Lismore preview: Trainer Daniel Bowen expects a big turnaround from Hacking while he waits for Kosciuszko call up for classy duo

Local trainer Daniel Bowen has warned to forget the debut run of Hacking when nothing went right while he hopes for a Kosciuszko call for his high-class pair.

In-form mare Tectonic Plate is ready for the Kosciuszko should she get a slot. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

As the 14 Kosciuszko ticket holders across New South Wales start narrowing down their selections for race, Lismore trainer Daniel Bowen made a strong case for his two charges.

Bowen has progressive mare Tectonic Plate and proven performer At Witz End tracking perfectly towards the $2 million race on October 19.

“Tectonic Plate won well at Eagle Farm then at Doomben last start, she got a squeeze and ended up last,” said Bowen.

“Nothing made up any ground all day and she flew home to finish third and was beaten less than a length.

“Even though it was disappointing to see her get beat under those circumstances, you have to take heart from her performance. I think she is capable of winning stakes races.

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Tectonic Plate with a strong finish at Eagle Farm 💪 pic.twitter.com/2IJAgzhKrc

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 20, 2024

“Hopefully a ticket holder has seen that and we can get her into the Kosciuszko.

“The horse who ran third to her two runs ago, Manhood, when she sat three-deep is the same horse Boom Torque beat at Doomben the other day.

“Boom Torque is on the fourth line of betting at $11 and she is $21 for the Kosciuszko.”

Bowen’s other contender At Witz End may be a nine-year-old but he is racing in career best form with a win in the Listed Eye Liner two runs back before a third to Punch Line in the Glasshouse last start.

He was also third behind Golden Boom in the Listed Chief De Beers at Doomben back in May.

“On his current form, if he was a five-year-old, he’d be almost favourite. His is form is just as good as Front Page and Far Too Easy,” said Bowen.

“He won the Eye Liner two runs ago and was second in the Glasshouse last start.

“When he ran third to Golden Boom in the Chief De Beers, he was unlucky that day and only beaten a length.

“Golden Boom just got beat a couple of weeks ago by Mornington Glory who just won the Moir Stakes last weekend.”

In the meantime, Bowen is Hacking can have a big change of fortune when she steps out in the opening race on her hometrack, the Maiden Plate for Fillies and Mares (1100m).

At Witz End draws away and holds off Yellow Brick 👌 pic.twitter.com/pAygEo2FYL

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024

Bowen wishes he would have scratched the three-year-old from her debut race at the Sunshine Coast on September 1 when absolutely nothing went right.

“Two things happened that day. They went to the gate on a very hot day and as they were about to load, a patron fell ill so they had to come back to the stalls for half an hour and all of them were a lather of sweat,” he said.

“When they did race, she was back and wide, got checked and pushed wider again and made a run then her run peaked 200m out.

“It was just a disaster so just forget that run.

“There is a big spruik on Matt Dunn’s horse, Scripted, but it still has to aim up in raceday.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she got up and won. The favourite has drawn beside her and if it leads, we might be right behind it getting a soft run.”

Bowen said new stable recruit Cacofonix will find the 1100m of the Benchmark 82 Handicap too short first-up but feels he will be the horse to follow out of the race.

“He is only new to the stable but he is a nice horse,” he said.

“Take out his last three runs where two of them were in the Provincial Championships.

“The campaign prior, he had good form around the likes of Blakmax and Tajaki.

“He will be much better suited when he gets up to 1300m to a mile.”

ANTHEM READY TO RING OUT WITH MAIDEN VICTORY

Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard has endured a frustrating run with Irish Anthem but feels a maiden win isn’t far away for the gelding.

Irish Anthem has placed in five of his 13 starts and has been unlucky not to have broken through already when circumstances have just gone against him.

Attard is hoping a good draw and a gear change can help the five-year-old land that coveted win in The Bachmayer Orthodontic Clinic Maiden Handicap (1500m) with Rachel King again onboard.

“It is very frustrating. He is such a nice horse and doing everything right, he just hasn’t managed to get his nose in front yet but it’s coming,” said Attard who trains in partnership with his wife, Lucy.

“He has run some good races and earned some nice prizemoney along the way. He hasn’t had a lot of luck go his way.

Noble Tess gets a nice maiden win over the mile!@[e-mail]/LZ2XiPus9R

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2024

“The winkers are going back on this week and I think that might make a bit of a difference. I just wish the track was a bit softer but in saying that, I don’t think it will hamper him too much.

“He’s got first use of the track in race one which I would rather than being in race eight.”

The son of Starspangledbanner came from near last over this same track and distance last start when beaten a length-and-a-half by Noises after coping an untimely bump on the corner and being pushed even wider.

“He did give them a head start after getting right back in the run,” Attard said.

“He was the widest horse coming around the bend and copped a bump just on straightening.

“He wasn’t beaten far and Hawkesbury isn’t the track to have that happen because it’s a sharp turn and sprint home. Getting hampered at that point isn’t ideal.

“He finished off well and wasn’t beaten far in the end.

“If he can settle a bit closer from his good gate this time, I think that will help him.

“It’s not a weak maiden but I think he is up to it. He really deserves to win his maiden and a couple of races after that.”

The trainers have Leandra resuming in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday and expect her to run very well.

“She went really well over 1200m at Rosehill first-up last preparation,” he said.

“Her trial at Hawkesbury the other week was amazing so going off that, she is definitely worthy of starting her preparation off in town.”