Punt Away and Jackson Painting after winning at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night. Photo by Club Menangle.
A FEATURE win by Punt Away at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night further justified a move by Riverina duo David Kennedy and Jackson Painting to set up base and extend their stay in Sydney.
Punt Away led throughout to win the $25,500 The Meat Man Wholesale Meats Waratah Final in fast time.
It capped off a busy couple of days for Painting, who after competing at Penrith on Thursday night travelled back to the Riverina to drive at Albury on Friday and then returned to Menangle on Saturday.
“I have done a lot of kilometres over the past few days, so for this girl to be able to win for us has made it all worthwhile and satisfying,” said Painting.
“She is a nice mare who I think in time will develop into a genuine metropolitan horse given that she possesses both high speed and toughness, attributes needed to be competitive at Menangle.”
Travelling back and forth to the Riverina will continue for Painting over the next few weeks and he will drive at Wagga tomorrow night in heats of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge Regional series.
The state’s regional series heats kick off at the Riverina Paceway where two heats for both the fillies and the colts and geldings will be run and Painting is hoping the Kennedy team will perform well.
“We have three leading chances in the filly’s division, and it is difficult to separate them,” said Painting.
“However, I do feel confident that Shes A Caribbean will be hard to beat tomorrow night.
“In fact, she should be a major player in the overall series.”
Newcastle races this afternoon with a seven race program beginning at 2.12pm.
One pacer that will be looking to continue on his winning way is the Al Copps-trained It Down To Digger in the Goozdolphin Racing Maiden Muster December Pace.
The two-year-old gelding has won three on the bounce but faces his toughest test to date after drawing wide in gate eight over the 1609-metre sprint trip.
He has the services of in-form reinsman Josh Gallagher, which can only aid his chances, and is likely to be sent out as a short-priced favourite.
The KerryAnn Morris-trained Bonus Bet, which will be driven by her husband Robbie, also appears to be a strong winning chance in Race 2.