Sport
26 February, 2025
Ararat's R.T White Raceway set to host nine-race program on February 28
R.T White Raceway will be the place to be on Friday, February 28.
The weather promises to be perfect and the equines will be "Hot to Trot" at R.T. White Raceway on Friday, February 28 for the running of the Ararat Advocate Pacing Cup Final and Pre Mix King Ararat Trotters Cup.
All is set for a great night under the stars with the nine race program commencing at 6.33pm with the running of the Acacia Caravan Park Pace and winding up at 10.02pm with the Ararat Rural City Pace.
There's free entry for all through the gate and the Club has organised plenty of off-track entertainment to keep everyone busy in between the racing.
Live performances from The Vanuatu Choir, plenty of food and drink options, Fantasy Face Creations and Adventure Zone Inflatables for the kids, fashions and the Ararat Mini Golf Open Championship all add up to a feast of family fun without breaking the bank.
Bookmaker Bart Stiles will be operating and punters have a chance win prizes in the second chance ticket draws.
HRV form analyst Craig Rail kindly shares his thoughts on the two feature contests.
Race 5 Ararat Pacing Cup Final - Chasing Rex (5) has won two of his past three starts and recorded fast time when he won his heat of this series at Cranbourne.
Likely to progress forward at the start and should run a big race. Dawson (11) has performed strongly in three starts since coming from New Zealand and finished off best to win at Bendigo last outing.
He is awkwardly drawn but has high speed and should be finishing off strongly.
Chenin Beach (7) won a Bendigo trial before finishing a strong second behind Dawson at Bendigo, has drawn wide but is racing too well to dismiss.
Smetuffluv (2) progressed forward to find the lead and was able to win comfortably in his heat of this series, drawn to gain a prominent position again and should give a good showing.
Peski (12) is a very smart performer but has to overcome an extremely tough barrier draw.
Race 6 Ararat Trotters Cup - Local hope, Jazspur (9) is a strong mare that finished off well for fourth in the Breed for Speed Gold Final at Melton last week.
Won the SA Cup in October and should go well again under these conditions.
Aldebaran Vera (10) progressed forward from a wide draw and eventually found the lead before peaking late when fifth in the same race at Melton, was placed in the Hamilton and Terang Cups recently so is worth another chance.
Mercenary (8) is resuming since galloping when favourite in the SA Cup Final, was a runaway winner in a heat of that series and is very strong so can't be left out of calculations.
Jakarta (6) endured a tough run throughout and battled on bravely for third at Bendigo last outing, up in class but is racing consistently and had the advantage of a front row draw.
Craig's best of the night: R8 No.8 Crime Writer - his best value: R3 No.3 April Sun and best roughie: R5 No.7 Chenin Beach
Len Baker's summary from Stawell on Wednesday, February 19
Local horseman Jason Ainsworth's 6yo mare Alfnalma chalked up her seventh success in 64 outings when taking the Thomas Foods International Pace over 1785 metres.
Given a cosy trip three back in the moving line from gate five, Alfnalma enjoyed the slick tempo throughout and finished off strongly, wide out to record a 1.7 metre victory over the leader Nosweetsforyou (Michelle Wight) with The Sportz Star (Kerryn Manning) coming in third.
Alfnalma is raced by Shannon Hoffmann of Horsham.
Astute Armstrong trainer Danny O'Brien combined with driver Kerryn Manning to capture the Wimmera Mallee Vets Maiden Trot with 6yo gelding The Ninth Wave.
Drawn solo on the second line in the small field, the $1.20 fav. raced outside the leader for the majority of the trip but was given her head at the 400m mark and cruised home under a good hold to notch up a win at her 16th career outing.
With Horsham trainer Aaron Dunn campaigning up in NSW, Team Backhouse is keeping the stable ticking along and 4yo mare Wild Ideal rewarded their efforts when landing the Perrys Footwear Pace.
Raced by Horsham breeder Helen Friend in partnership with Aaron, Wild Ideal with Kerryn Manning aboard was able to quickly cross to the lead and scored unextended from Major Assassin (Ashley Ainsworth) with Startin To Gogh (Lochie Cook) third. 2 wins 7 starts since debut two months ago
They're off at: Ararat (N) Cup Meeting Friday 28th February; Boort (D) Cup Meeting Sunday 2nd March; Terang (N) Wednesday 5th; Birchip (D) Mallee Bull Cup Sunday 9th & Mt. Gambier (N) Gold Cup Saturday 15th.