Six of the best for Pakenham

By Brad Kingsbury
SIX of 29 nominations for this Sunday’s $100,000 Peet Limited Pakenham Cup will have a home track advantage as they vie to down a crack field in the day’s feature race.
Nar Nar Goonbased trainer John Leek leads the local entry list with four of his stable gallopers listed, while Arrowsweep for Garfield trainer Les Ross and Brian Rowe’s Celtic Rise make up the sextet aiming to keep this year’s trophy in the district.
The competition will be stiff however because leading trainers including Lee Freedman, David Hayes, Peter Moody and Danny O’Brien also have a spot for the 2007 Pakenham Cup reserved in their vast silverware cabinets.
Among the entries are Kilmore Cup winner At The Oasis, 2005 Mornington Cup winner Ulysses and Bairnsdale Cup winner Tall Trees, along with highclass performers Correct Amoondo, Dane Empire, Our Spur, Silk Wind, Time Matters and Vengo.
Ross, who set up a satellite stable at Garfield recently, will start Bon Hoysted Apprentices Cup winner Arrowsweep in the feature race and gives it a good chance after the win in the 1400metre leadup race.
“We’re aiming him at the cup. He’s a horse that will get 2000 (metres) and it will be a good race for him,” he said. “It was always on the cards but the win (in the Apprentices Cup) gives us more confidence.”
Leek, has already won two hometown cups and is aiming to make it three with a strong presence. The longtime supporter of racing at Pakenham has nominated stable veteran Colaton, together with recent additions Evil Master, Gold Attire and Rolling Rock for the race.
He rated former Mick Price galloper Evil Master, which transferred to his stable four weeks ago, as his best chance but gave all his potential starters a show.
“Evil Master is probably the pick of them. He will carry about 57 kilograms but he’s in good condition given the relatively short preparation,” he said. “The others will also run well if they start.”
The Leek stable was set for a big day out with seven horses nominated for races throughout the day.
“We’re having a big marquee for owners and friends and it will be a big day out,” he said. “We want to support the whole day and the occasion because it’s Pakenham racing’s biggest event for the year and it’s always great to be involved.”
Pakenham trained mare Celtic Rise will contest her third hometown cup for husband and wife team of Brian and Gayle Rowe.
They hope that their honest middledistance galloper puts her best foot forward in the race after only average leadup form.
Celtic Rise finished third in the 2005 Pakenham Cup but was unplaced in 2006 when she drew a wide gate.
“We’ve set her for it again and if she is on her game I would expect a really good showing,” Brian Rowe said. “She hasn’t quite been at her peak, but the (Bon Hoysted Apprentices Cup) was not her ideal distance and she was looking for more ground, which she gets in the cup.”