Regular followers of the action at the Stawell Harness Racing Club will see a familiar name in the racebook this Thursday afternoon.
Sam Barker-trained gelding Charisma King has been a regular at Laidlaw Park in the back half of 2022, with his four appearances there resulting in three wins and a second placing.
He’s been the pin-up boy of the club’s Winner’s Gold Purse Bonus, which rewards multiple triumphs at the track with extra cash for connections.
Charisma King won at Stawell on June 27, and then backed it up with another success there on July 31 to pocket an added $500 for his trainer and $1000 for his owners.
He then picked up the same boost – on top of the race’s regular prizemoney – when he won there again on September 14.
“There’s no doubt I’ve been targeting races for him at Stawell because of this bonus,” Barker said.
“It’s a brilliant concept and one that we’ve been lucky enough to cash in on a couple of times already.
“The horse loves the tight little circuit at Stawell and has really thrived there.”
Barker will chase another bonus when he sends Charisma King around at Stawell on Thursday afternoon.
Nominations for the meeting have been extended until 7.30am on Monday, and the club is urging connections of all recent winners at Stawell (from April 25 this year onwards) to chase the bonuses on offer.
