy (Sieders Truck Repairs Benchmark 65 Handicap, 1000m). Stable apprentice Ashleigh Borg claims 4kg on Brown Thomas, lessening his weight to 52kg, but there is no such luxury for Military Academy, who has 62kg topweight.

Jason Collett rides Military Academy, who was a well-backed favorite when third to Vega in a Benchmark 69 Handicap over the same distance at Hawkesbury yesterday week. Consistent sprinter Stone Cold, runner-up in that race, confirmed the form by winning at Kembla Grange yesterday.

Dual acceptor Quite Unexpected, prepared locally by Peter Green, runs in the Bears of Hope Class 1 Handicap (1300m), with Grant Buckley aboard.

The rail is in the TRUE position for the meeting, and the track this morning was rated a “Good 4” with a penetrometer reading of 4.88.

PAUL JOICE'S SELECTIONS
RACE 1: MULBERRY WALK, Don’t Judge Me, All Ours.
RACE 2: TAVISFACTION, Aeecee Delighted, Norma Jeane.
RACE 3: BROWN THOMAS, Aggarwal, Touch of Purple.
RACE 4: FERTILE SOIL, St Gallen, Etheridge.
RACE 5: MILITARY ACADEMY, Bel’s Boy, Marrock.
RACE 6: PAINTED WALL, Orokonui, Kathaire.
RACE 7: SOVIET, The Cartoonist, Savona Sunset.
RACE 8: GRAVITATE, Falcon Island, King Tomlola.
SPECIALS: MULBERRY WALK, SOVIET, GRAVITATE

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