Trainer eyes hat-trick for Interislander Summer Festival

TWO AT A GALLOP: Scapolo wins the Poverty Bay Cup at the Poverty Bay Turf Club race last year. Trainer Kevin Myers hopes to bring Scapolo back for a tilt at winning the race for a third time. Race day, which is part of the Interislander Summer Festival, is at the Makaraka track on February 18. File picture

A HAT-trick is on the cards for Whanganui racehorse trainer Kevin Myers.

He is the trainer of Scapolo, who has won the last two runnings of the Poverty Bay Cup at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s annual races, and he plans to bring him here again this month.

Now called the Interislander Summer Festival, it will be held at the Makaraka track on Sunday, February 18 with a day of grassroots racing action, live music and all-day kids entertainment.

Myers said he will bring a big team of about 17 horses to the meet and has high hopes of a hat trick for the 8-year-old bay gelding Scapolo.

“He will be carrying the same weight as last year. If he doesn’t come, we will bring Over the River for the cup race.”

Scapolo is one of NZ’s highest-rated horses and has won 18 races and $768,000 in stakes.

Myers has had a long and successful career out of his Marton training base. He won the 2008 New Zealand Derby with C’est La Guerre and the 2004 Kelt Capital Stakes with Balmuse, who caused an upset over subsequent World Champion Miler Starcraft. He is well regarded for his affection for jumps and flat racing.

The Poverty Bay Turf Club makes the trip to Gisborne worthwhile for trainers, offering incentives to fill the fields.

Club spokesman Alan Davidson said the races are a family favourite in Gisborne and he expects this year to be no different.

“Gisborne residents and visitors have come to anticipate this annual Kiwi event at the picturesque Gisborne Racecourse. It’s a great tradition enjoyed by all, from first time punters and groups of friends to the whole family. There’s nothing better than race day fun in the sun.”