Alta Tallyho set for shot at West Coast $10,000 bonus
Alta Tallyho will head to Reefton tomorrow as the only horse with a chance of claiming the $10,000 West Coast bonus.
The Greg and Nina Hopetrained pacer notched up his second win in three days at yesterday’s Westport meeting impressively for driver Ricky May.
The talented pacer had won by seven lengths when clearing maidens on the first day of the West Coast circuit on Wednesday.
Alta Tallyho must now win tomorrow’s Reefton Cup to be eligible for the The Yaldhurst Hotel-sponsored bonus which is for horses who start as nonwinners on the first day and go through to win the Reefton feature.
Alta Tallyho burned to the lead and was too good for stablemate Delightful Blue.
Originally trained by Paul Kerr, Alta Tallyho was purchased halfway through the year by Trent, Paul and Dane Yesberg along with Tim Bloomfield, Regan Dixon and Josh Bates. They have now enjoyed two wins and two second placings for their investment.
Burnham trainer Jamie Gameson is confident about the chances of Canterbury pacer Here We Go Again leading into today’s feature 1609m Winton.
‘‘She’s in the same form that she was in when she won at Forbury Park. I couldn’t be happier with her, she’s very well,’’ Gameson said.
Here We Go Again finished an unlucky third at Winton last weekend. She started from No 1 on the second row
mobile
event
at in a one to two-wins mares’ mobile mile. The daughter of New Zealand Cup winner Kym’s Girl got trapped threeback on the inside and was blocked until the final 100m.
Here We Go Again had won in a slick 2min 41.1sec (2200m mobile) in a junior drivers’ race at Forbury Park on December 14.
Reinsman Tim Williams said Here We Go Again’s barrier draw of No 4 will aid her chances today.
Race rival Pemberton Shard had improved greatly since the New Zealand Cup meeting last month, trainer Brad Mowbray said.
Pemberton Shard ran fourth on cup day and two subsequent starts have resulted in wins at Rangiora (Sunday) and Ascot Park (December 2).
‘‘She’s grown another leg since Cup Week,’’ Mowbray said, adding that her racing manners were better.
Champion driver Dexter Dunn will drive the Christian Cullen mare