With an easy win over Our Virtuoso and Baron Jujon at last Tuesday’s Northam meeting Valbonne joined Dreamy Nights, Marquisard and Naval Aviator at the top of the Northam Harness Racing Club’s leaderboard for leading pacer this season with each of the quartet having recorded three wins at Burwood Park this season.
Valbonne is a 3yo gelding by Mach Three and is trained by Mike Reed and driven by Mark Reed for Walmsley Developments.
That combination nearly took out the State’s biggest race last Friday night when Maczaffair finished third behind Rocknroll Lincoln and El Jacko in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park.
Valbonne was the second leg of a winning double for Walmsley Developments and the Reeds who took out the second race last Tuesday courtesy of another smart 3yo in Its Set In Stone.
The win of Valbonne completed a remarkable run for the horse at Northam as he had also won at the December 22 and 29 meetings at Burwood Park – his only three starts at the track in his career.
Not to be left behind, the Aldo Cortopassi trained and driven Naval Aviator won the eighth race last Tuesday to bring up his third win in four starts this season at Burwood Park join the leaders in the Horse of the Year Award.
Scott pair back in form just in time for the 2019 Grafton Electrics Northam Cup
Also a winner at Northam last Tuesday was the Matthew Scott trained Another Ayjay which came off the 40 metre mark to down Billy Mack and Donegal Chokin in a standing start race.
Another Ayjay finished fifth behind Tas Man Bromac, Major Catastrophe, Major Rush and Assassinator in last year’s Northam Cup and is set for another tilt at the 2019 edition on February 2.
The Scott stable secured a second consecutive city double last Friday night with Always Arjay and Jaxon Fella. Always Arjay finished sixth in last year’s Northam Cup and like his stablemate is in peak form for this year’s race.
Matthew Scott is currently in third place on the Northam Trainers Premiership this season with his 24 starters for the season producing four winners and five thirds for a total of 21 points under the 4,2,1 system used to calculate the winner.
Mike Reed heads the Trainers List with five winners and two seconds from his 10 starters for 24 points. Locally based trainers Nathan Dymock and Ray Williams have each trained three winners at Northam this season.
Big week in Northam
Local harness fans will be spoilt next week with a big programme set for Tuesday, January 29, followed by the Grafton Electrics Northam Cup meeting on Saturday, February 2, so mark the two dates in the diary.
