For Kearsley trainer, Brendon Flaherty, this Saturday night’s 62nd running of the Kirkwood's Produce Inter City Pace is more than just a $30,000 Group Three event. The 38-year-old said it was his Inter Dominion Grand Final.
Born, raised, and educated in Cessnock, just six kilometres north-west of Kersley, and 26km south-west of Maitland Paceway, Kearsley said the Inter City Pace was a race that his family grew up with, and one that his late father, Ray, and brother Nathan, dearly wanted to win.
“The race has always meant the world to our family. Sadly, Dad, who also trained standardbreds, is no longer with us now, and my older brother doesn’t train or drive anymore, but they both got me into harness racing, and they have both had runners in the great race. They raced a lot at the Maitland track over the years, when there were more tote meetings.
“It’s very sad that the Club has only been allocated two TAB meetings next year, because it’s a great little track (776m) and the Club deserves better. Hopefully, things can change in the future. Locally, there is no bigger race to win, outside of Newcastle. Sally Bigtime will be my third Inter City Pace starter, and I believe she is my best chance yet in Saturday’s (December 28) Final,” Flaherty said.
“It’s always been a lifetime dream to win it. This is my Inter Dominion Grand Final,” he added.
Flaherty’s black, pink star and pink armband colours were previously represented in the 2019 Inter City Final. Beautiful Stranger and Guy Chapple came from last to finish sixth, while Emm Aye Dee and Dan Morgan were eighth.
On Friday, Sally Bigtime will again be driven by Grace Panella in the black and teal silks of her Morisset owner and breeder, Nathan Dawson.
Sally Bigtime and Panella were impressive Heat 3 winners in last Friday’s (November 20) Multicam Routing Systems-sponsored third heat. The 4-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven mare has drawn barrier seven (one on the second row) in this Saturday’s 10-horse Grand Final, which again will be run over the same distance as the 2,422m mobile heats – at 8.28pm.
Asked to comment on Sally Bigtime’s draw, Flaherty said:
“I’m pretty happy. I thought I was going to draw awkwardly at five or six. I’m just hoping the ‘one-horse’ shows plenty of gait speed.”
Last Friday, Sally Bigtime drew ideally at three in race six, and thanks to near-perfect drive from 22-year-old Panella, the duo won by 4.3 metres with a 2:00.6 mile-rate.
Pokolbin-based Panella led early with the $4.60-third favourite, before handing up the lead down the back straight the first time. Then with 400m came over the markers, and made her move. Then with momentum increasing in the home-straight Sally Bigtime left her nine opponents in her wake.
It was Panella’s 235th career victory since she took out her license in 2018-2019. Her stake earnings now sit at $2,027,631.
Sally Bigtime has now won five races in 17 starts (and four from 14 this year), since making her winning debut at Newcastle on November 24 last year. That came after three trial wins and three placings, all at Newcastle in late 2023.
The 1:55.4 (Newcastle August 9, 2024) bay mare, has now amassed $37,976 in stakes, which also includes six placings.
“I don’t usually get on with mares, because we are both strong-minded, but ‘Sally’ is an exception. I’ve driven her for about nine months now (since May 3), and she’s now really starting to hit peak form. I reckon Friday’s run was her best yet.
“She warmed up really well, and I felt at the start she was ready to fire. Brendon has done a great job with her, because he did have troubles with the mare early on, and she has overcome the odds. I think she’s a real good chance in the Final.
“The race means a lot to me as well, because I’m local and it’s a prestigious Group Three event.,” said Panella, who has driven in two of the last three Inter City finals, and currently works her own team of 13 (31 wins in two seasons) at Pokolbin – 32km from Maitland.
But Flaherty admits he took some convincing from Dawson to allow Sally Bigtime to enter his stable.
“I didn’t really want her, because I had enough horses at the time. I had been friends with Nathan for a few years and when he rang me up, I was hesitant because he said she had a few problems and paced very roughly.
“She was an early 3-year-old when I finally agreed to take her on. I then managed to iron out her problems with each trial, and when she won on debut, she went from what I thought was a troublesome pacer to a filly with a bit of talent.
“’Sally’ ran third in the ($25,500) Waratah Series Final at Menangle four starts back (August 3), and has now won two of her last three starts, and not finished further back than third in her last six races since July," Flaherty said.
"She's the best chance I’ve had of winning this race,” he added.
