Scone trainer Rod Northam has his eyes on bigger prizes following the win of Shropshire Lad in last Saturday’s Class 2 TAB Highway Handicap over 1100 metres at Rosehill.
With two-kilo claiming apprentice Ben Osmond on board, Shropshire Lad ($8.50) finished strongly down the centre of the track to reel in First Landing, who’d looked to have the race won.
The margin was a short neck, with Veecee a further length and a half away in third place.
“He’s still got a bit to learn but he’s a horse with an amazing turn of foot and I think he’ll win better races than Highways,” Northam said.
“He didn’t like a shifty track last start and I put a set of visors on him, but he overraced in them. We went back to basics today — visors off and back on to a firmer track — and that’s what he’s capable of.
“I can’t wait for the day when he learns not to stop when he gets to the leader. He had a think about it again today so I can’t wait for the penny to drop.”
The winner is likely to have his next start in the 1200-metre Class 3 TAB Highway at Rosehill on August 2, having turned four the day before.
If he runs well in that, then a start in the $2 million Kosciuszko (1200m) looms as a distinct possibility.
“It might be 12 months too early but we’ll have a think and see how he progresses,” Northam told media.
Jean’s a good judge
Kembla Grange trainer Paul Murray was full of praise for jockey Jean Van Overmeire after the win of $3.50 favourite Harry’s Bar in the benchmark 72 Midway Handicap over 1300 metres at Rosehill.
The Harry Angel mare led all the way to win by three-quarters of a length from Denman Star with Pretty Tavi a length and a quarter away in third place.  
“I said to Jean, ‘If you lead I don’t care, just give her some nice easy sectionals,’” Murray told media following the win.
What he wished for, Murray got, with Van Overmeire sending Harry’s Bar straight to the front to lead at a leisurely pace.
“I knew she’d kick away,” Murray said. “The further she goes, she’s going to get better, this mare.  
“She’s very honest. You wouldn’t think so in trackwork — she’s very laid back but from last run to this run, she has really said to us that she’s ready for it.
“She’s been really good. I wanted to go back through the grades with her to give her more confidence but we just decided to come to a couple of these Midways because the money’s so good.”
Swede success
Later on the program, three-kilo claiming apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag, who moved to Australia from Sweden to pursue a career in racing, recorded her first metropolitan win when she piloted Knights Armour ($12) to victory in the 2400-metre, benchmark 78.
Bronett Prag settled her mount back in the field and close to the rails. With the field spreading out in the straight the apprentice found clear galloping room to hit the front and go on to win by a half-length from Good Banter with Fioprospero a further length away in third place.
“It’s unreal,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if we’d actually won. There were a lot of horses on the outside.
“I just kept it simple. This is a momentum horse and I knew everyone was coming off the rails so I just thought I’d stay there.”
Knights Armour, the only horse in work for Braidwood trainer Ross Lavis, has now won 10 of his 36 starts and $293,740.
“He’s tough as nails, this horse,” Lavis said. “He tries his heart out.
“We knew he’d see out the 2400 metres, no worries at all.”
Around the traps
At Gosford last Saturday, Mitchell Bell fared best of the jockeys with a winning treble. His winners included Aligned ($2.80 favourite) for Peter Snowden in $60,000 Super Maiden (1200m) and first-starter Valilee ($3.60) for local trainer Jake Hull.
Valilee scored by 4¼ lengths and looks to have more wins ahead.
At Eagle Farm the same afternoon, Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn took out the 1200-metre handicap for three-year-old fillies with Without Parallel ($4.80), ridden by Damien Thornton.
The filly, who was resuming, remains unbeaten after three starts and is another it could pay to follow.
Highlight of Saturday’s Coonabarabran meeting was the win of the Brett Thompson trained $2 favourite Tropicana’s Cube, who romped away to a six-length win in the 1600-metre benchmark 50 with Jake Pracey-Holmes in the saddle.
Grafton wrap
On Thursday of last week the Clarence River Jockey Club staged its major meeting of the year, with the 2350-metre Grafton Cup won by the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Don Diego De Vega, ridden by Zac Lloyd, from fellow $4.60 equal favourite Quietness.
In the final race on the card, the 1000-metre Sir James Kirby Quality, the Daniel Bowen-trained nine-year-old At Witz End ($12) scored by three-quarters of a length with Matthew McGuren in the saddle.
On Sunday, the carnival wrapped up with the 1400-metre Macean Cup won by Ostracised ($13), trained at Coffs Harbour by Donna Grisedale and ridden by apprentice Courtney Bellamy.
Coming up …
This Saturday sees the Macquarie Picnic Racing Club conduct its annual meeting, featuring the 1400-metre Macquarie Picnic Cup. Sunday’s feature at Muswellbrook is the 1280-metre Bengalla Cup while Sapphire Coast hosts a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1200 metres.