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By Mark Brassel

Muswellbrook trainer Justin Bowen will be having his fourth successive crack at a unique race on home turf tomorrow, the $30,000 Lone Pine Charge Handicap (1000m).

Bowen won the race last year with $31 outsider Upside who prevailed in a photo finish when ridden by Darryl McLellan.

Upside (Darryl McLellan; pink colours) narrowly wins last year's Lone Pine Charge. Image by Bradley Photographers

Upside had two previous unsuccessful attempts to claim the Lone Pine Charge, finishing fifth to odds-on favourite Le Melody in 2023 and seventh to Patino Ruby in 2022.

This year Bowen will be represented by Zakor who is certain to be well-fancied despite resuming from a seven-month break.

The gelding scored at Muswellbrook in August before finishing second to Edited By in the Springtime Handicap on Wyong Gold Cup Day in September.

Zakor has since coasted home in a barrier trial on his home track with raceday jockey Clayton Gallagher aboard.

Bowen has prepared 36 winners to date with a third of the total being at his beloved Muswellbrook.

Muswellbrook Race Club will be honouring Aussie war heroes at tomorrow’s annual Lone Pine Charge Day.

“In conjunction with the Muswellbrook RSL Sub-Branch, our Club will commemorate the Gallipoli campaign with a service honouring Australian veterans and serving personnel,” explained MRC’s General Manager, Christine Williams.

Muswellbrook's unique Lone Pine Charge trophy. Image by Bradley Photographers

“The Lone Pine Charge comes with a perpetual trophy, an 18-pounder artillery round with the shell case and commemorates the ANZAC Landing by recognising the ‘Charge at Lone Pine’, a battle that went from August 6 to August 10 in 1915.

“The trophy’s round is made of Jacaranda, and the base is of Cypress Pine, with the woodwork completed by Dick Gordon and Fred Pearse. And also in attendance will be the Light Horse.”

There’s plenty of racing in store with a massive 15 meetings scheduled for Friday’s ANZAC Day and Saturday.

On Friday, aside from Randwick and Gosford, there are meetings at Bathurst with their popular Soldier’s Saddle Day, as well as Kempsey, Murwillumbah, Nyngan, Deniliquin and Armidale.

Then on Saturday there’ll be another five meetings in tandem with the Randwick and Newcastle programs with racing at Grafton, Canberra, Leeton, Merriwa and Cootamundra.

At Saturday’s Newcastle meeting the Club will get behind one of its own with the ‘Raise for Jaxon Raceday’.

“We will be fundraising to support one of our own, Jaxon Scriven who became a below-the-knee amputee due to an accident in late 2024,” said Newcastle Jockey Club’s CEO, Duane Dowell.

“Funds raised will go towards Jaxon’s future needs including car modifications to help him get around.

“Newcastle Racecourse is inviting local businesses and the community to get behind Jaxon through the event by becoming a Raceday Naming Rights sponsor or attending the fundraiser luncheon in the Pavilion Room.”

UPCOMING NSW/ACT COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Muswellbrook
Tuesday: Coffs Harbour, Queanbeyan
Thursday: Albury, Tamworth
Friday (ANZAC Day): Bathurst, Kempsey (non-TAB), Murwillumbah (non-TAB), Nyngan (non-TAB), Deniliquin (non-TAB), Armidale (non-TAB)
Saturday: Grafton, Canberra, Leeton (non-TAB), Merriwa (non-TAB), Cootamundra (non-TAB)
Sunday: Narromine, Port Macquarie