Flaherty believed giving her a four-month spell between December last year and this April, had been the making of her.
"She matured from a good filly into a very nice mare in that time. She has quite a bit of speed now, and putting Grace in the sulky has been the making of her. Not only do they get on so well together, but I rate Grace one of the best female drivers going around. it's hard to believe she is only 22, because she has so much talent," said Flaherty.
The New South Wales horseman also paid a tribute to three other females as well – his sister, Renae Carroll, niece, Clare (also Carroll), and his mother, Dianne.
“Renee and her husband, Josh, also train on the same property as me, and have helped me a lot. They are both so good with horses. In fact, Josh still trains (51 wins) and drives (44 wins).
“Clare is my number one strapper, and helps me out a lot with track-work. My mother has forever been my number one supporter. Rain, hail, or shine, Mum is always at the races to cheer all of our family horses on. I’d be lost without them. It’s always been a family operation.
“Then there’s my nephew Zac (Carroll) has also been a big help. He is just 17 and works at a galloping stud, but and is just starting out as a driver. He’s placed once from 11 starts,” Flaherty said.
“I also want to thank Jake Hughes, who also helps out at our stable. He does a tremendous job as well. Like Dad, we have always just had ‘bread and butter’ horses without any stars,” he added.
Flaherty works a team of six at Kearsley, spearheaded by Sally Bigtime and his 12-win ($97,318) Shoobees Place 6-year-old gelding, Magic Shoos.
But Flaherty only works part-time at his own stable. He is a full-time employee for Sawyers Gully Group One-winning trainer, Adam Ruggari.
“Horses are my life and have been for a long time now. Things have gone well this season, and I put it down to a better quality of horses and a very good staff,” Flaherty said.
This season has been better than good. In fact, 2024 has provided Flaherty with his second-best season since taking out his trainer's license in 2001-2002. That was when he was in his late teens.
This year he has conditioned 30 winners and netted $296,306 in purses. His most profitable season came in 2022 when he won 35 races and $334,446.
The $10,000 Inter City Heat winners from Friday night were:
KIRKWOOD'S PRODUCE 62ND INTER CITY PACE HEAT 1 (race two):
The Seaton Grima-trained and Robert Morris-driven $1.33 favourite, RAKERO ICE (mile rate: 2:00).
HVHRA 62ND INTER CITY PACE HEAT 2 (race five):
The Amanda Turnbull-trained and Isobel Ross-driven $1.40 favourite, SHEZ SWEET LOUISE (2:00.7).
MULTICAM ROUTNG SYSTEMS 62ND INTER CITY PACE HEAT 3 (race six):
The Brendon Flaherty-trained and Grace Panella-driven $4.60 third favourite, SALLY BIGTIME (2:00.6).
BIG D'S FOUNDATION INTER CITY PACE HEAT 4 (race seven):
The Amanda Turnbull-trained and Isobel Ross-driven $2.40 favourite, FASHION ICON (1:59.3).
CLUB PERSPECTIVE from MHRC Secretary – Sharon Murphy:
“It was a good night. The racing was really competitive. Race-caller, Brandon Kreymborg, said “That’s classic Maitland harness racing”. It was a night for the favourites mostly. Good crowds, the times for a few of the winners on the night were close to the track records. The trip for Amanda Turnbull and Isobel Ross was worth it, combining for three wins on the night and also qualifying two into the Final next Saturday. Our thoughts go out to Isobel, who lost a family member earlier this week.
CONDITIONS:
“Before the NR system was introduced the Inter City Pace conditions were for horses with two-to-four lifetime wins, run over 2422m mobile. The NR model meant horses that had already won good prize money were able to race, and didn’t really meet the concept of giving horses that were on their way up to move through the grades.
“We believe the two-to-five life-time winners is a more even playing field, and the racing competitiveness of the racing backs that up, with everyone trying hard to make the final.
“There were three heats last year and there’s been three heats for the last few years. There were more horses nominated this year, so we were fortunate to be able to run four heats. Big thanks to all the owners and trainers who had horses taking part. It’s important that small clubs like ours get that support. Newcastle usually has full fields, so there’s obviously a need to be holding more meetings in the Hunter Valley.
“We are aways being asked “why don’t you run more meetings? You should have at least one meeting every month”. We would if we were granted the dates. The Hunter Valley is a strong area for harness racing, but sadly the draft calendar was released last week, and we still only have two meetings next year. That is so disappointing.
