Jarred Hetherington-trained Rock Fisherman qualifies for $100,000 final in Newcastle

Narrabri harness racing trainer Jarred Hetherington will oversee the biggest race in his career in just nine days’ time when Rock Fisherman takes part in the $100,000 TAB Regional Championship Hunter final at Newcastle International Paceway.

The eight-year-old gelding lined up for his 181st career start at that venue in one of the four heats last Friday and charged home to his 19th career win, his fifth since joining the JWH Racing stable in July of 2023, to qualify for one of the 12 final spots in the 2030-metre race on Friday, May 16.

The top three finishers in each of the four heats at the May 2 meeting all qualified for the Hunter regional final and Rock Fisherman was in danger of missing out altogether after starting behind pole position on the second row with Chloe Formosa in the sulky.

The duo were sitting fifth with a mile left to run as they occupied the inside lane behind the Chris Bourke-trained, Andrew Bourke-driven pole position starter Mister Poverty and the Anthony Missen-trained, Blake Hughes-driven leader Grosso Naso, which had started widest of six on the front line and gotten out into the lead early.

The Tom Ison-trained and driven Ashleys Blue Chip was running just outside the leader at that stage, and they all remained in those positions with one final 932-metre circuit to run.

The Jamie Donovan-trained, Robert Morris-driven Fast Tracker made a move early in that final lap and got to the front to join Grosso Naso. They both began to break away from the pack as Rock Fisherman struggled to find a way past three pacers between them, and Formosa eventually pulled away to take on the widest lane going into the final home turn.

They had plenty of work to do with eight pacers ahead of them, one of which was Ashley’s Blue Chip as the favourite joined Grosso Nasso and Fast Tracker at the head of the pack heading into the final straight. That trio looked set to battle it out for the victory, but just as Grosso Nasso and Fast Tracker began to lose ground on the inside, Rock Fisherman charged up alongside Ashleys Blue Chip on the outside and got over the top to win by four metres and qualify for the Hunter regional final in style.

Ashleys Blue Chip ended up placing second and the Darren Elder-trained, Joshua Gallagher-driven Nifty Studleigh ran home third.

Hetherington told The Courier he was proud to have qualified for the prestigious final and he thought Rock Fisherman showed plenty of heart in Friday’s heat.

“He was second last out of 10 hitting the home turn. It was a huge finish,” Hetherington said.

“He went off tap and won by three metres.

“He had gotten out to 25 to one and shortened back into $13 fixed. We had a lot of confidence leading into it, and he just drew bad, otherwise he would have been a lot shorter.

“He doesn’t win out of term, but he’s probably going as good now as he’s ever gone. He’s a lovely big horse and he’s a pleasure to have around. He’s never got too many issues.

“He had been pulling too hard in his runs in the past, but we’ve gotten him to settle and now he’s not taking so much out of himself.

“Getting through to this final is huge for us. It was definitely a thrill to win that race the way he won it against the competition that was there.

“We’ve got part of the job done and we’re now looking towards the big one in a couple of weeks. We’re not just happy being in it, even though we are proud to be in it. We’ll be putting in the hard work and effort to win it now.

“How we’ve been driving him, a lot of people will be sweating on a good barrier in the final. Even for us, a good barrier would be handy, but the way we’ve been driving him and the way he’s been getting home, it’s really not as critical for us.”

Hetherington is bullish about the gelding’s chances and said that he was always confident with Chloe Formosa on board his horses.

Chloe is the daughter of champion driver Mick Formosa, who is one of Hetherington’s regular drivers and was the first to drive Rock Fisherman for JWH Racing back in July 2023.

Mick has driven the gelding nine times, including at Narrabri last month, but has only ever driven him as high as second. He had one of the best seats in the house to watch his daughter win the heat final on Friday night as he drove Vincentius Maximus to a sixth-place finish.

Hetherington was full of praise for the 19-year-old junior driver.

“Chloe never panicked and never stressed when they got in a bit of bother,” the Narrabri trainer said.

“They got checked hitting the home turn, but she got the job done. She’s still only a junior driver but she’s got a big future.”

The winner of the May 16 final will not only be crowned the regional champion, but will also qualify for the state final Saturday, May 24, at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

Four regional finals are being contested this month, and the podium finishers at all four venues will qualify for the state final. The other venues are Gold Crown Paceway Bathurst for the Western final, Riverina Paceway Wagga Wagga for the Riverina final, and Tabcorp Park Menangle for the Metropolitan final.

Meanwhile, Hetherington is in Tamworth tomorrow with three of his horses in action at a Tamworth Harness Racing Club meeting.

Frozen Jewel will start from pole position in race three at 1.46pm, Limousine Cheeky has drawn barrier nine in race five at 3.03pm, and Rippin Rupert has drawn barrier four in race eight at 4.55pm.

There will also be four other Narrabri pacers in action in Tamworth as the Garry Shepherdson-trained, Chris Shepherdson driven Lookat Mee (barrier four), Montana Nights (barrier two), Marksman (barrier five) and Three Parts Grey (pole position) line up in races three, four, five and six, respectively.