Love Finds A Way To Win National Title

Newcastle Herald

Friday September 8, 2006

Gary Harley - On The Bunny

MAITLAND-owned and Richmond-Vale trained Immortal Love broke the track record in winning the National Sprint Championship in Launceston, Tasmania, on Monday night.

Immortal Love, runner-up to Big Wave Dave in the NSW series of the National Sprint Championship at Wentworth Park recently, had the coveted rails box on Monday night.

Up against Australia's best, Immortal Love began quickly and held the rails on the first turn with Queenslander Buckingham Chuck, Tasmania's Coolangatta and the crack Victorian Fenceline all in a line on his outside.

There was severe interference rounding the first turn and with the advantage of the rail, luck went Immortal Love's way and he went through the catching pen with a five-length lead.

Immortal Love won by five-and-a-half lengths from the gallant Buckingham Chuck, with Fenceline third, in a record-breaking time of 29.52 seconds for the 515-metre Launceston course.

Maitland friends, Dave Balcombe and Scott Nancarrow, bought Immortal Love from Sydney breeder and owner Harry Markou less than two months ago.

Leading trainer Jason Mackay, based at Richmond Vale near Kurri Kurri, prepares Immortal Love and he was brimful of confidence prior to the race despite the class of the opposition.

The owners were contemplating selling Immortal Love in the weeks leading up to the National Sprint Final but withdrew him from the market.

For Mackay, it was another "nationals" triumph. He prepared Classy Customer to win the 2004 National Distance Championship, and his powerhouse stayer Texas Gold was successful in the 2005 event.

? Former Sydney trainer Bosco Stamenkovic, based in South Australia these days, landed the National Distance Championship on Monday night with his crackerjack stayer Bothing.

The powerful bitch smashed the Launceston 720m track record in a trial leading up to the final and she officially broke the record on Monday night.

Bothing won a heat of the Young Guns Classic in a quick 29.69 at The Gardens last November.

? The National Coursing Association will celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of The Gardens complex with a top race program today, followed by a special dinner for invited guests.

It was on September 9, 2005, that The Gardens hosted its first race meeting to a sell-out crowd.

The Gardens has established itself as the finest racetrack in the state and it has been a magnificent 12 months of racing.

Newcastle Lord Mayor, John Tate, has been a great supporter of The Gardens and today's feature race is the $3000-to-the-winner Lord Mayor's Anniversary Trophy.

Brilliant Cessnock sprinter Highlee returns to The Gardens to contest the cup.

A winner on the track in 29.73 in March, Highlee will probably start favourite.

The classy pair of females, Wild Black Rose and Queen Cleopatra, are also in the cup field.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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