September 19, 2014
by Ross Stanley
Local knowledge dominated at Deagon last Sunday – all the winning thoroughbreds worked at the racecourse, either in the past or present. But it took a South Burnett unit to prevent a clean sweep.
The quadrella by Steele Ryan’s string, together with the victories of Michael Lakey’s and Bradley Smith’s entries, meant that Moreton Bay stables flew the neighbourhood flag proudly.
Jockey Dale Missen was in blistering form, chalking up a quadrella while Lakey’s apprentice Beau Appo chipped in with one for his master.
French rider Julien Kokotajlo added an international touch with his display on Grantly Miss.
But the exception to the pattern came in the Brisbane Bombers NRL Bid Deagon Cup (BM 70, 2100m).
Count Romano ($6), a former lodger at Lakey’s yard, acquired the trophy.
The Peter Blackwell-prepared Latarmiss gelding was handled by apprentice Rhiannon Payne.
After the horse dropped back early, the eight-year-old was stalking in second position behind Adenarius ($1.50) in the run to the turn.
But over the final part, the well-conditioned galloper raced away to score by almost three lengths.
Blackwell, although based at Hivesville, supplements his property’s training facilities with the use of the Wondai circuit as the need arises.
And Payne, who is indentured to Kumbia’s James Curtain, lives at Wondai and splits her week’s track work roster with mornings at Dalby, Toowoomba and Kumbia.
Payne really knows the meaning of travelling to earn a crust. During the past year she has ridden at around 33 venues including extremities such as Mount Isa, Lismore, Rockhampton, Beaudesert and Talwood.
The 29-year-old horse enthusiast first started working with thoroughbreds at Mackay and Mount Isa.
When Norma King’s team was centred in the north-west for three months in 2012, Rhiannon joined up as her apprentice.
The stable provided her initial winner in the shape of Subu’s Image at Clermont almost two years ago.
“For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be jockey,” Rhiannon told me.
Hoofnote: The South Burnett also made its presence felt in the Saturday action.
Wondai trainers Norma King and Tony Williams started the ball rolling by saddling up their respective winners Fiscal Cliff and Western Maizcay at Thangool.
And rookie Shenny Chan, the Hong Kong lad who is apprenticed to Brisbane’s Brian Wakefield (Jr), took out the Thangool Cup with Coco Dubawi.
* * *
Deagon Community Did Back Up
Although the second edition of the Deagon Community Race Day was not an immediate sell-out, the attendance figure for last Sunday’s meeting was in the thousands.
There were more in-field structures accommodating the crowd. But given that it is a once-a-year happening, other aspects of a usual meeting were understandably missing.
However, there were bands and bookmakers scattered around the precinct.
There was also some early entertainment for the children, some old-fashioned novelty events for older patrons, the usual fashion contest and lots of foldaway chairs arranged in sociable circles.
It was odd to see a TAB meeting with such low prize money ($6000 per race), there was no Sky coverage and a five horse event somehow escaped deletion at acceptance time.
But certainly, the meeting has a place on the calendar.
It is a strongly patronised country-style meeting inside city borders.
* * *
Countdown To Flemington
There was an interesting twist around the weights for the Melbourne Cup that were issued this week.
Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter indicated he had to give contenders two kilograms more than their actual assessment warranted.
The move was necessary because the top-weight must be allotted at least 58kg.
Should the recipient, Admire Rakti, not be a final acceptor, there will be another across the board rise.
Surely any lift should be left until the end phase in case there is a repeat of 1982 when Gurner’s Lane was penalised three kilograms for his Caulfield Cup triumph.
However, in this somewhat gently, gently era, an addition of that size is unlikely to be repeated any time soon.
It says something about the quality of the entries when a prospect that has not won above Group 3 level in 13 black-type appearances is given the honour of top spot, a position held previously by the likes of Phar Lap (1930, 62.5kg; 1931, 68kg), Tulloch (1959, 65kg), Northerly (2004, 60kg), Rising Fast (1956, 64.5kg) and Gay Icarus (1972, 61kg).
The trend towards overseas-breds numerically having the upper hand in the Cup is set to continue.
The national proportions in the nominations are as follows: Ireland (43), Great Britain (29), Australia (29), New Zealand (25), Germany (9), USA (7), France (7) and Japan (1).
The make-up for the final field last year was Ireland (10), Great Britain (5), Australia (5), Germany (2), France (2) and, surprisingly, New Zealand (0).
The count for 2012 (when the first seven to finish were all Irish-born) was Ireland (10), New Zealand (4), USA (3), Great Britain (2), France (2), Australia (2) and Germany (1).
The 14 Cup winners this century shape up as follows: Fiorente, Green Moon and Makybe Diva were born overseas but were Australian-owned.
The raiders Dunaden, Americain and Media Puzzle all won the Geelong Cup while Delta Blue put the writing on the wall in the Caulfield Cup.
Shocking, Viewed, Efficient, Ethereal and Brew were of Anzac extraction.
So, it is now jotting time. Make a note to let any “hit and run” starters that have NOT raced in Australia run against you.
* * *
Racing On TV
Channel 72 on free-to-air television is now showing most of the Sydney and Melbourne cards live each Saturday.
Ryan Phelan and Simon Marshall anchor the series that offers racing coverage to non-pay television folk.
The program is a means of following candidates in their lead-ups.
One part of the task is to pick out the galloper that is going to be at its peak for the 3200 metre assignment on the first Tuesday of November.
