News

Plans underway for million dollar race carnival

14th Oct 2010

Scone Advocate - Grahame Timbrell - Thursday, 14 October 2010

Planning for Scone’s $2 million two-day carnival on May 13 and 14 next year is already well underway. Yesterday the Club launched its racing packages for the stand alone Saturday meeting featuring the rich Inglis Guineas.

A three week campaign is under way through Sydney’s racing media including 2KY and the Big Sports Breakfast.

The packages involve either two nights accommodation at four different Lower Hunter Valley resorts, all centered around the vineyards or at one of five destinations in Singleton.

“These packages have been designed around people from outside the area arriving in the vineyards on Friday night,” Scone Race Club’s secretary Helen Sinclair said.

“On Saturday morning they will be taken by coach to one of the three major studs for a guided tour before going on to the race meeting.

“After the race meeting they will be returned to their accommodation with the option on Sunday of either playing golf at one of several top class courses or touring some of the vineyards before returning home.”

The three studs that tours have been planned around are Darley, Coolmore and Arrowfield but more can be added if numbers warrant it.

Packages can also be negotiated for people wanting to attend both days of the carnival with Friday featuring the Emirates Park Scone Cup.

More information is available on the Club’s website www.sconeraceclub.com.au

Rod Northam’s exciting three-year-old Exploitable Doubt had anything but a stellar introduction to the world of racing.

He is by Arrowfield’s young sire Not A Single Doubt, still to establish himself in the upper echelon of stallions from Exploits, a Strategic mare who had 16 starts, 15 of those in North Queensland for one win in a Townsville Maiden and earnings of a paltry $5720.

Little wonder then that when Exploitable Doubt went through last year’s Scone yearling sale he brought just $8500, bought under the banner of Timor Pony Club.

Many must have thought that his future lay, not on the race track but as a show hack but owner, Philippines business man Bobby Aguire, buys all his horses under that banner.

Exploitable Doubt showed just how good he is with a dominant win over 1400 metres at Rosehill last Saturday to be unbeaten in three starts and bring earnings of $85,000.

Northam headed back to the bread and butter of racing at Coonamble the next day with first starter Glass Boots winning the Neville Nalder Memorial Maiden (1100m) with Thompson in the saddle.

That was the start of a big day for Scone trainers with Luke Griffith winning the Class One (1400m) with Ay Dee Bee, ridden by Greg Ryan while Jenelle Butler won the Maiden (1300m) with Grand Limit, ridden by Leanne Henry.

The Griffith trained Kwilas Law (Tim Bell) also finished second in the Coonamble Cup, beaten half a length by the favourite, Prussian Secret.

Northam returns to Sydney on Saturday for the Inglis Bonus over 1600 metres at Randwick, a race that carries a $100,000 bonus.

After that race Northam will decide whether to press on with him or send him to the paddock.

“He still has a lot to learn but Robert (Thompson) says he keeps improving on that score with each run,” Northam said.

“The horse pulled up extremely well after Rosehill but I have not thought beyond Saturday. Let’s get that out of the way then see where we go from there.”