With the new racing season comes the new claiming season at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. It’s a chance for perspective buyers to get a look at new horses on the market in their finest form. This Friday, September 3 will see horses with a claiming price anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000, get the chance to compete in three qualifying heats. Each heat carries a purse worth $8,000, but the real prize will be a spot in the $20,000 final to be held one week later.
This year’s field of on the market horses has drawn quite a few handy types. The favourite of Heat 1 looks to be Anvils Revival in barrier five. The AA Barber-trained gelding has really hit his stride in the past couple of months. With 37 starts under his belt, he’s racked up eight first place finishes, seven second place, and three third.
2010 Battle of the Claimers Field and Barrier Draw: Heat 1 @ 6:43pm:
| No. | Form | Horse | Trainer | Driver | Class | Hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 809s8 | Mister Chequebook NZ (Em1, $3,000) | ML Hutton | Marcia Hutton | C6 M1 | FR- |
| 2 | 21455 | Just Stay N Alive NZ ($4,000) | A Xirihia | Tony Xirihia | C14 M4 | FR1 |
| 3 | 77742 | Our Sand Fly NZ ($4,000) | GF Douglas | Daryl Douglas | C10 M0 | FR2 |
| 4 | 69682 | Farouk ($5,000) | DA Riseley | David Barbetti | C17 M1 | FR3 |
| 5 | 01112 | Anvils Revival NZ ($5,000) | AA Barber | Brian Gath | C26 M5 | FR4 |
| 6 | s4375 | Indi Gloves ($11,000) | MJ Miles | Lisa Miles | C7 M0 | FR5 |
| 7 | 37458 | Lombo Limmo ($12,000) | TE Pullicino | C9 M1 | FR6 | |
| Second Row | ||||||
| 8 | 92118 | Ticket Time ($7,000) | JM Mifsud | Phillip Walters | C15 M0 | SR1 |
| 9 | 69768 | Hot Night In Paris NZ ($9,000) | JD Justice | John Justice | C5 M1 | SR2 |
| 10 | 80274 | Spider Nelson ($12,000) | MG Gath | Matthew Gath | C6 M1 | SR3 |
| 11 | 25466 | Jefferson NZ ($12,000) | MA Laugher | Greg Sugars | C18 M5 | SR4 |
| 12 | 55740 | Palomine NZ ($12,000) | BA Lilley | Gavin Lang | C14 M5 | SR5 |
| 13 | 42341 | Vintage Direct ($12,000) | JA Cavallaro | Tanya Dyer | C14 M0 | SR6 |
Heat 2 – the Big6 Battle of the Claimers – is jam packed with some fantastic contenders, featuring no less than six horses that have gained top three finishes in recent races. Flying Class (barrier five), Way Up High (barrier six), Miami Rocket (barrier 7), Marching Home (barrier eight), Awesome Alto (barrier nine), Upward Ever Upward (barrier 13) have all been performing well as of late. Miami Rocket has accumulated four wins over the course of last season. The GF Douglas-trained gelding has also taken nine seconds and ten thirds. Upward Ever Upward is next in line with the most wins with three first place finishes in 19 starts.
Big6 Battle of the Claimers Field and Barrier Draw: Heat 2 @ 7:42pm:
| No. | Form | Horse | Trainer | Driver | Class | Hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 809s8 | Mister Chequebook NZ (Em1, $3,000) | ML Hutton | Marcia Hutton | C6 M1 | FR - |
| 2 | 69634 | Class Mate ($3,000) | MJ Watt | Jaimie-Lee King (C) | C22 M2 | FR1 |
| 3 | 38796 | Hitemup ($4,000) | DP Barbetti | David Barbetti | C9 M0 | FR2 |
| 4 | 75697 | The Timely Trader NZ ($8,000) | A Spiteri | Neil McCallum | C10 M1 | FR3 |
| 5 | 30343 | Flying Class NZ ($8,000) | J Borg | Damian Wilson | C6 M1 | FR4 |
| 6 | 73263 | Way Up High ($9,000) | TE Pullicino | Brian Gath | C10 M1 | FR5 |
| 7 | 32122 | Miami Rocket NZ ($11,000) | GF Douglas | Daryl Douglas | C5 M1 | FR6 |
| Second Row | ||||||
| 8 | 10331 | Marching Home NZ ($11,000) | RW Jack | Nathan Jack | C6 M0 | SR1 |
| 9 | 53234 | Awesome Alto ($9,000) | ABJ Dunsmuir | John Caldow | C3 M0 | SR2 |
| 10 | 70774 | Mister Douglas ($12,000) | JD Taylor | Daryl Douglas | C14 M1 | SR3 |
| 11 | s7806 | The Last Dance ($12,000) | GD Hoban | Craig Hoban | C7 M1 | SR4 |
| 12 | 63653 | Just Make Our Deigh NZ ($12,000) | TE Pullicino | Gavin Lang | C7 M1 | SR5 |
| 13 | 3f342 | Upward Ever Upward ($12,000) | BK Woodhouse | Scott Dyer | C12 M1 | SR6 |
Heat 3 will be the final race on the card. With five horses to watch out for, it should be a fitting end to the qualifying rounds. Jay Bee Aitch finished last season off strong with a first place finish in the B Eeles Sulkies race held at Maryborough, and offers one of the best winning mile rates of the field. Fans and perspective owners should also watch out for Cam Rouge (barrier five). The bay gelding has taken two first place finishes in recent weeks. Other Heat 3 horses to watch include Dhoni, Village In Vessa, and Brulea Charlie.
Be sure to check out SportsBet for all of the latest harness racing action. You’ll find the most generous odds on races throughout Australia, including plenty for Tabcorp Park at Melton.
Shire of Melton Battle of the Claimers Field and Barrier Draw: Heat 3 @ 10:14pm:
| No. | Form | Horse | Trainer | Driver | Class | Hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 809s8 | Mister Chequebook NZ (Em1, $3,000) | ML Hutton | Marcia Hutton | C6 M1 | FR - |
| 2 | s0985 | The Urban Legend NZ ($5,000) | A Ziriha | Tony Xiriha | C7 M1 | FR1 |
| 3 | 30331 | Jay Bee Aitch ($6,000) | JM Mifsud | Rita Burnett | C11 M2 | FR2 |
| 4 | 6s088 | Altivo ($7,000) | L Miles | Lisa Miles | C7 M0 | FR3 |
| 5 | 55871 | Cam Rouge ($9,000) | JE Davies | Nathan Jack | C9 M0 | FR4 |
| 6 | 49870 | Dark Duncan NZ ($11,000) | GF Douglas | Daryl Douglas | C10 M1 | FR5 |
| 7 | s6800 | Run Riley Run ($12,000) | CG Lewis | Caleb Lewis | C8 M1 | FR6 |
| Second Row | ||||||
| 8 | 64245 | Blachford ($9,000) | TA Croton | Michael Bellman | C10 M1 | SR1 |
| 9 | 14937 | Dhoni ($10,000) | PW Tonkin | C6 M0 | SR2 | |
| 10 | 36960 | Village In Vesa ($12,000) | MG Gath | Matthew Gath | C8 M2 | SR3 |
| 11 | 22117 | Brulea Charlie ($12,000) | DF Braun | Greg Sugars | C7 M0 | SR4 |
| 12 | 23800 | Black Washout NZ ($12,000) | TE Pullicino | John Caldow | C12 M1 | SR5 |
| 13 | 26007 | Twickenham ($12,000) | R Cartwright | Craig Turnbull | C14 M3 | SR6 |