Temora’s Colin Pike became a household name through the deeds of his mighty champion Paleface Adios and now he is set to drive again, well sort of.
Paleface Adios and Pike have made the field in the Ultimate Miracle Mile – a fictional race to be broadcast at the final meeting to be held at Harold Park on December 17.
They will line-up against other former champions including race favourite Popular Alm, Village Kid, Christian Cullen, Mount Eden and Hondo Grattan.
Pike, who at 79 stills attends local harness racing meetings, would love to be driving for real against the other stars.
“What a race. I reckon we would go alright,” he said.
“It is hard to say who the best is. I always liked Christian Cullen – he was a terrific horse to watch.
“I reckon they would all be as good as each other it would depend on the barrier draw.
“It’s hard to compare horses from different eras because the tracks are much better.”
If it was a race based on longevity, Paleface Adios would have the measure of his rivals.
“He ran in seven Miracle Miles, won one and was placed in five others,” Pike recalled.
“It would be a terrific race – if only it was real.”
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Leeton reinsman Bill Trembath experienced one of the biggest thrills of his life when he guided Rusty Gate to victory in his driving comeback at Junee on Saturday night.
Trembath was having his first drive for more than three months after undergoing cancer surgery.
“It was good to get back into it especially when you are at the trots almost every week then all of a sudden it all changes,” Trembath said.
“I thoroughly enjoyed just being back at the trots and to win was a plus.”
Trembath’s fitness was put to the test as Rusty Gate had to be driven right out to the finish line to defeat Final Arrival by one metre.
“It will take a while to get back into it. I will start off slowly and see how I go,” he said.
“Hopefully my problems are behind me and I can get on with my normal routine.”
Trembath said the support he had received from within the industry was typical of harness racing people.
“I was pretty happy and so were a lot of other people. I had a lot of phone calls – it’s been great,” he said.
Trembath has driven Rusty Gate in 14 of his 18 wins for Leeton trainer John Thompson who has done a terrific job placing the pacer during his career.
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There have been many footballers make the transition from the playing field to the track and now Jake Stockton has joined the list.
Stockton had his first race trial drive at Wagga on Monday night winning with Secretary Of State for trainer Bernie Kelly.
Currently playing with Rivcoll in the Farrer League, Stockton loved the experience and plans to make his official driving debut in the next six months.
“It is what I have always wanted to do. I have raced and bred a few, but to actually drive in a race is an even better experience,” he said.
The 25-year-old will be required to have more trial drives and should be given the all clear to compete in races by May.
He assists Kelly each morning before work where he gets to drive some of the best pacers in the region.
“Bernie has been great and my grandfather Les Stockton has also helped me a lot,” he said.
Stockton isn’t the only footballer involved in harness racing with former premiership winning Coach Russell Campbell, along with Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong’s Andrew Roberts also active in the sport.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State will resume racing at Wagga on Friday against a strong line-up including Goeslikell.
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Seven times leading NSW sire of the year Panorama has died at the age of 29.
Panorama had a huge influence on the breeding industry during his time based at Peppertree Farm at Cowra.
“He was a very special horse to us. He was our foundation sire and was just a lovely horse to do anything with,” Peppertree’s Julie Van Dyke said.
Panorama died of a heart attack on Sunday afternoon and was buried at the property.
His progeny including current star Karloo Mick as well as Kingstar and Pelicanrama.
Panorama had in excess of 750 individual winners of more than $30 million prizemoney.
In human years, Panorama lived to more than 100 years of age and was recently named NSW sire of the decade.
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Wagga will stage the first two-year-old race of the season in the Riverina on Friday and for one juvenile in particular it’s an important assignment.
Lettucereason will make her debut along with four other runners as she attempts to follow the lead of her older full brother, For A Reason.
Lettucereason has performed well at the trials but so has Miss Busy Business, while Chief Fairman ran second on debut at Bathurst last Sunday although beaten 26 metres.
Lettucereason is one of three first starters for leading trainer Paul Kahlefeldt who was pleased to see a two-year-old race go ahead with the Leeton Breeders Plate heats less than four weeks away.
“They have to start somewhere to gain experience and to see where they are up to,” Kahlefeldt said.
Lettucereason has the pedigree to win as her brother is one of the best performed juvenile pacers in Australia.
For A Reason has won 18 of his 25 starts, has prizemoney earnings of more than $300,000 with a career best time of 1.55.3.
Leeton has programmed a two-year-old race on December 11, while Wagga has been granted a Nursery Stakes event on January 6.
The first Nursery Stakes race last season was won by Sheezallattitude who won nine of her 17 starts as a two-year-old and more than $200,000 prizemoney.
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Outstanding prospect Northern Frontier returned to racing with a vengeance with a first-up win in a brilliant mile rate of 1.56.6 seconds at Cobram on Wednesday.
Northern Frontier was having his first start since April after overcoming the affects of a virus which put an end to his three-year-old racing season.
Prepared in Wagga by Lindsay Morphett, Northern Frontier found the lead from a wide draw before running his rivals ragged.
“Hopefully he can get a bit fitter and work through his classes and we will see where he takes us,” Morphett’s son Paul said.
Paul, who has driven the pacer seven times for six wins and a second, said it was a relief to see the gelding back to his best.
“We were a bit sceptical because he was going in against race fit horses, but he is a very good racehorse who tries hard,” he said.
“He is a bit stronger and hopefully he can have a good campaign.”
Morphett said races during the Carnival of Cups series were likely for Northern Frontier who has captured ten wins from 19 starts.
Reflecting on the loss of Northern Frontier due to illness, Morphett said only time could get the four-year-old over the affects of a cold.
“We tried everything to help him shake off the virus, but in the end we had to let the rest of the season go and give him a spell,” he said.
