Harmey Hungry For Big Birthday Bonus

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 26, 2005

John Gilmour - On the pace

KEINBAH trainer-driver Clayton Harmey will be out to put the icing on his birthday cake by collecting a swag of winners at Newcastle International Paceway tomorrow night.

Harmey turns 26 tomorrow and will be in for a busy day as he has races eight horses at the meeting.

Harmey could also be in for a very rewarding day because most of his runners are at least each-way hopes, and he has a realistic chance of surpassing his personal best of four winners on one program.

Leading his charge will be Stormy Crusader, which made an impressive return to racing with a stylish win at Newcastle last Saturday night.

Stormy Crusader, which last week was having his first run back after larynx surgery, led most of the way to win over 2550 metres.

"That was a very good run because he was first-up since January, and he did have to do a bit of work to get to the front," Harmey said.

"Sure I was able to back off a little once in front, but I was never forced to let him go in the run home and didn't even bother to pull the earplugs."

Harmey expects well-performed Cawdor-trained mare Miss Alberta to offer the strongest challenge to Stormy Crusader tomorrow night when they meet in race five (2030m).

"Apart from Miss Alberta, Stormy Crusader is racing a similar line-up to that which he beat last week," Harmey said.

"Miss Alberta has won twice as much in prizemoney as my bloke, but she has also had twice has many starts."

Stormy Crusader, which Harmey rates as potentially the best horse he has ever trained, has 12 wins and six placings from his 20 career starts.

Whatsupmax is drawn to start the night on a winning note for Harmey when the horse starts from barrier one in race one (1609m).

Harmey said that while he was a little disappointed in the gelding's run last Saturday night, when the horse led before being beaten one metre by Sunvolo over 2030m, he felt that Whatsupmax was much better suited by the mile tomorrow night.

"He has worked well during the week, and I am confident that if he can lead, then he will go very close," Harmey said of the gelding.

Enjays Cam, which is raced by a syndicate from the Newcastle Harness Racing Club that includes chief executive Ross Gigg, is another good chance in race six (1609m).

The gelding scored in smart time at Newcastle on August 18.

Harmey's other runners tomorrow night are: Burt and Brookes Way, in race two (1609m); Bee Jay Gem, in race three (2030m); and, Khloe, Franco Regent and Speed Magic, in race four (1609m).

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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