Harden’s Fashions On The Field will be held in 2019 with some excellent prizes on offer. 50 thoroughbreds have been nominated for this Saturday’s 39th running of the Harden Picnic Races with last year’s winner of the Harden Picnic Cup ‘Cryfowl’, back to contest the Cup in 2019.
Cryfowl will be up against some stiff competition in the form of Chief of Arlington, trained by Doug Gorrel at Canberra. The 5 year old gelding has won both of its last starts at Lockhart and last week at Young. Albeit the win at Lockhart was in a 3 horse race, however, it won by nearly 9 lengths over 1400 metres.
Southern Gamble is another to watch for, with over $150,000 in prizemoney and 9 wins over his career.
Spackman sent Cryfowl around on Saturday however, he said the horse had no luck. “Things went a bit pear shaped in the run and we never really got a crack at them and when we did it was all over.”
Cryfowl finished 8 lengths off the winner in Nicotera.
Spackman said, “Just as long as we draw a gate. We have been going super I can’t complain, we didn’t have much luck on the weekend but if you don’t get luck you don’t win races. Blazen Diamond stepped up to open company and it was a slowly run race. Sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board.”
He is hoping to send 3 to Albury on Saturday. Takissacod is shooting for 3 wins. Blazen Diamond has pulled up well and Didn’t Even Kiss Me will be heading around.
Spackman said, “I have been trying to win the Harden Cup for a while and that was my 5th runner last year.”
Spackman has been consistent with a second and a third with Black Fusion in previous years. He said, “I thought we were going to come second last year until he got out and had a crack at them. It’s nice to win your hometown Cup.”
Cryfowl has been nominated alongside stable mate Red Rock Stella who will go around in the 1100 metre Class B Handicap, while Chris Heywood who has nominated 6 horses, one for each race for Saturday’s meeting.
Heywood has Collins Street in the Cup with the 9 year old having amassed over $120,000 in prize money across 61 starts, including 5 wins 5 seconds and 9 third placings.
Heywood has also nominated Cunningar Lass which is owned by Peter Joseph. Cunningar Lass has had 17 starts for 2 wins, 2 seconds and 3 third placings.
Nothing, Red Medusa, Magazine Heights and Sister Hazel round out the pack for Chris.
Weights will be declared on Tuesday morning before acceptances close on Thursday at 9:00am. Riders must be declared midday Saturday and scratchings close at 7:30am Saturday morning.
A bumper crowd is expected to attend the famous meeting with 20 degrees forecast for Harden.
