This Friday will see the centenary edition of the Ballina Cup take place in the Northern Rivers region on New South Wales and the historic running of the handicap clash has attracted a capacity field.
Running as Race 7 at 4:40pm the $50,000 Slipway Hotel Ballina Cup (1600m) features 14 starters plus three emergencies.
Heading the 2014 Ballina Cup field and weights with 58kg is the John, Dan & Chris Meagher-trained Harada Bay from Brisbane.
The ultra-consistent and always honest Haradasun gelding has run top three in his past four assignments.
Included in those was a third behind Jetset Lad, who runs in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) on Golden Rose Day in Sydney this Saturday, last start over 1350m at Doomben on August 30.
Before that the five-year-old enjoyed his sixth career start at the same Brisbane track back in July, Friday his first look at the Ballina track and the mile with Harada Bay’s longest distanced win to date being over 1400m.
The next heaviest weighted hope with 56.5kg is then the nicely drawn War Ends to jump from barrier four who will only carry 51kg thanks to the apprentice claim of James Orman.
Maryann Brosnan’s veteran Redoute’s Choice eight-year-old was runner-up over the mile two back at Eagle Farm, a race where Darci Be Good finished third, but last time out he failed at Doomben when dead last and beaten 9.2 lengths carrying only 52kg when 11th to Epic.
The Gold Coast’s Bryan Guy will then saddle-up two widely drawn chances with stable mates Platinum State (55.5kg) and Dienekes (55kg) drawn in gates 14 and 15 respectively.
Platinum State will be ridden by Jim Byrne as the Falvelon five-year-old looks to improve on a last start third over 1200m on August 30 at Doomben while Robbie Fradd will partner with eight-year-old Stromberg Carlson gelding Dienekes.
Dienekes has had two previous starts at Ballina including a win over the track and distance.
The only other winners over the 1600m at Ballina are Lismore-trained Bingo Bobby who ran fifth to Moonlight Nova at home last Friday and third emergency Nujooloo Road (9-2-0-0).
Also in the mix are nine-year-old Castlemange King who was 10th last start in the Taree Cup over 2000m, Taree Sprint fourth placegetter Get On The Grange up in distance here, Casino Cup runner-up Mucho Caliente and Desleigh Forster’s improving Holy Roman Emperor four-year-old Romanarma to be ridden by Ric McMahon from the inside alley.
Notable non-acceptors for the race include the Joe Pride-trained Gangster’s Choice who is in search for a firm track and 2012 Port Macquarie Cup winner Falklands who is still nominated for the $50,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
See below for the full Ballina Cup 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and weights.
Our No. 1 recommended bookie Ladbrokes.com.au are set to release their Ballina Cup betting markets shortly so visit them today to sign-up and also access to the top Sydney odds for Saturday’s Golden Rose Day at Rosehill Gardens!
2014 Ballina Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw
Ballina Race 7 (4:40pm) – 12/09/2014
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x144412x13 | HARADA BAY | John, Dan & Chris Meagher | – | 10 | 58kg | 83 |
2 | 5280×56520 | WAR ENDS | Maryann Brosnan | James Orman (a1.5/51kg) | 4 | 56.5kg | 80 |
3 | x190436173 | PLATINUM STATE | Bryan Guy | Jim Byrne | 14 | 55.5kg | 78 |
4 | 18×8320357 | DIENEKES | Bryan Guy | Robbie Fradd | 15 | 55kg | 77 |
5 | 3143094075 | BINGO BOBBY | Sharon Pepper | Jason Taylor | 9 | 54kg | 64 |
6 | 6761078700 | CASTLEMAGNE KING | Basil Ryan | Michael Hellyer | 17 | 54kg | 70 |
7 | x537454830 | COURTZ BOY | Helen Page | Tegan Harrison | 8 | 54kg | 64 |
8 | 13x1613x44 | GET ON THE GRANGE | Neil Godbolt | Glen Colless | 3 | 54kg | 72 |
9 | 1308×21525 | MUCHO CALIENTE | Jim Jarvis | Stephen Traecey | 13 | 54kg | 77 |
10 | 56×6104510 | ONEMORE EIGHTMORE | Bob Milligan | Andrew Adkins (a2/46kg) | 5 | 54kg | 75 |
11 | 8186136360 | ONGOING VENTURE | Darlene Duryea | – | 12 | 54kg | 71 |
12 | 520×400198 | PERFECT PUNCH | Maryann Brosnan | Rikki Jamieson (a0/50kg) | 6 | 54kg | 74 |
13 | x976470452 | REUNITE | Jeremy Sylvester | – | 11 | 54kg | 73 |
14 | 21912×6114 | ROMANARMA | Desleigh Forster | Ric McMahon | 1 | 54kg | 70 |
15e | 7753276141 | GLAMORGAN BABE | Greg Cornish | – | 16 | 54kg | 51 |
16e | 3704304356 | ROCCIN JO | Robina Todd | – | 7 | 54kg | 61 |
17e | 7×46045649 | NUJOOLOO ROAD | Steven Phelps | – | 2 | 54kg | 54 |