Report for Yea 15th March 2008
Yea conducted its final meeting for the season on Saturday and despite it being a hot day a good crowd was in attendance and once again the club conducted a well organised and successful meeting. As the season draws to a close the competition in the jockeys premiership continued to be hotly contested between Kane Harris on 37 wins and Adam Bodey on 35 going into the meeting. At the end of the day Kane had increased his lead by a further 3 wins after booting home four winners compared to Adams one. With only four meetings remaining it looks like a battle to the end.

The first race of the day went to a new jockey on the scene, Michael Fitzgerald aboard the $10-00 chance Burramine Legend. From a racing family with his father trainer Allan Fitzgerald and brother jockey John Fitzgerald there is clearly a lot of advice available and after only four previous rides he has quickly hit his straps with his first winner. Congratulations Michael !


Michael Fitzgerald riding his first winner, Burramine Legend.

Race two saw the first of Kane Harris' quadrella of winners with New Land winning at $4-60. A recent winner at the track he kicked clear a couple of lengths at the top of the straight to win very easily.

The third event was the Sister Olive 3000m Open Handicap and Our Orgegon was sent out the short priced favourite. The Recruit led them up establishing a big break and looked the winner until the final 50m, when Tate Modern under hard riding by Kane Harris came home over the top for his second winner of the day at $4-20.

Scratchings decimated the early seven horse field of Race 4 and by starting time the event was left with only two runners, the 3yo filly Taut and 7yo gelding St Gallus. Taut, with only a single previous run at Echuca when 5th in maiden held the fence and was too good in the run home to win at the short odds of $1-50 and provide Kane Harris with win number three.

The Yea Cup was the fifth race of the day and attracted a disappointing number of starters given the prizemoney on offer with only four remaining after the scratching of dual acceptor Tate Modern.

Nonetheless, it was an interesting betting race with Cazza's Lottery and Galactic Song sharing early favourtism before punters decided to back the inform jockey again and make Galactic Song favourite.

However, this was one for Adam Bodey who let Cazza's Lottery drop out to the rear and patiently await his chance in the final stages of the race to come home down the outside to overhaul the favourite.

The final event of the day was another Harris/Bodey contest with Lucky Petric going to the lead and Coolibah Kid settling at the rear after its customary tardiness on leaving the barriers. Despite running home strongly Coolibah Kid could not pick up the favourite Lucky Petric who won with something in reserve at $1-80 and provided Kane with his fourth winner, a great effort.

Visit the Picture Gallery for an update on the days events. Full results for the meeting and stewards reports are also available.

Reports for Hinnomunjie and Swifts Creek
Reports have been added to last weeks news for Hinnomunjie (Omeo) and Swifts Creek (Tambo Valley) thanks to Bruce Willaton who is a regular at the event and kindly provided these to help keep people up date for the entire Picnic Racing circuit.

Next Meetings
Healesville Cup on Saturday 22nd March 2008
Balnarring on Monday 24th March 2008

Alexandra Saturday 29th March 2008 Bagpipes and Brass Band at the Races
The final picnic race meeting at Alexandra and the last picnic race meeting for Racing Victoria 2008 season, will be held on Saturday 29th March at Alexandra.

The entire meeting will be sponsored by the O’Brien Family and by Tony Noonan Racing Stables. It promises to be a great day of racing and entertainment. In keeping with the Highland Fling theme for the day, lone piper Ian McMillan from the Hawthorn Pipe band, will be present to continue the high quality of musical entertainment always offered at the Alexandra races. In addition to Ian, the evergreen Alexandra Brass Band, who are always favourites at the races, will also be performing.

As well as the racing entertainment, the Alexandra Race Club conducts a raffle drawn on the day towards the end of the racing events. The prize of $500 means all tickets are usually sold prior to the draw.

As Saturday 29th March is the final meeting of the season, it is the trainers last chance to win the $500 Alexandra  Leading Trainer Award 2008. With only one meeting remaining, this award is still up for grabs. Trainers Adam Bodey and Kane Harris are tied in top place, with Charmaine Barnes close behind, setting up an exciting competition for the last meeting to determine the eventual winner. In the 2008 Alexandra Leading Rider Award, jockey Adam Bodey has edged in front of Kane Harris to be the front runner going into the final meeting.

So there will lots of action both on and off the track at the Highland Fling race meeting. Bring the family early and set up your favourite spot trackside or under the cool shady trees. BYO  supplies or indulge your family with the onsite offerings. Savour the beautiful wines from Fergusson’s Winery, enjoy a BBQ feast and beer from the Lions Club, the tempting afternoon tea available from Vivienne or a delicious treat from the ice cream van. Check out the race club’s website for details: www.alexandraraceclub.com.au

Please Note:
The proposed final meeting of the season at Pakenham on Saturday, April 12th has been abandoned due to the fact that Yarra Glen will be having their meeting transferred to Pakenham on April 19th and track usage is an issue. The final meeting for the Picnic Racing 2007-2008 season will be held at Alexandra on Saturday, March 29th 2008.