WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?

August 28th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

FRIDAY night's running of the $200,000 'Courage Under Fire' Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park reminds us of the race that was lost last season.

Of course, this time last year, equine influenza ravaged New South Wales and Queensland, just a week before the Chariots was due to be run.

Eventually, after delaying the inevitable, the race was called off.

Below is a brief description of each runner and what they have gone on to achieve since missing their chance to win the Chariots.

DIVISIVE

Finished second to Blacks A Fake in this year's Watpac Inter Dominion and was an impressive winner of the Shepparton Cup.

SMOKEN UP

Is now the fastest horse ever in Australasia following his victory in the SEW Eurodrive Len Smith Mile at Menangle Park. Also made the transition to Grand Circuit, like Divisive, easily.

SPECIAL ALBERT

Has won on multiple occasions since and appears to be headed towards the Grand Circuit.

ALL PROMISES

Contested this season's Cordina Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile at Menangle Park but was a luckless seventh. Look for her to be one of the top mares in Australia next season.

THE MAELSTROM

Won the Tabcorp Championship Final at Menangle's grand opening and is currently making his way through the grades.

BALTIC ICE

Beat an outstanding field earlier in the season to capture the Watpac Inter Dominion Consolation.

JOGALONG JOEL

Has won a few races since resuming but has faced several problems and is now out spelling.

ATOMIC ARK

Has developed into a genuine Group One horse following his win in the Winter Cup. Also finished third to Smoken Up in the Len Smith Mile.

Just imagine the show these eight horses would have put on for the public this time last year!

AMY NOT FEELING THE PRESSURE

August 28th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

AMY TUBBS won't feel daunted being the only female driver in this Friday night's $200,000 'Courage Under Fire' Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park.

The reason is she knows exactly what her 'good mate' is capable of and is confident the feature race is well within reach.

Her good mate is none other than rising star, Melpark Major.

Together, the pair have rocketed to the top of calculations for Australasia's premier four-year-old event, winning race after race this season and claiming a few big scalps along the way.

"He is definitely one of my favourite horses, but in saying that, I have a stable full of them too," the young reinswoman said.

"I still consider my first winner, By The Deep South, as one of my all-time favourites.

"Melpark Major would be one of the most exciting horses I've driven, that's for sure.

"He is so competitive and I think that's one of the reasons I like him so much. When the fight is on, he will keep coming and won't give up.

"He's given me a few highlights already this season and I hope there is another one to come this Friday."

A son of Miracle Mile winner Iraklis, Melpark Major signalled his arrival as a genuine Chariots contender when he sat outside Lombo Pocket Watch in this year's Vicbred Sires' Final.

The pair will clash again in this week's feature with the battle set to be one of the highlights of the race.

"With a lap to go in that Sires' Final, I didn't think we could beat Pocket Watch," Tubbs recalled.

"At the quarter mark, I was just happy that we were able to stick with him but in the straight, my bloke just kept lifting.

"It was a thrilling race and shows just how good a racehorse he has become.

"At the start of the season, I wasn't sure whether or not he could measure up to a race like the Chariots, but I trust dad (trainer Alan Tubbs) in these situations.

"He always believed the horse was up to such a task."

While Alan and Amy have won various features together, this Friday's Chariots Of Fire will no doubt be among the biggest races they've contested.

Amy described the feeling as a "dream come true" and said competing in big races was something everyone who has ever sat in a sulky aspires to achieving.

"I've always watched big races on the television and such and hoped that one day I would be able to compete in them too," she said.

"To be able to share this experience with dad makes it extra special.

"The barrier draw (seven) isn't too bad considering if the emergencies come out, we'll go into six.

"I've set my bloke big tasks before in his races and he's overcome them each time, so I know exactly what he is capable of.

"It's going to be a fantastic race."

Adding to the intrigue of the re-match with Lombo Pocket Watch is the fact Tubbs will stable with Paul Fitzpatrick when arriving in Sydney - the trainer of the grey superstar!

DESTINY AWAITS POCKET WATCH

August 28th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

TWELVE months is a long time in racing.

Just one year ago, trainer Catriona Martin had been preparing to aim at the Chariots Of Fire with her outstanding pacer Tip Your Hat before injury struck.

Adding insult to injury was the fact that equine influenza soon broke out, just a week prior to the feature race being run. As history would tell, racing in New South Wales and Queensland came to a standstill until the New Year.

Having been robbed of her first chance to contest a Chariots Of Fire, Martin didn't let that stand in her way in 2007-08, with her up-and-coming star Be Diligent invited to contest the 'Courage Under Fire'-sponsored event this Friday night.

The Queenslander was given one of the remaining two invitations left by Directors of the NSW Harness Racing Club last Friday night.

Martin, who chose to rest on her laurels and not contest either the Paleface Adios or Hondo Grattan Sprints, was delighted to hear her horse's name among the starters for the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire.

"I thought he had done enough for an invite but you never know in these types of situations," she said.

"His form has been strong this season and I am ecstatic that he will be one of the eight runners on Friday.

"We were pretty disappointed last year with what happened to Tip Your Hat, however, things have turned full circle this year with this horse.

"Naturally, anyone with a half-decent four-year-old was looking to aim at the Chariots and it was a race we certainly had marked out at the beginning of the season.

"Another critical point was having the horse performing well at the right time.

"It is going to be an outstanding race."

Blessed with raw ability as a juvenile, the son of DM Dilinger was prone to making a mistake or two during his races.

Despite that, he built an impressive record which included 12 wins.

This season, Be Diligent has matured and strengthened up in his races to be rated one of the best four-year-olds in Queensland.

Going into Friday's Chariots, he takes a victory over brilliant mare Fleur De Lil in the Patrons Purse while three starts back he was an impressive winner of the Four and Five-Year-Old Championship.

"He is going as well as I can get him going into the race," Martin said.

"I think this season he's become more tractable in his races which has helped him out immensely.

"The ability was always there but it was just a matter of him putting it all together."

Be Diligent was automatically given the extreme outside barrier for the Chariots, being an outside draw mobile horse.

While the field is one of the hottest assembled on record, Martin will go into the race with a touch of confidence despite the awkward draw.

Top freelancer Greg Bennett has been engaged to take the drive.

"Greg drove him a few times in Queensland with success so he will jump back on this Friday," Martin said.

"He knows the horse and knows the track extremely well, so that combination should hold us in good stead.

"Initially when I knew he had the outside barrier, I was a little concerned, but then Melpark Major and Lombo Pocket Watch also drew wide.

"The barrier doesn't worry me because I know what my horse is capable of. He'll need luck from there, but is capable of winning, no doubt."

CHARIOTS REDEMPTION FOR MARTIN