Fitzpatrick Installed as Odds on Favourite as Cater Goes One Better than Makybe Diva
Tuesday 4th March 2008
With the start of the Autumn carnival around the corner the good money has shifted to Peter Fitzpatrick as the odds on favourite for the Cycling Projects series win. Fitzpatrick was able to take 5 valuable points on Tuesday night as Robbie Cater showed the Punters why he is the inform rider at the moment. Australia celebrated when Makybe Diva won three straight Melbourne Cups but Robbie Cater's connections must be happy that Robbie has four wins from four starts at Heffron Park. In addition to beating Fitzpatrick by a furlong, Cater has also had clean and convincing wins every Saturday in A grade for the past three weeks. In fact, the only reason why Cater is not five from five is that the other inform colt Luke Davison beat him on 16 February 2008.
The track was rated as good with about sixty riders lined up at the barriers and placed in the starters hands. On the starters orders B grade was off and racing and immediately it was clear that B grade had lost the plot as riders carried on like it was the Bong Bong picnic races as opposed to a Group 1 meet at Caulfield. C grade got on with the job like they do every week with a bit of help from a couple of classy jockeys including Frank 'the Enforcer' Conceicao and David Cobcroft who is now showing the benefits of weeks in the steam room. A grade were straight out of the gates and immediately were strung out by the Irish stayer David Early and former Australian U/23 champion Shaun Higgerson from the FRF stables. A grade easily reeled in the B grade bunch with about 8 laps to go and the combined pack set about reeling in a galloping C grade bunch.
It was touch and go as to whether C grade was going to be first past the post, but in the end the combined A and B grade bunch was too strong and caught C on the final lap. Rounding the bend at 400 metres to go they were three wide and Cater and Fitzpatrick took the inside running against the rails. In the final 100 metres Cater was all hands and heels as he thundered down the straight to take the win over Fitzpatrick who had the whip out and gave it all he had. Brad Mills joined the connections in the winner's circle followed by Luis Trubea and Chris Koke. Aaron Richardson showed the stewards that he may be up fo a bit more lead in the saddle bags after another B grade win and Andy Matthews from Randwick Botany deserved some molasses in the feed bag after a good C grade win.
So with three weeks to go only the fine cotton affair can unsettle Fitzpatrick from taking out the series and earning a well deserved spell. However, watch out for the flying colt Robbie Cater. Three weeks is a long time in racing.
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Results
1. Robbie Cater (FRF / NSWIS) 7
2. Peter Fitzpatrick (St George) 5
3. Brad Mills (North Sydney) 3
4. Luis Trueba (McArthur) 2
5. Chris Koke (North Sydney) 1
First B Grade over the line - Aaron Richardson - Easts
First C Grade over the line - Andy Matthews - Randwick Botany
Overall Pointscore Tally
Peter Fitzpatrick 18
David Cobcroft 12
Tim Willing 10
Tim Rice 9
Robbie Cater 7
Shaune Higgerson 7
Brad McGarry 7
Aaron Richardson 7
Andrew Matthews 7
Luke Cridland 6
Anthony Spurgeon 6
Matthew Backhouse 6
Peter McDonald 5
Adam Goc 5
Nathan Saunders 5
Brad Mills 5
Shane Howley 3
Kevin Black 3
John Ebeling 2
Chris Jory 2
Rogert Shackleton 2
Matthew Bozzanno 2
Luis Trueba 2
Stewart Campbell 1
Doug Hammond 1
Guilian Robertshawe 1
Warwick Edwards 1
Steven Foster 1
Chris Koke 1
To view the progressive tally across the series click here.
The Cycling Projects Series continues every Tuesday at 6pm during day light savings. A 2008 racing license is required as is an Australian Standards approved helmet and some ticker. A Scapin frame is the major prize for the winner of the point score series.
Wet Weather Line
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For information on Tuesday night racing at Heffron Bike Track, Maroubra, visit the Cycling Projects Race Series page.
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Archived Reports
Weight for age champion Brad Mills
Nick Rathbourne in full flight down the home straight
David Early, Luis Trubea and Robbie Cater all have hearts as big as Phar Lap
Bruno, one of the helpful ESCC stewards on hand to ensure a safe day of racing
Thoroughbreds and draft horses were all there on Tuesday night as ESCC brought out the big guns
Chris Koke certainly did not canter on Tuesday night
