News

Bonus aspirations on line at Warwick Farm

15th Nov 2011

Racing And Sports - Monday, 14 November 2011

Joan Pracey will be one of three trainers driven by the lure of a rich bonus when she saddles up bargain buy Upstacker (pictured) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

On the back of Upstacker's winning ways, Pracey, who combines training with her role as a TAFE teacher, shares the running in the race for a $50,000 incentive.

The trainers' bonus is attached to races run for Inglis yearling sale graduates and Pracey is level with leading Randwick trainers John O'Shea and John Thompson.

"A win on Saturday would be nice but it's not going to be easy," Pracey said.

"It looks like a much tougher race than the one at Sale."

Upstacker collected Inglis bonus money of his own for the second time when he made the running to win at the country Victorian track.

Michael Rodd had the ride at Sale but Pracey said she hadn't been able to entice the leading Melbourne rider to Sydney on Saturday.

"I tried to book Michael again but he's obliged to ride for Mark Kavanagh at Moonee Valley on Saturday," she said.

Pracey was waiting on the availability of Hugh Bowman and Josh Adams before confirming a Warwick Farm jockey for Upstacker.

Adams won a two-year-old race at Hawkesbury on the colt last season.

Upstacker will be out to create a record for Inglis horses by becoming the first galloper to win three bonus races.

As it stands, he shares honours with three quality racehorses - Sincero, Chance Bye and Pane In The Glass.

There are 19 nominations for Saturday's race and all but three entries are eligible for the $100,000 Inglis bonus on offer.

O'Shea has nominated two runners, including Saturday's impressive Rosehill winner Colorado Claire, in a bid to improve his tally.

One of four winners for jockey Jim Cassidy, Colorado Claire made a successful transition to city racing with a clear-cut win over the well-regarded Darley filly Sindarin.

She is unbeaten in three starts after earlier wins at Goulburn and Kembla Grange.

O'Shea has also entered Hendricus while John Thompson has nominated maiden filly More Bubbly.

Melbourne trainer Mick Price has nominated lightly-raced three-year-old Saint Etienne.

An Echuca maiden winner, Saint Etienne confirmed he was a horse on the move with a close third to Galah in the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.