Bumper entries for racing card

By Stuart Teather
JUMPS racing made a successful return to Pakenham Racing Club on Sunday for the annual Queen’s Birthday Super Jumps day.
The club held two jumps races — a steeplechase and a hurdle — as a part of a 10-race card that also included a Country Challenge heat and the 1200m Pakenham Gazette Handicap.
The club had originally planned a seven-race card, but had so many nominations that it added an extra three to cater for the demand.
Fancied local Big Noise went into the J.E.H. Spencer Maiden Steeplechase as a $4 second-favourite and ran accordingly, finishing five lengths behind Anthony Bolden-trained Brookton Mist.
In the TMP Security Maiden Hurdle, Len Xuereb’s Whatsourgo held on to win from Our Santa in second, and Swift Archway.
Two horses were retired mid-way through the race, with Shane Wilson pulling out Destinate and apprentice jockey Jonathan Bowles withdrawing his ride Assent.
Importantly, all horses got through the two races unscathed, going some way to restoring confidence in the sport.
Pakenham racing manager Michael Hodge said changes to the sport were having a positive impact on horse safety.
“It all went well, we got through without any falls or injuries,” he said.
“I think that’s showing the new initiatives are improving and are working.
“I think that’s an example of the jockey education that has gone on – if a horse is labouring or is tired or struggling, don’t put them over the next jump.”
It was a day for Cranbourne trainers on the flat, with two picking up wins, along with three from Moorooduc.
Mick Kent claimed the big flat race of the day, the 1300m Country Challenge heat, with Philda.
Ibrahim Gundogdu rode the four-year-old gelding to a half-length victory over Quadruple to boost the horse’s standings in the Challenge.
Fellow Cranbourne trainer Pat Conroy claimed the final race of the day, the 1400m Big6 Handicap, with Kronstan.
The four-year-old had a comfortable three-length victory, his first since October last year.
On Tuesday, Pakenham became one of the first tracks to hold jumps trials using strand starts.
Racing Victoria is considering implementing strand starts, as opposed to barrier starts, in an effort to slow down the early stages of jumps races.
Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing ran his unbeaten jumper Mazzacano in the trials as a lead-up to a possible run in the Australian Steeplechase at Sandown on Saturday, a race which he won in 2007.