“We are all looking forward to a great night of racing on Saturday with good crowds,” Murphy said.
CALCUTTA NIGHT – Friday December 27:
“We are needing more numbers for our 'Calcutta Auction' on Friday night (December 27) at The Windsor Castle Hotel at 78 Lawes St in East Maitland. It starts at 6pm, and is $20 per head, with platters of finger food. Children are free, and all attendees get a free ticket to Grand Final Night. Obviously, it’s too far for the visitors to attend so we need locals who have horses involved to come along.”
Past winners of the Maitland Inter City Pace have been:
1962: The Wally Woods trained and driven, Summit Road; 1963 Brown Cosmo; 1964 Stormy Bruce; 1965 Moonlight; 1966 Mighty Reveller; 1967 Joe's Fortune; 1968 Dashing Brucus; 1969 Chamnie Chamkerrie; 1970 Bay Foyle; 1971 Nuts And Bolts; 1972 Bold Biami; 1973 Thorcad; 1974 Blue Mineral; 1975 Ace High; 1976 Harga Lad; 1977 Our Berra; 1978 Penny Jack; 1979 Rockin Butler; 1980 Ad Valorem; 1981 Artie's Hanover; 1982 Simon Said; 1983 All The Kings; 1984 Hurricane; 1985 Hitchhiker; 1986 Jennifer Bye Bye; 1987 Red Koarakau; 1988 Bearason Beau; 1989 Bluegum Chief; 1990 Twilight Time Paleface; 1991 Tar Heeled Pigment; 1992 Our New Life; 1993 Royal Courtier; 1994 General Fox; 1995 Michael Augustine; 1996 Antinous; 1997 Franco Lotsmore; 1998 Amanda Woodward; 1999 Smokeyfuzz; 2000; Candyrama; 2001 Magical Mike; 2002 Big Bad Holmes; 2003 Awaba; 2004 Muddy River; 2005 Rockabye Bee; 2006 not run; 2007 Union Ticket; 2008 not run; 2009 Staminator; 2010 Ghadasbest; 2011 Goeslikell; 2012 Lettucerocku; 2013 Scandalman; 2014 Megs Ferrari; 2015 All Eyes On Us; 2016 Kept Under Wraps; 2017 Express Stride; 2018 Our Triple Play; 2018 Persimmon; 2020 Benalong Valley; 2021 Im Quick As Fire; 2022 Chevron Art; in 1:58.6; 2023: The KerryAnn Morris-trained and Robert-Morris-driven, Hands On in a race-record 1:58.4.
Footnote: The Maitland harness racing track and Showgrounds is a reserve situated in South Maitland, close to West Maitland Park. It held its first meeting (at night) on 22 October 1927 and was allocated a further four under lights that year. Subsequent meetings were held in the daytime due to the Conservative Government’s ban on betting after twilight. Further attempts to race at night fell by the wayside with the majority of clubs being unable to see any merit in running night racing.
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales that boasts a population of 90,226. It is situated on the Hunter River approximately 166 kms north of Sydney, and 35 kms north-west of Newcastle.
The field for Saturday night’s 62nd running of the Group Three $30,000 Kirkwood Produce Inter City Pace is:
Form Horse Trainer Driver Class Hcp
1 12912 GROSSO NASO Anthony Missen Blake Hughes (C) NR53 FR1
2 14r53 WHISKEY ROYALE Michael Xuereb Nathan Xuereb NR54 FR2
3 43203 GLENFRANKIE Paul Bourke Will Rixon NR34 FR3
4 s1s11 SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ Amanda Turnbull Isobel Ross NR68 FR4
5 926r3 PURE DRAGON (Em 1) Anthony Missen NR63 FR-
6 11151 RAKERO ICE NZ Seaton Grima Seaton Grima (C) NR74 FR5
------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------
7 313s1 SALLY BIGTIME Brendon Flaherty Grace Panella (C) NR68 SR1
8 71932 THE GREEK GENERAL Kerry Towers Brad Elder NR63 SR2
9 s7332 INDASKY NZ Michael Xuereb Jack Callaghan (C) NR57 SR3
10 74352 COOL NIGHT Adam Ruggari Jack Callaghan (C) NR64 SR4
11 10s91 FASHION ICON Amanda Turnbull Isobel Ross ODM NR70 SR5.
