Latest News

By Geoff Newling

Danny Bowen hopes the Lismore track continues to improve so he can run three of his stable on their home track tomorrow. The young trainer with 14 in work at Lismore is “keeping my fingers crossed” the track will improve from its current Heavy 10 rating.

“Hopefully it does so we can race,” Danny Bowen said today. “We got a bit of rain yesterday, had a little bit more than was forecast but we’ve got a clear today and hopefully it does keep improving. It’s a Heavy 10 at the moment.”

He has three runners engaged in tomorrow’s seven-race program – Last Cigar (R1), Clearfield (R2) and Hope Island (R7) – and has hopes for all three. Last Cigar tackles the first race, the Winning Post Function Centre Maiden Handicap (1200m), jumping from barrier four with Ben Looker on board.

A three-year-old gelding son of Onemorenomore Last Cigar has had just the one run, a 9.9length 9th to Snitz at Grafton back in March. He’s spelled since and had two trials, the most recent being a good second to Perfect Dare at Murwillumbah.

“He trialled well,” Daniel Bowen said. “He’s still learning. He got a little field shy at Grafton that’s why we trialled him twice and will try to race up on the pace with him. It does depend on scratching too but I think he’ll run a nice race and will make a nice horse.”

He also thinks Clearfield, who is having her first start for him, will run a nice race in the Evans Head Super Saturday November 25 Maiden Plate (1400m) when she jumps from barrier five with Luke Rolls aboard.

“I think she’ll win a few races on her work for us,” he said. “Hasn’t raced for a month but is fit.”

Hope Island rounds out his day at home and has also drawn well to go from barrier three in the tab.co.au benchmark 55 Handicap (1300m) with Danny Peisley on top. The grey gelding son of Casino Prince has yet to win at home but has also run four placings out of five on his track.

He was also desperately unlucky in the Rousillon at Lismore on Cup day, finishing fourth to On Demand, beaten three quarters of a length.

“He was unlucky,” Danny Bowen said. “He’s coming back a little in distance (1600m to 1300m) but is back in grade,” he said. “He hasn’t raced since the Rousillon and while he hasn’t raced on a Heavy I think he’ll get through it. He always runs a good race here too and I think he’ll go close. All in all it should be a good day.”

Lismore races for the first time since its hugely successful Cup day when Daniel also celebrated a winner.

“That’s three years in a row I’ve got a winner on Cup day,” he said. “Hope it continues.”