Cessnock trainer Clayton Harmey describes the Gold Crown consolation victory of Skyfall Benchmark as even "more special" given the emotional week experienced by the colt's owners.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two-year-old, driven by Ellalong's Michael Formosa, saluted in the $30,000 final (1730 metres) at Bathurst on Saturday night following the death of Newcastle Harness Racing Club life member Lawrie Carpenter.
IN THE NEWS:
- Former couple plead not guilty to murder over Danielle's brutal death
- Fraudster renting home for $3400 a week
- PODCAST: Wayne Pearce on son Mitchell's 300th NRL game
- Singleton, Bulga peaks pass as Maitland prepares for Hunter river to rise
- Porter and Reynolds to remain in cabinet
- New coronavirus case emerges in Brisbane
Skyfall Benchmark, owned by the Carpenter family including Lawrie's son David, lived up to pre-event favouritism to win by 1.2 lengths.
"It's not easy to lose a loved one so for the horse to come out like that made it even more special," Harmey said.
Ideal Mondo was third in the same race for Louth Park trainer-driver Peter Hedges.
Earlier on the card in group 1 deciders, Formosa's Heavenly Holly finished sixth in the Gold Bracelet (1730m) while Nelly Bigtime was a late scratching from the Gold Tiara (1730m) for the Morisset stables of Nathan Dawson.
Carpenter's funeral will be held at Pettigrew in Belmont on Tuesday (10am).
Meanwhile, Harmey's pair Major Bob and Big Black Demand headline his 10 runners spread across four Inter City Pace heats (2422m) at Maitland on Monday. The $20,400 final follows at the same track on Saturday night.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
