Wide draw to overcome in $100,000 race

Bobs Farm owner-trainer Geoff Harding was disappointed when he learnt that The Choreographer had drawn wide in barrier nine for tomorrow night’s $100,000 State Final of the TAB Championships at harness racing’s Menangle.

But the astute mentor also remains philosophical that “you’ve got to be in it to win it”.

Last Friday night his talented five-year-old overcame a tough run early to take out the Hunter region’s TAB Championship Final, scoring by almost three metres.

“He is a pretty versatile bloke who will like the bigger circuit at Tabcorp Park Menangle,” said Harding.

“Obviously, the draw is not ideal, but I will rely on my driver to weave his magic.”

The Choreographer has been a great buy for Harding and his son Matthew, who purchased him as a yearling for the bargain price of $13,500.

By A Rocknroll Dance out of the handy racemare, Modern Day, the gelding was bred by Jeff and Nea Costello from Dubbo.

Modern Day was trained by Steve Turnbull and won 10 races and returned more than $56,000 for her connections.

The Choreographer was a big gangly youngster and did not race until he was a three-year-old.

Harding always believed that the pacer would develop into a nice horse as he got older.

“Mathew [Harding] and I own this bloke, so it is nice to be racing for decent prizemoney,” said Harding.

“I was speaking with HRNSW CEO John Dumesny and he told me the plan was to continue these races into the future, which gives us smaller trainers something to look forward to.”

Fellow Hunter Valley trainer, Clayton Harmey went awfully close to winning back-to-back finals at Newcastle, providing the two placegetters, Major Bob, and Soho Sinatra last week.

Harmey won the initial Hunter TAB Championships with Kanye Crusader and will be hoping that he can go one better in the Super Final tomorrow night with Major Bob.

But he will have to overcome a wide barrier seven draw against a top field if he is to achieve Harmey’s quest.

Meanwhile a strong nine-race program will have plenty of local challengers at Newcastle tonight.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW