September 12, 2014
by Ross Stanley
There were close photo finishes and even a triple dead heat involved in the 2013-14 Racing Queensland Thoroughbred Awards announced last weekend.
The Horse Of The Year was Buffering.
This evergreen sprinter just nudged out rival Spirit of Boom, seemingly the 3-2 Group One scoreline tipped the balance in favour of the Robert Heathcote trained galloper.
Back in 1956, the Flemington judges could not separate Ark Royal, Fighting Force and Pandie’s Sun at the end of the Hotham Handicap.
Breeding buffs and those who would like to read a summary of the season’s feats of Spirit of Boom, Temple of Boom, Buffering and Boban can go to the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association website.
A highlight of the Awards evening was the presence of 96 year-old Tommy Dawson, the new Hall of Fame inductee who was famous for putting the polish on Charlton Boy.
The full list of Award winners:
- Outstanding Racing Story: Robert Craddock
- Outstanding Racing Photo: Ross Stevenson
- Outstanding Club Marketing Award: Far North Queensland Amateur Turf Club
- Champion 2YO Stallion: Real Saga
- Champion First Season Stallion: Red Element
- Country Premiership Jockey of the Year: Gemma Steele (Blackall based)
- Country Premiership Trainer of the Year: Todd Austin (Barcaldine based)
- Country Premiership Horse of the Year: Direct Debit (trained at Thangool by Jeff Rideout)
- Provincial Premiership Jockey of the Year: Adrian Coome (Rockhampton based)
- Provincial Premiership Trainer of the Year: Benjamin Currie (Toowoomba based)
- Provincial Premiership Horse of the Year:Vandalised (trained by Rockhampton’s Jamie McConachy)
- Metropolitan Premiership Jockey of the Year: Tim Bell
- Metropolitan Premiership Trainer of the Year: Tony Gollan
- Metropolitan Premiership Horse of the Year: Borehole
- QTIS Horse of the Year: Executed (trained by Krystle Johnston)
- Queensland 2YO Horse of the Year: Oakleigh Girl
- Queensland 3YO Horse of the Year: Tinto (Queensland Oaks winner)
- Queensland 4YO & Older Horse of the Year: Buffering
- Queensland Broodmare of the Year: Temple Spirit (dam of Spirit of Boom, Temple of Boom) Kenbelle (Boban) Action Annie (Buffering)
- Queensland Stallion of the Year: Sequalo
- Queensland Jockey of the Year: Tim Bell
- Queensland Trainer of the Year: Tony Gollan
- Queensland Horse of the Year: Buffering
- Wayne Wilson Award: Natalie McCall (trainer of the Stradbroke victor River Lad)
Hall of Fame Inductees:
- Racehorse: Falvelon
- Trainer: Tommy Dawson
- Jockey: Glen Boss
- Associates: Bill and Eve Stanley (no relation to this humble correspondent)
Hoofnote: As things turned out, southburnett.com.au had a link to this year’s Outstanding Racing Photograph category.
The winning snap of trainer Natalie McCall and River Lad revelling in the ecstasy of their Stradbroke triumph was taken by Ross Stevenson, the Brisbane based shutterbug whose exciting, head-on image of the Doomben 10,000 finish was featured in this column on May 30.
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(Photo: Ross Stanley)
The South Beckons
Queensland connections have interesting hands to play in Sydney and Melbourne this weekend as the spring racing warms up.
Tony Gollan has five cards to play with at Flemington.
Tegan Harrison will find out what it is like to travel over straight trips when she pilots Pienkna and Temple of Boom.
Damian Browne, somewhat of a Melbourne specialist, will be aboard Traveston Girl, Looks Like The Cat and Alma’s Fury.
Brian Smith has two hopefuls engaged at Rosehill.
Apprentice Anthony Allen will partner Jetset Lad while Larry Cassidy will be astride Kingdoms.
Premier rider Tim Bell has been engaged for Scratch Me Lucky in the $1million Golden Rose.
At Doomben last Saturday, Aimee and Teranado impressed with successful returns after their brief breaks.
The former showed the determination of her juvenile campaign was still there and she will now head down to the lucrative black-type contests.
The latter showed promise as a three-year-old, had a soft win for Chris Munce and is likely to chase the carnival cash.
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The Whip Around
South Burnett representatives will be scattered far and wide over the weekend.
On Saturday, James Curtain has accepted with El Camino at Goondiwindi, while Thangool has attracted entries by Norma King and Tony Williams.
The former is to saddle up Willywynya, Fiscal Cliff and Vain Dazzler while the latter will do likewise with Lillian Eliza and Western Maizcay.
At Deagon’s Sunday meeting, Peter Blackwell has Count Romano in the Deagon Cup and Lionel Richardson probably hopes that Don’t Tell the Girls and Juan Kool Kat dead-heat for first in the Maiden.
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Condolences are extended to colleague Paul Dolan, a familiar voice around all the Burnett tracks, on the passing of his mother Margaret.
The 82 year-old was a regular racegoer up until the last few months and had also been a very familiar face when the greyhounds sped around the Gabba.
Paul, whose first visit to a racecourse was with Margaret and her friends, was a fast bowler during his youth whereas his late father Kevin was a batsman for Sandgate-Redcliffe.
Dolan, by guest calling at the Darwin dogs and gallops in early August, brought up a special century, something bowlers love to do when at the crease.
He has now been behind the microphone at 100 different thoroughbred, harness and greyhound courses around Australia and overseas.
He’s not likely to throw his wicket away as the passion and accuracy is still spot on.
Paul will do the honours on course and for 4TAB at Doomben on Saturday.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts a couple of dollars on a steed that his mother would have fancied.
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Meanwhile at Muswellbrook last Monday, Brookvale finished in the worst possible place for Manly supporters.
The God’s Own gelding, part-owned by Bobby Fulton and sporting the maroon and white colours of the Rugby League team, ran second.
The followers of the Sea Eagles will hope their two-legged performers win from here on in.
