Issued on: 06 January 2010

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR KARLOO MICK AS LEW PONDERS THE FUTURE

Blacks A Fake, Village Kid, Sokyola, Gammalite, Thorate, Double Identity and Karloo Mick have all won more than a million dollars on the racetrack but another statistic that links all of these superstars of the harness industry is that they all have won 50 races or more during their career. Karloo Mick is the most recent addition to the club when he finished first in the Young Services Club Cup on Sunday.

Karloo Mick's trainer Barry Lew was pleased to bring up another milestone with the nine year old and had been thinking about the achievement often in the lead up to Sunday's narrow win.
"It wasn't all that long ago that I was aiming to win a million dollars and a group 1 with Karloo Mick but when someone mentioned he was in sight of 50 wins I thought that would be another great achievement for the old fellow to aim at" Lew said.

"He has been a great horse to be associated with and I have seen plenty of the country travelling with him, it's still that elusive group 1 that is missing now."

Lew is still yet to decide on what feature race he will target next with the son of Panorama but has narrowed it down to two.

"The Goulburn club have been on the phone a few times to try and convince me to head there on Thursday January 14 for the Frank and Edna Day Memorial and the race does look perfect for him but I am considering a trip to Victoria for the Bendigo Cup on January 16 so I still have a week or so until I need to make up my mind."

After finishing third in the Miracle Mile Lew made his intentions clear that he planned to campaign Karloo Mick around New South Wales in December and January and has stayed true to his word taking the horse to Bathurst and Young within 6 days.
"I don't really own him anymore, he really has become the people's horse. The following this horse got during his entire career from the people of New South Wales means a lot to me and I think it's only fair to repay their support by taking him to the country venues."

"The photographer from the local paper was out earlier this week taking another photo of him with the Young Cup but he doesn't get you out of trouble all the time. I got caught talking on my phone on one of the back roads near my place and when the policeman took my details he asked me if I was the trainer of Karloo Mick and when I said yes I thought he was going to let me off, but he didn't!"

Karloo Mick is currently rated a $17 chance by TAB Sportsbet for the Inter Dominion that begins next month in New South Wales but Lew is yet to confirm that his charge will take part in the series because of the new whip rules. Lew is concerned that Karloo Mick won't perform at his best and will consider retirement for the gelding if he fails to handle the new laws.

"I don't mind the horse being beaten but when he doesn't perform at his best because he can't be driven out like he has been for his entire career then retiring him is the only option."

"This horse needs a couple of cracks with the whip to put his mind on the job and under the new rules you basically can't do that."

Under the new laws introduced by Harness Racing Australia on January 1 drivers must keep a rein in each hand at all times and the whip is only to be used in a flicking motion.

"This is obviously an animal welfare issue for the whole industry but I have never mistreated this horse during his career. He has always been well looked after and I wouldn't allow him to be hurt. He needs the whip to perform at his best and it doesn't hurt him when he is driven in aggressively."

BENNETT IS ON THE ROAD AGAIN

When the leading driver in New South Wales, Greg Bennett, returns to his South Coast home from Maitland after driving in the Inter City Pace on Saturday night, the freelance driver will have covered more than 2100 kilometres since the beginning on the New Year.

Bennett's road trip began on January 1 when he raced at Menangle before travelling to Newcastle the following night to partner Inter City Pace favourite Ghadasbest in the heats. It was off to Young on January 3 to drive Karloo Mick in the Young Services Club Cup before returning to drive at Menangle on Monday and Tuesday. He will drive at Penrith on Thursday, Harold Park on Friday and head to Maitland on Saturday night.

The long stints on the road are made easier when driving winners on the track and Ghadasbest could give Bennett another big race win in the Maitland feature after drawing barrier one. The four year old was impressive winning his heat by more than 13 metres after leading comfortably from gate six.

Deadesetlucky is the main danger to Ghadasbest after his strong victory in the heats but a second row draw around the tight Maitland circuit is going to make his job tougher. The four year old son of Nuke Of Earl will be attempting to bring up his third consecutive win after winning a final of the Sky Sprint Series at Newcastle two starts ago.

The fastest qualifier going into the Inter City Pace is four year old Just Cuddles. The Peter Rixon trained mare will also be attempting to bring up her third consecutive win after a strong win at Bathurst two starts ago. Just Cuddles is no stranger to big race victories after taking out last season's Sires Stakes for three year old fillies.

The Maitland Sheet Metal 47th Inter City Pace Final is race seven at Maitland on Saturday night and is scheduled to begin at 9:45pm.