News Article

Barriers Drawn For Moonee Valley Goodbye

02 February 2010

Karloo Mick drew barrier one for the BIG6 Hunter Cup

Karloo Mick drew barrier one for the BIG6 Hunter Cup

A capacity BIG6 Hunter Cup field of 14 will farewell Moonee Valley when the $400,000 Group 1 is run this Saturday night.

The field for the feature event of the last night of harness racing at the Moonee Ponds circuit was finalised this afternoon when the barrier draw was conducted at the Caduceus Club function in the Celebrity Room at Moonee Valley.
With 20-metre backmarker Mr Feelgood (20 metres) and 10-metre runners Bettors Strike and Washakie the only starters off a handicap, 11 of the 14 runners are off the front making the barrier draw all the more vital.
Popular New South Wales veteran Karloo Mick (barrier one), last year’s runner-up I Am Sam (four), standing start specialist Bondy (five) and Western Australian raider Im Themightyquinn (six) were among the big winners after landing the front row.
Fancied chances Smoken Up (10) and Tanabi Bromac (11) saw their hopes take a hit when they were allocated second-line draws for the 3065-metre standing start affair.
The BIG6 Hunter Cup is the headline act of what will be the biggest harness meeting conducted in Victoria in years. The cracking 10-race gets underway at 6pm.
The fixture will bring down the curtain on the venue that was the home of Victorian harness racing from October 30, 1976 until the opening of Tabcorp Park, Melton last July and Harness Racing Victoria will give the night a huge send-off.
Accompanying the BIG6 Hunter Cup as Group 1s on the card are the $250,000 SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final and the $200,000 Alabar Victoria Derby Final, barriers for which were also drawn at today’s function.
Sundons Gift’s chances of becoming the first back-to-back winner of the Inter Dominion title since Pride Of Petite in 1997 escalated immeasurably when he came up with the coveted inside starting position for the 2575-metre mobile.
In contrast, Sundons Gift’s Chris Lang-trained stablemate Skyvalley, a shock failure in his semi final last Saturday night, drew barrier seven, while Acacia Ridge (two), Heyzeal (five) and Don King (six) round out a strong front line.

In the Derby, For A Reason fared best of the big names, landing barrier two, while heat winners Lincoln Royal (eight), Lanercost (nine) and Major Bronski (11) all drew out the back.