Following a victorious resumption to racing at Coffs Harbour two weeks ago, Metre Eater continued his campaign with success in the Club North Haven Camden Haven Cup at Port Macquarie on Saturday (August 24).
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The first up win two weeks ago in narrow fashion on heavy ground over Arrogant Boy was an ideal curtain raiser towards the feature event on the program and Belinda Hodder was able to extricate off the inside approaching the home turn to clear away from Dew Drop and stablemate, Shoreditch, in claiming the lions share of the $12,000 prize.
Hodder was able to hold her ground down the running as Luke Rolls looked for the gap on Dew Drop on the outside of Jest Magic, with the Colt Prosser trained gelding scoring by just under a length.
Promising young apprentice, Liam Blanch, was responsible for a riding double following victory in the first event on Havazac and later in the program on Daisy Pluck, having ridden both gallopers for Newcastle trainer, Jay Hopkins.
Havazac was able to challenge the early pacemaker, Poldark, in the middle-distance race and withstand the finishing run of Say it Ain't So while Daisy Pluck kicked clear in the straight to hold the late effort on Islamax.
The run of Say it Ain't So in the opener was solid for prominent Coffs trainer, Brett Bellamy, after settling at the tail of the field and making up good ground late with the stable certainly firing following the win of Boncosta in the Murwillumbah Cup on Friday.
Olena defied a tardy beginning to break her maiden status in the second race for local mentor, John Sprague, with the patience and perseverance of popular rider, Ray Spokes on display while Ms Wicked Nicci was able to withstand the run of the luckless, Alshahhad, in landing the Class 1 event.
In the absence of stablemate, Fashion Icon, it was left to Airlie Avenue to sneak along the fence and defy a betting drift to score for Amelia Denby and leading trainer, Kris Lees, in the final event on the card.
Horses to follow from the card include the Neil Godbolt trained gelding, Alshahhad, who was most unlucky behind Ms Wicked Nicci while Islamax made up many lengths late and Dew Drop will derive benefit from the spell resumption.
Racing was conducted under fine skies on a good track before an enthusiastic crowd with some advantage for horses finishing towards the centre of the track, although this was defied by Airlie Avenue in the last race when the daughter of Helen of Rose stayed close to the inside.
The Port Macquarie Race Club and the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce would like to express their sincere appreciation for the support received from sponsors, Club North Haven, Laurieton Hotel, Lake Cathie Tavern, Royal Hotel Kew, Camden Haven Courier Service in conducting such a successful day.
A further reminder regarding the Mid North Coast Racing Association awards day presentations at Kempsey on Monday, September 2 and then all roads lead to Port Macquarie with Cup Prelude day on Sunday, September 29 followed by the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup Race Day on Friday, October 11.
The day features great racing action with the best from around the state competing and showcase status providing a minimum purse of $30,000 for all minor events while the carnival winds down with the Steeline race meeting on Saturday, October 12.
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