Big Guns Issued With First Invites

August 14th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

From a long time ago it seemed obvious that Lombo Pocket Watch and Melpark Major would be given early invitations to contest the $200,000 'Courage Under Fire' Chariots Of Fire.

Last Friday night, connections of those horses were issued their invites by Directors of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club.

Melpark Major, at 8:42pm, threw down the gauntlet to his Chariots counterparts with a stunning victory in the Christian Cullen Cup Final at Moonee Valley, cementing his invite in the process.

Forced to work early, driver Amy Tubbs secured the one-one at the expense of Mister Swinger before pulling out at the quarter mark to issue her challenge.

Sprinting sharply, Melpark Major put paid to the leading duo in the home straight to score by two-and-a-half metres over a gallant Mister Swinger, with an equally impressive Keayang Hanover close up in third.

"That was a machine-like win for him," trainer Alan Tubbs declared.

"He did a bit of work to get around the field early and then Geoff (Webster) gave us cover with Mister Swinger.

"From a long way out it was obvious our bloke was going to be the one to beat.

"He's pulled up from the run extremely well and now that the invite is out of the way, it is a big relief.

"I will take my time with him now and at this stage, go into the Chariots without another run."

Tubbs believes he has the son of Iraklis in prime condition for the event.

"He is a big-doing horse which I believe a lot of the really good horses are," he said.

"I'll give him a trial on the weekend prior to the Chariots and that should have him at his top for the race.

"If I see him getting away on me a bit then I will toss up the possibility of racing him again."

Lombo Pocket Watch, which raced last Tuesday afternoon at Menangle, scored easily, rating 1:55.5.

The highlight of the race was his opening stanza in 26.7 and his closing 400 metres, which was semaphored in a brilliant 25.9.

While issuing the first two invitations, Directors of the NSWHRC also stated that no further invites would be given until the Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios Sprints were conducted.

Although both Keayang Hanover and Mister Swinger have made excellent cases for inclusion into the Chariots already, the two qualifying races will see four horses earn their invites which leaves only two spots left.

Criticised in the past for issuing too many invitations too early, the NSWHRC is now urging connections of any pacer hoping to contest the Chariots to race in one of the two qualification races.

"The connections of Mister Swinger have certainly made the correct decision by starting the horse in the Hondo Grattan this week," Dumesny said.

"There has been a debate raging for years as to the invitation process for the Miracle Mile and this has been addressed with the Chariots.

"Invitations, watch the contenders at Harold Park, automatic qualifiers and then the final two invitations which in the past have been based on those performances in the Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios Sprints - that is the process so I encourage connections to carefully consider the options."

Khouiss Does It Again

August 14th, 2008 by Amanda Rando

Winning last Friday's Rod Fitzpatrick Memorial Stakes with Our Crown Law at Harold Park was not just another feature race for trainer Ali Khouiss - it was more than that.

On the same day 20 years ago Khouiss' father, Fouad Ali Khouiss, passed away.

"It was an emotional day," Khouiss said.

"I was at the cemetery all day with the family and I thought it would be great to win the race for my father because he was a regular at Harold Park and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be in this game.

"I said to Josh (Willick, driver) before the race that we'll have an extra hand tonight because dad would be shining down on us.

"I was over the moon to win the race especially because all the family was trackside."

The New Zealand-bred pacer, Our Crown Law, gave Khouiss his first win in the two-year-old blue riband event.

Blessed with barrier two for the $20,500 journey, driver Josh Willick soon positioned the colt in the one-one.

Recent Harold Park winner, On A Promise, sped out of barrier seven and found the front to dictate the speed. The first half was 62.4 seconds (30.6, 31.8) and Willick angled Our Crown Law three-wide along the back straight on the last occasion.

The last two quarters were 29.7 and 29.1 seconds and at the winning post, Our Crown Law was able to hold out a fast-finishing Damage Control by a head.

The exceptionally bred Abitmoreattitude was eight-and-a-half metres away third, with the mile rate 1:59.9.

"It was a very exiting win," Khouiss declared.

"I thought Josh drove a fantastic race - he is the best driver in the State. This season he has won a Carousel, Simpson Memorial and the Australian Pacing Gold."

The win gave Willick a double on the night, as he also saluted earlier in the program with Jarendan.

It was also the Condell Park reinsman's second win in The Rod Fitzpatrick Memorial as he took out the event in 2003 with The Godine Machine.

Willick now joins the late Vin Knight and Terry Robinson as the only drivers to win the feature twice.

Khouiss, who relocated to Queensland earlier in the year, is still leaving his mark on New South Wales' feature race scene.

In April, the trainer-driver combination of Khouiss and Willick, took out The Simpson Memorial with Mark Joseph.

"It seems I'm having more success in New South Wales since I left," Khouiss joked.

"I'll leave Our Crown Law with Josh for a few more starts and then spell him and prepare him for the Derbys."

Part-owned by Gary Dowling, Our Crown Law has now returned two wins and two seconds in four starts for earnings just short of $20,000.

"Gary bought the New Zealand horse Flak Jacket two years ago and wanted to win this race with him," Khouiss said.

"On his second attempt he finally won it.

"Martin Herbert helped us find this horse (Our Crown Law) and he was quite an expensive purchase.

"He is bred in the purple and will definitely pay his way."

Dowling and Khouiss also won with Thunderbolt Cruiser which raced at the Gold Coast on the night.