THE first step of the plan to try and win the $500,000 Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick on April 4 was taken with local gelding Casino Mondial ($3.40) scoring a strong win in the $27,000 Coopernook Hotel Hannam Vale Cup at Taree last Friday.
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Taree trainer Michael Byers and Coffs Harbour jockey Raymond Spokes reckoned the win over 1600m will have the five-year-old gelding "spot on" for a demanding 1400m in the final.
Casino Mondial was said to be only 80 percent fit when a narrow second behind Port Macquarie's Magnalane in the $150,000 MNCRA Country Championship heat over 1400m on February 23 at Taree but on Friday nothing was left to chance in grabbing $14,000 first prizemoney and the cup.
In accepting the cup on behalf of owners, Geoff Gormley said the win and being qualified for the Sydney final were part of "a dream come true."
Byers said although Casino Mondial led all the way for a 1.3 lengths win from $3.20 favourite Time Raid from Newcastle, his charge "is not a leader".
Instead of knuckling at the start as was done in the Qualifier, Spokes said the gelding grabbed the lead at the jump, he then let it amble there and it would "be better for the 1400m at Randwick".
At the presentation, Manning Valley Race Club chairman Greg Coleman said Casino Mondial would be "very competitive at Randwick on its win today".
Time Raid, trained by Jason Deamer and ridden by Samantha Clenton was given a perfect trail and had every chance to run down the leader, third going to top-weight Melted Moments ($6), trained at Grafton by David Campbell, with Port Macquarie gelding O'Driscoll ($31), trained by Tas Morton showing good first-up from a spell form in running fourth.
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Taree four-year-old mare Gold Bracelet ($2.05), also ridden by Spokes for local trainer Ross Dawson and a big contingent of Harrington owners,, showed true grit to score by a half-neck in the Apex Solar And Electrical Class 1 Handicap over 1000m.
She was second behind leader Little Wonder ($8) until about 80m out and although looking to be labouring she sprouted wings to score going away to earn herself a spell after four starts for two wins, one second, and prizemoney of $28,200.
Morton had better luck earlier with three-year-old gelding Stonecold Flex ($1.85), ridden by Clenton, it having "a walk in the park" win by just over 1.5 lengths in the L J Hooker Wingham Maiden Handicap over 1300m.
The gelding was second early until Clenton let the Carlton House (USA) gelding, bought for $27,000 by Peter and Kay Payne off the breeder, have its head in the straight to score easily and earn a spell.
Jockey Amelia Denby had a winning double, one of them a lucky pick-up ride from being an emergency in four-year-old mare Armina ($13), trained at Newcastle by David Atkins, in the Col Cowan-Budgeree Holsteins Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1300m.
She also sprinted late for a head win on four-year-old gelding Supreme Streak ($5.50) in the Moorland Cottage And Gallery Class 2 Handicap over 1250m, the heavily-backed favourite Joey's Chance ($1.90) finishing second for Scone trainer Rodney Northam.
Three scratchings due to mishaps at the barrier paved the way for first-starter, three-year-old filly Jennifer Magic ($2.80), trained at Muswellbrook by Todd Howlett and ridden by Darryl McLellan, scoring by about a half-length in the Manning Valley Free Range Eggs Maiden Plate over 1000m.
Five-year-old mare Tormenta ($41), trained at Hawkesbury by Martin McInerney and ridden by Ashley Morgan, in only having its sixth start after injury, led all the way to score by 2.5 lengths in the Cross Family Como Dairy Maiden Plate over 1600m, the sponsors being well represented at the meeting.
Seven-year-old gelding Slickster ($26), taken from the retirement paddock for another campaign, surprised Muswellbrook trainer Jan Bowen and jockey Mikayla Weir by leading all the way for a just under a length win in the Jim Anderson Earthmoving Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m.
Racing returns to Taree on April 4, the same day as the final of the Country Championships
