NSW country: Kurt eyes Guineas for smart Balance
By Tim Egan, November 20, 2017 - 9:24 AM

A two-kilo claim for James Innes Jr helped classy Goulburn three-year-old Equal Balance post an impressive win against older rivals in last Saturday’s Class 2 TAB Highway Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill. 
Innes settled the gelding in fifth place, where he was always travelling smoothly. He moved his mount up to challenge at the 250-metre mark and Equal Balance ($4.40) then quickly reeled in Star Aspiration and drew away to score by a length and a quarter, with odds-on favourite and early leader She Knows in third place. 
Equal Balance has now had five starts for two wins, a second and a fourth.
“I think he’s a genuine city horse and he’ll be back here for sure,” said Innes. 
“It worked out perfectly. He switched off and let down well. 
“He’s got a lot of upside about him, but he’s still very raw and the penny hasn’t dropped with him.”  
Trainer Kurt Goldman announced ambitious plans for the gelding after the win, with the Magic Millions Guineas on the Gold Coast in his sights. 
“I might be aiming a little bit high, but you don’t get many chances to run for $2 million in a restricted race. 
“He had no luck last start (sixth in a Class 3 Highway race) and he was entitled to lay down and not come to work the next week, but he came through it great and maybe it seasoned him up a little bit,” he said. 
Pretty awesome
Elsewhere on the Rosehill card last Saturday, this column’s recent black-booker Pretty Fast ($6) proved too slick for her rivals in the 1200-metre benchmark 74. 
The win brought up a hat-trick for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly, who was coming off a pair of impressive Newcastle wins.   
Lad laps up wet
Heavy rain that saw the track downgraded from good to heavy didn’t deter a good crowd from attending last Friday’s Gundagai Showcase meeting, featuring the time-honoured XXXX Gold Snake Gully Cup (1400m). 
The main event saw the Canberra-based mother-and-son training team of Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones pull the right rein with Mercurial Lad ($4.20), who they’d scratched from an engagement at Rosehill on Saturday in favour of the cup. 
Ridden by Kayla Nisbet, the four-year-old proved too strong over the concluding stages, just edging out Gentleman Max, with topweight Bring a Secret in third spot. 
“The rain probably helped him, but he’s a tough horse and we’re proud of him,” said Jones.
Masterclass
On the same day, Brisbane’s premiership-winning jockey Jeff Lloyd hopped over the border to ride at the Murwillumbah meeting and treated the locals to a superb display of his talents, booting home five winners on the eight-race program. 
Local trainer Matthew Dunn shared training honours with Toowoomba-based Ben Currie, the pair leading in two winners each. 
Get behind Kate
NSW racing people get the chance next Thursday night (November 30) to show their support for picnic race jockey Kate Nipperess, who suffered serious spinal injuries in a horrific trackwork accident at Warwick Farm last year. 
The “Let’s Back Kate Benefit Night” at Rosehill Gardens will raise funds for the purchase of an adapted vehicle for the jockey. 
The vehicle would enable Nipperess to drive herself to rehab for treatment — which, it is hoped, will result in her being able to walk again. 
As part of the fundraiser, there will be an auction of racing and sporting memorabilia. 
Anyone unable to attend the function but wishing to help may donate through donationletsbackkate.eventbrite.com.au
Why didn’t you call?
Connections of horses engaged at Bathurst and Gundagai last Saturday were incensed at the failure of Racing NSW to notify them that those meetings had been called off due to track conditions following heavy rains. 
Some vented their anger on social media, with one commenting: “Maybe someone could make the effort to inform the participants at Bathurst that today’s meeting is off,” to which another responded: “Same happened at Gundagai. Only found out because our jockey called to let us know.” 
Connections of horses racing at country meetings often have to spend hours on the road to attend these meetings and, as one trainer said: “You’d think that Racing NSW would have a text message system in place to let participants know what’s going on.” 
Contacted on Monday, a spokesman for Racing NSW was unable to confirm how or if any attempt had been made to advise participants that the Gundagai and Bathurst meetings had been cancelled, stating that this was the responsibility of local officials.
Benchmark rebellion grows
The NSW Trainers Association held its AGM at Randwick racecourse on Monday, where representatives of the newly formed Newcastle Provincial and Country Trainers Association presented a strong case for the abolition of the current benchmark system and a return to the previous class-based handicapping system. 
Members of the NSWTA board were unanimous in agreeing that the benchmark system at least needed modifying and resolved to meet with Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys at the end of the month in an effort to resolve the contentious issue.
Kris grabs Glow
It’s been a strong Melbourne spring for NSW stables and Newcastle trainer Kris Lees finished it on a high note at Ladbrokes Park last Saturday.
Lees won the listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) at Ladbrokes Park last Saturday with Yulong Xingsheng ($6), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. 
It was a gallant win by the filly, who defied all challengers over the concluding stages to score by three-quarters of a length from So Far Sokool, with Lady of Crebilly third.

 

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