October 10, 2014
by Ross Stanley
The worst moment at Lee Park last weekend was when Beaudesert jockey Sheree Drake came down very heavily from Midnight Ace about 700 metres out in the Mardi Gras Cup.
The grey, trained by Drake’s partner Greg Cornish, lost all its head gear in the incident but escaped injury.
The veteran hoop was conscious and able to move her limbs, and was initially taken to Kingaroy Hospital, but subsequently transferred to Brisbane.
At Kilcoy on Sunday, Cornish attended to a winner in Clangoranda.
Tommy Woodcock’s one time apprentice was concerned that Sheree may have to contend with internal injuries.
But the great news is that Sheree – a recipient earlier of two hip replacements – is now recovering at home after a rod was inserted in her back.
The relevant stewards inquiry has been adjourned until Drake is able to be present.
Sheree is a former truck driver who defied the odds when she turned her hand to race-riding at an age she said was approximately “when life begins”.
I called her first day in silk at Beaudesert’s 2004 Anzac Day fixture, and remember her opening effort was a forgettable fourth of four after being wide all the way.
But she improved quickly to break through later in proceedings on Lord Reggae in the main event.
It was a thrill to see her take such a forceful step forward.
The following year, she had a four win haul during a Toowoomba program and brought up her first century in early 2006.
Sheree’s work ethic and toughness was legendary as she worked her way to provincial and city success.
There have been a series of sidelining, injury-related setbacks that invariably bowed to her determination.
Drake’s most recent trip to the winner’s circle was at home on 19 September when she sported the stable’s pink and white livery atop Sir Blaze.
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Williams’ Western Fires Again
Western Maizcay may be a ladies’ man. Last Saturday, the chestnut by the American dirt tracker Southwestern Heat took out the $9250 Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup (BM 65, 1200m) with Kelly Gates in the irons.
In mid-September the son of the Our Maizcay mare Our Stolen Maizcay got away with a Thangool BM 60 Handicap for Carly Pye, while Rhiannon Payne was aboard for its Maiden success at Taroom last Christmas when the then three-year-old debuted for trainer Tony Williams.
Graham and Pam Field, racing enthusiasts with links to Murgon and Kilkivan, race the gelding hat has had only nine runs for his Wondai stable.
Williams, a tyre fitter by trade, has done well with Western Maizcay, a galloper that can be unsettled on occasions.
Although the sprinter is yet to start on home soil, he works well on the track that will host the attractive $12,000 Wondai Cup (BM 65, 1465m) on 18 October.
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The Curtain Went Up
James Curtain was full of praise for Melody O’Brien’s cold ride on Lady Wivenhoe at Nanango on Saturday.
The pair settled down and relaxed in a rearward position. But once she hooked out at the top of the lane, the lightly raced Bon Hoffa mare showed a great turn of foot to score by three parts of a length in the Raising Hell in Maidenwell Maiden (1200m).
The daughter of the Dehere mare Lavina Bay was stepping down in class.
She responded well to the removal of winkers and the reintroduction of blinkers. The victory should give the bay a useful boost in confidence.
The modest Kumbia trainer was delighted to win for clients Peter and Karen Marshall.
The team also started the beginner Mighty Mo in the Sequalo Legacy-Spirit of Boom at the Gold Coast.
Although the $51 pop finished well back, the two-year-old was not disgraced, winding up just a half length behind the Tony Gollan entrant Shipwrecked ($3.40).
The float trip and the race experience should do the rookie the world of good.
The stallions in Mighty Mo’s pedigree are an interesting collection.
The page is riddled with a stack of American Triple Crown identities (winners of a leg or more) such as Secretariat, Affirmed, A.P. Indy, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer, Bold Ruler and Native Dancer, as well as some very sound United Kingdom performers.
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Bits And Bridles
- Toowoomba’s leading jockey Skye Bogenhuber chalked up five winners inside 24 hours last weekend. The rush began with four at Clifford Park and ended with the lucky last at Kilcoy.
- If Looks Like The Cat or Lucky Tom take out Saturday’s $1m Caulfield Guineas they will emulate the deeds of fellow Queenslanders Chortle (1991) and Show A Heart (2000). If they place, they will match the achievements of Face Value (2003), Laurie’s Lottery (1998), General Nediym (1997), Chime Zam (1990) and Prince Salieri (1989). Racing right now would benefit by the emergence of quality sophomores of the calibre of previous winners All Too Hard, Starspangledbanner, Whobegotyou, Lonhro, Mahogany, Red Anchor, Grosvenor, Manikato, Luskin Star, Surround, Vain and Tulloch.
- Sydney is Melbourne’s poorer relation when it comes to the spring carnival. Last Saturday the size and depth of several black-type events was lamentable when compared with the upcoming Caulfield program. Randwick’s Group One Spring Champion Stakes, a race created to fill a void when the Derby was switched to the autumn in 1971, is supported by six $85,000 purses and the $125,000 Angst Stakes (Gr 3, Mares).
- By the way, the trifecta in the inaugural Spring Champion Stakes was a beauty. Gay Icarus beat Baguette and Gunsynd!
