Harness
Mighty Minstrel on cusp of Pinjarra Pacing Cup history
Superstar WA pacer Minstrel is on the verge of creating a Pinjarra Pacing Cup record that may never be matched when he steps out in a bid to claim the coveted race for the third year in a row on March 2.
The seemingly evergreen nine-year-old has produced some of the best form of his career in the past two seasons and brilliantly defended his Group 1 WA Pacing Cup title at Gloucester Park in December last year, taking his career prizemoney to more than $2 million.
Co-trainers Greg and Skye Bond have confirmed plans for Minstrel to defend his Pinjarra Cup title in a race that looks set to be a two-horse war against his long-time rival Magnificent Storm. He is then likely to be aimed at the $1.25 million Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 17 and the $300,000 Fremantle Cup at the same track the following week.
No horse has ever won three Pinjarra Cups, let alone three in a line.
"He's in full work with the view that he will go first-up into the Pinjarra Cup, which is pretty much what he did last year and got the business done," Greg Bond said.
"He's won the past two Pinjarra Cups, so if he happened to get the cash here, he would be the first horse to win three in a row. He just keeps stepping up and maintaining a really high level of performance, and he doesn't show any signs of waning.
"His attitude is as good as it's ever been when I'm galloping him. He's always there with you the times, the heart rate, it's all like a mirror image of what happened 6 months ago, 12 months ago, 18 months ago.
"It's just same, same, and it's crazy he's been able to have that level of longevity. He just keeps that head going forward."
Despite finishing second to Don Hugo in last year's Inter Dominion championship at Menangle in NSW, Bond said Minstrel would now be likely to finish the remainder of his racing career on home soil in WA. He is also set to chase a third consecutive WA Pacing Cup on December 11.
Pinjarra Paceway General Manager Dale Putland said he expected a "titanic battle" on the track with the likelihood that both Minstrel and Magnificent Storm will contest another major WA pacing prize.
"The Pinjarra Cup always brings together the cream of the crop of WA pacers, with 12 horses going into battle," Putland said.
"Run over 2692m, it is the ultimate test and is probably why no horse has ever won three Cups in a row. If Minstrel can win his third in a line, he will set a record that is likely to never be equalled or broken."
Gates will open at 10am for the Scavenger Fire & Safety Pinjarra Cup meeting, which will offer families free entertainment including face painting, an animal farm, a bouncy castle, food trucks, live music by Mark Bradley and a free lolly bag and icy pole for children after the sixth race.
Bookings for the course restaurant are now open and there will also be TAB facilities and lucky losing ticket draws available on the day.
Harness racing in the Peel region delivers nearly $58 million in value-added contribution to the local economy annually and provides for 418 full-time equivalent employment positions.
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