Artillery firing straight to the winners circle
Long-standing star South Australian pacer Artillery produced a tough performance to add to his trophy collection with victory in the 2026 Ardrossan & Minlaton Hotels Kadina Pacing Cup (2050m) at Port Pirie on Monday.
From the time Artillery started racing for trainer Paul Cavallaro he has picked up feature wins beginning with a Lordship Stakes and Southern Cross as a two-year-old, more recently a 2023 Christmas Cup, in 2024 the Italian, Gawler, Victor Harbor and Ladbrokes Cups and now as an eight-year-old, a Kadina Cup.
Driven by Paul Cavallaro, Artillery, specked from $20 into $13 came wide over the last 800 metres to prove too strong scoring by 3-1/2 metres from Places You Don’t ($11) with Betterzippit ($12), 1-1/2 metres away third.
“It is good to have him back,” Cavallaro said.
“For the past 12 months, even though he looked well and was eating right, he just wasn’t himself on the track.
“He had some sort of blood disorder, but no one could tell us exactly what it was.
“I felt he was starting to get back to form late last year but as we had looked after him, he looked a bit big, so I put him on a diet.
“I trialled him at Globe Derby last week and thought he was getting back to his best and today he showed it.
“When I came three wide down the back he did it all on his own and I didn’t ask him to sprint until the home straight and he broke clear.”
Cavallaro said he almost certainly would take Artillery to Kapunda this Sunday for the $11,000 Pacing Cup (2610m).
Peace Of Heaven, a winner of his previous four starts, was sensationally backed from $3 to start $1.75 favourite and his supporters were happy when he was able to lead from gate one.
But when Artillery loomed up to challenge coming off the back straight, the favourite struggled and dropped out to finish seven.
Trainer-driver Ryan Hryhorec said Peace Of Heaven had been beaten down the back straight.
“I will get him tested but would be surprised if he doesn’t have a virus or is crook,” Hryhorec said.
“He has done a big job since coming from interstate so I will probably give him a break.
“But I was really happy with Betterzippit’s third at Port Pirie, and he can back up in the Kapunda Cup on Sunday.”
In-form mare Narobi produced a tough performance to take out the $8000 Robus Worx Civil Solutions Yorke Peninsula HRC Cup Final (2050m).
Trained by Peter Bain in Gawler and driven by Wayne Hill, Narobi ($1.35 fav) sat parked before hitting the lead turning for home and holding off Captain Barnato ($19) to win by a neck with Lincs Poor Boy ($34), 2-1/2 lengths away third.
The favourite began quickly from gate three, but The Reginator came out fast from barrier two to find the lead.
Hill allowed Narobi to find her rhythm sitting outside the leader before putting pressure on coming off the back straight.
Captain Barnato had the cold sit on the favourite and launched a challenge in the run home but just could not catch the winner.
Aaron Bain, director of Aaron Bain Racing, major owner of Narobi, said the mare was racing in great form.
“She had two runs below par but has turned the corner with four wins from her last five starts, and three in a row,” Bain said.
“I am sure she can continue to progress through the grades.”
Port Pirie trainer-driver Dale Afford had success at Port Pirie with Belladoro in the Blue Swimmers Brew Pace (1609m).
Afford took Belladoro ($7.50) to the front from gate two to lead throughout and win by 1-3/4 metres from Clarenden Sakura ($4.40) with Ozzie Joybell ($8.50) a long neck away third.
The six-year-old has been racing well with two wins from his past three starts and three wins from his last seven.
- Story Graham Fischer
- Photo Lindall White