October 17, 2014
by Ross Stanley
Wondai racetrack’s sandy surface is a long way from the famous greenery of the Lakes District in the north-west of England where jockey Sarah Eilbeck grew up.
Although the Eilbeck family had no link with horses or racing, the fascinating equine processions past their house window intrigued young Sarah.
The string of thoroughbreds that filed through the street of Greystoke was from the yard of Gordon W. Richards, the National Hunt trainers that landed Grand Nationals with Lucius and Hello Dandy.
The upshot was that she dreamed of becoming a jockey.
Before coming Down Under, Eilbeck had progressed to riding in picnic events.
Her professional debut at Gympie in late August was the perfect start.
She scored on the Barry Gill-trained Lady’s Command, and followed up a week later at Gatton with success on Vice or Virtue.
After those two days in the saddle, Eilbeck’s form line was 8:2-1-2-2.
Her present tally, after subsequently saluting at Miles, Morven, Surat and Gympie, is a very tidy 19: 6-2-2-3.
The busy lass is involved with the Caloundra Pony Club, hunter trials and half marathons and finds time to be with her Irish fiancé David Cullinane, a jockey who has competed at exotic venues such as Aintree and Newmarket.
Sarah’s four engagements at the Colours of Spring themed Wondai Cup day on Saturday are her recent winners Zabomb and Aashiq, as well as You’ll Have To and Somerset Dawn.
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The Worst Nightmare
If preliminary reports are accurate, both Rockhampton based Carly Mae-Pye, 26, and South Australian apprentice Caitlin Forrest, 19, lost their lives this week after their mounts suffered sudden, serious leg injuries.
A most dangerous scenario for a rider at speed is for the galloper to horrifically break down under them.
There may be no warning and so there is no time to react and adjust.
If there is a tightening in a race, precious seconds may be available for horses and jockeys to avert disaster.
Accounts have suggested that the horse Pye was partnering in a jump out rolled on her.
Champion international jockey Neville Sellwood died when Lucky Seven did likewise in France in 1962.
Figures from the National Jockeys’ Trust indicate that there have been at least 311 jockey deaths from racing in this country.
The worst decade was 1930-39 when 50 died.
2000-09, with 9 fatalities, has been the safest period in the modern era.
Carly-Mae’s final winner was recorded on September 21. It was Zaha Express for her partner Tim Cook at Callaghan Park.
Her penultimate victory was at Thangool eight days earlier when Western Maizcay prevailed for the Tony Williams stable. The chestnut is seeking to finish the hat trick on home soil at Wondai this weekend.
Rocky King will step out in Melbourne on Cox Plate Day.
Rockhampton trainer Tommy Burke will have every right to be emotional on Saturday week because Carly-Mae played a key role in the Easy Rocking gelding’s formative seasons, piloting his grand money spinner to two Brisbane wins in 2012.
Racing Queensland has established a trust fund to assist the family and partner of Carly-Mae, the popular and talented horsewoman who kicked off her apprenticeship at Toowoomba.
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Queensland’s Hopes In Saturday’s Caulfield Cup
The Sunshine State has ties with Brambles in the year’s richest race conducted at The Heath.
The Savabeel gelding is prepared by Peter Moody who hails from the Charleville district.
Luke Nolen, the former Darling Downs junior, will be aboard the lightly raced six-year-old that took out the 2012 Queensland Derby before going amiss.
Alternatively, a victory by Hawkspur, the 2013 Queensland Derby sash bearer, would add credibility to this State’s major feature for three-year-olds.
Brisbane’s winter event may well be under siege with respect to its prestige level if this weekend’s Caulfield Classic’s purse continues to grow in the future.
This Victoria Derby lead-up was previously known as the Norman Robinson Stakes.
The offering last year was $150,000 but this year’s renewal of the renamed Group 3 attraction carries a base stake of $750,000 with a $250,000 bonus should the winner of the Caulfield Guineas or the One Thousand Guineas successfully back up.
This year’s Group One Queensland Derby was a $500,000 contest.
Group One winning jockeys Glen Boss, Zac Purton and Ben Melham also provide a side interest to northerners because they have all been based in Queensland at some stage of their silk donning time.
In an incredible lead-up to the Cup, administrators find themselves in an amazing position that most hospitals would covet.
They have run out of emergencies, with all four reserves gaining a spot in the line-up before the sun had set on race eve.
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A Dead Heat In 1951 Would Have Been Apt
Oakey trainer Patrick Sexton has representatives in action at Wondai.
Back in 1951 his father Peter provided pleasure to an owner-breeder who preferred to attend the Eagle Farm fixture rather than go to Melbourne to watch his entry’s attempt on the Caulfield Cup.
The then apprentice was entrusted with the McDougall Stakes booking on Chez Dior, a two-year-old bred by Canning Downs principal “Ceb” Barnes.
Although his 1950 Queensland Derby winner Basha Felika (The Buzzard-Perfect Morn) was the Cup favourite, Barnes had leased his Maytown-Mary’s Robe filly to his mother Sarah and he opted to stay in Brisbane so they could witness the 12/1 chance’s initial performance.
It was all smiles when the bay, third last in the middle stages, triumphed.
Forty minutes later, it was a case of radiant grins as Basha Felika (4/1) had a neck margin on fellow Queenslander Blue Vest (25/1) at the end of the Cup.
Jack McDougall, the stud master at nearby Lyndhurst Stud, had not only suggested that Barnes put his mare Perfect Morn to Lyndhurst’s The Buzzard, but he was also emphatic that it would be a free deal as a means of acknowledging his neighbour’s RAAF war service.
So what were the odds that Blue Vest, owned by McDougall and also sired by The Buzzard, would wind up in the quinella spot?
The first pair were handled by ex-Queensland hoops Neville Sellwood and Noel McGrowdie respectively.
Basha Felika was in the care of Victorian conditioner Elwood Fisher.
His original trainer, Brisbane’s A G Anderson, had died earlier in the year.
Another ex-Bananalander in Harry Plant had put the polish on the runner-up in an outcome that was so close to being a totally Queensland “State of Origin” affair.
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Marathon Man Makes It
Manabu Kai seemingly had zero prospects of race-riding again after a trial fall at Toowoomba in February 2008.
The hoop, who had chalked up 61 winners (including two in town), had incurred serious head injuries, damage to his right eye and significant memory loss.
Kai returned to his Japanese roots and, after four years study, earned the tertiary qualifications required to practise physiotherapy.
But the itch to be on horses needed scratching and so he came back to the Downs and the Michael Nolan stable after gaining a medical clearance.
After a stint as a stablehand, he climbed a rung and resumed his mature age apprenticeship.
Another tumble resulted in cracked ribs and a further six weeks hold up.
In July this year, shortly after Manabu had run in the Gold Coast Marathon, he was legged up at Warwick to begin Phase 2 of his career, having passed some 40 trials and jump outs along the way.
Manabu’s 34th booking (on a horse called Jewel Rustler) led to a re-entry to the winner’s circle last Saturday at Warwick.
The five frustrating seconds and three thirds accumulated en route became less important history.
Hopefully one of his four rides at Stanthorpe on Saturday will maintain his momentum.
