HORSE RACING
Stand-alone Saturday is one of the biggest days on the Hawkesbury racing calendar.
For Jason Attard it will be the biggest day of his career so far.
The young Freemans Reach trainer has qualified his four-year-old gelding Sons of John in the $100,000 Provincial Stayers Championship final over 2100m on Saturday – his first runner at his home track’s stand alone event.
Hawkesbury’s stand-alone Saturday marks its 10th anniversary in 2015 and will celebrate with three group 3 races including the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, the Darley Crown and Hawkesbury Guineas.
There will be $1 million in prizemoney on offer over the eight-race program ensuring a number of big name city and provincial trainers and jockeys will be in action.
And for Attard it is the culmination of years of early mornings, hard work and dedication.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
“It’s great just to have a chance at Hawkesbury let alone a big chance on a big day.
“I’ve never had a runner (on stand-alone Saturday) before, so this is huge for me.”
Jeff Penza will again have the ride on Sons of John who finished third to Gai Waterhouse’s White Dove in the Hawkesbury Stayers Prelude on April 16.
Attard, 27, said he was quietly confident of Sons of John being among the front runners.
“Obviously I haven’t had a look at the field yet but he does go well here,” he said.
“I’m going to put the blinkers on him for his last start this prep, for his grand finale.
“I’m also happy with the fact he shouldn’t have much weight on his back. I’m pretty sure he’ll get close to minimum weight.
“It’s hard to say until you see the field but he’ll be trying his best, he’ll be trying hard. And I know Jeff is quite excited to be riding him on stand-alone Saturday.”
After getting his start as a breaker, Attard took up training five years ago and now has about a dozen horses under his wing.
While some see it as a disadvantage being a smaller trainer, Attard has thrived.
“That’s the thing with the racing industry. Everyone looks at it that way (as a disadvantage) running against the big guys but I see it as a priviledge,” he said.
“It’s a chance to prove yourself against them which is good.
“It’s definitely one of the good things about the industry – everyone gets a good crack. If you’ve got a good enough horse then anything can happen.”
Future Group 1 runners including Chautauqua, Zoustar, Brazen Beau and Boban have all featured at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone raceday which regularly attracts crowds of more than 10,000 punters.
Hawkesbury Race Club CEO Brian Fletcher said he expected another quality event.
“The stand-alone Saturday meeting has been successful because we play to a new audience in western Sydney,” he said.
“Following The Championships the meeting is ideally situated two weeks prior to the Scone stand-alone meeting.
“As you will notice from the honour roll for the three Group 3 races and the two-year-old race they have all produced quality.
“The two-year-old race is a great lead-up race for the Brisbane races over their carnival.
“In 10 years’ time I could possibly see the meeting having 10 to 12 races on the program which will give the raceday patrons a full day of racing and entertainment.”
Gates open at 10am on Saturday.
