Above: Pakenham Picnic Cup winner Charmed Indeed with strapper Glenn Cross, winning jockey Kane Harris and trainer Ray Cross after the gelding’s victory on Monday.By Brad Kingsbury
FOURyearold local horse Charmed Indeed was at the crossroads of its racing career before dominating a good field in Monday’s feature event at Pakenham’s annual New Year’s Day picnic race meeting.
“He was on his way back to where he came from in Adelaide. That was it for him,” said jubilant trainer Ray Cross.
“We’d tried everything to get him going but nothing worked. I still don’t know what we did this time,” he laughed as triumphant jockey Kane Harris brought the gelding back to scale, cheered on by local racing enthusiasts.
The popular victory headlined a successful day of racing on a perfect track, rated a ‘dead4’, hosted by the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club in front of a bumper holiday crowd.
Other highlights of the afternoon included the win of a second Pakenhamtrained runner, Distraction, in the David Bourke Open Trophy race, together with doubles to leading amateur riders Adam Bodey and Ray Douglas.
However, it was the Picnic Cup race over 1750 metres that had the crowd on its feet, and Cross was suitably chuffed at the effort of his temperamental steed afterwards, saying that he would now persist and again aim higher.
“Kane rode him well and timed his sprint perfectly,” he said. “He’s never been past 1450 metres so we’ve learned something there too.
“He’ll go back to the professionals now, but it’s a great thrill to win this race again. It’s one that, as a local, you always like to have a chance in.”
It was Cross’ second win in the race, with Best Notes, ridden by Gavin Brady, taking the major prize in 1999.
Pakenham trainer Tom Scanlon started the excitement one race earlier, when his stayer Distraction staged a stunning lasttofirst finish over the final 250 metres to win the David Bourke Trophy, run over 1300 metres.
The eightyearold gelding was also somewhat of an enigma, but Scanlon said he was proud to win such a prestigious event.
“It’s lovely to win this race. David Bourke was a good person and Dad (Tom Sr) was involved with horses and racing with David for a long time,” he said.
“Dad was on the committee with David here at Pakenham and the family has a great history at the track.”
Scanlon said he bought Distraction three years ago as a potential jumper after the horse won a 2400metre race in the city.
“He won the Avoca Cup recently, so he can run, but winning the way he did was a bit of a surprise,” he said.
“There are no real plans with this horse but Ray (Douglas) knew what he was doing and it was a good performance,” he said.
Amateur riding star Adam Bodey rode the winners of the first and third races, the highlight his win on father Kevin’s new stable addition Spirit of Capri in the 1000metre sprint.
Owned and bred by Denis and Dianne Divola, the fouryearold gelding was having its first start for Bodey and will also head to the professional races after a dominant performance.
“I’ve only had him for six weeks and Denis suggested we run him here rather than give him a barrier trial. I’m glad we did,” said Kevin Bodey.
The win was a family affair, with son Adam riding and his mother Cathy strapping the horse.
On behalf of the committee of the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club, president Gavan Bourke thanked all volunteers who helped to staff the meeting, including regular Pakenham race day staff who made their services available, and members of St Patrick’s Parish who also assisted.
