Restrictions already gaining positive results

DETRACTORS were out in force, and it’s understandable to see why, after Harness Racing SA announced its plans for the South Australia Cup.

Once part of the Grand Circuit, the Cup is a shadow of its once prestigious self, with prizemoney dropping to a 30-year low in 2016.

The feature’s purse was reduced to $60,000 having peaked to $125,000 in 2013.

Last month HRSA announced the event’s stake will be slashed again – this time to the 1981 level of $30,000!

On top of the lowered prizemoney, HRSA declared the Cup – along with the state’s country Cups – have become restricted to locally-trained pacers…enter the detractors, which were mainly ex-patriot South Australians annoyed they can’t return for the ‘big races’.

A look at the bigger picture reveals there is method in the madness, primarily keeping SA money in SA with the hope it will encourage investment in the industry and improve local racing stock.

That in turn should help the state climb to a more respectable level in overall prizemoney.

Now within a few weeks HRSA’s plan appears to be working as indicated by the recent purchase of Victorian pacer, Somewhere Secret.

A perfect candidate for the various Cups, Somewhere Secret would traditionally be transported across the border in time for the races and take the money interstate upon his return home!

With a vision of what the gelding can earn as a local, a syndicate – led by prominent trainer Ryan Hryhorec – purchased Somewhere Secret in preparation for the Cups.

Noting the change in conditions as the reason for the purchase, Hryhorec stated the son of Somebeachsomewhere was a higher priced buy than usual.

“HRSA making the Cups just for horses trained here is the reason we bought him,” Hryhorec said. “He’s a pretty nice horse which is capable of earning good money during the Cup carnival.

“He’s not the kind of horse we’d normally buy, but the new structure here encourages such a purchase.

“If other stables did the same, all of a sudden our open class horses are stronger, which also encourages wagering and then better returns for the industry.

“There is more to it than just the trainers and owners too.

“The feed store gets more business, the farrier, the vet and so on…it’s all relevant.”

Although he has already run and won for his news owners Somewhere Secret will make his Globe Derby debut as a local on Saturday night.

Somewhere Secret’s previous outing at the venue saw him finished third in the 2020 SA Cup when prepared by Emma Stewart.

“We bought him before his win in Cranbourne, then he had his first start for me in Mildura just after Christmas, which he also won, so he has already proven to be a good buy,” Hryhorec said.

As for his pending assignment, Somewhere Secret has drawn the outside of the front row over 1800 metres.

“It’s not the ideal draw over the short trip, but he’s going to be hard to beat,” Hryhorec said. “All he has to do is bring his Victorian form here and he’ll be too good.”