Clayton has his eyes on the prize

UNTER Valley mentor Clayton Harmey is certain to finish third on the New South Wales Trainers Premiership table after putting the polish on 156 winners for the extended 2019/20 season, which will conclude on December 31.

Craig Cross (271 winners) and KerryAnn Morris (181) will finish ahead of the Nulkaba horseman but for Harmey it is clearly a personal-best achievement that has given him a great deal of satisfaction with the Newcastle and Tamworth tracks providing the majority of his winners.

“We are very fortunate to have plenty of race meetings in our region,” said Harmey.

“It gives trainers up this way good options to place their horses in suitable races.”

This afternoon racing returns to Newcastle, a track that consistently draws capacity fields and Harmey has runners engaged at the meeting.

“It will be another busy day for us, but I am confident that our team will perform well,” he said. 

“I have Kanye Crusader racing in the last. 

“He is a horse that will always be a favourite of mine as he provided me with my first Group 1 win back in May when he took out the TAB Hunter Region Championship Final.

“He returned from a spell on November 20 and looked a winning chance when he galloped on the home turn. 

“I took him back to the trials last week and he pleased me with an easy win.

“Still, I would have to say that my best chance of winning today would be with Soho Brandenburg (Race 4). 

“We got him from Victoria, and he has won two of his three starts for us. 

“He is a very fast horse and there is plenty to like about him; I think he has a promising future. 

“He has drawn perfectly in gate four and although he is coming to the end of his preparation and will be spelled after today, he should be able to lead and dictate terms."