January 16, 2015
by Ross Stanley
Onlookers stared in disbelief at Gatton last Saturday when the fashion judges ignored an elegantly turned out bevy and awarded the prize to a female whose hard hat and tool belt suggested she was on her way to a building site.
However Toowoomba jockey Melody O’Brien, who had finished a handy fifth on Saint Barney ($15) in the Thomson Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maiden Handicap an hour earlier, had done her homework.
Her research meant that she was the only entrant that addressed the Tradies Race Day theme.
The collect was not the first one for the hoop, who regularly juggles riding on the country circuits with Clifford Park bookings.
In the past, she fortuitously put successful outfits into her car for Esk and Kilcoy meetings in case she had a chance to compete.
But anyone decking out in their best party gear for the Moffatdale Ridge Wines Fashions on the Field at Lee Park on Saturday will be pleased to note that O’Brien is in the “unlikely starter” category.
* * *
Caloundra’s Jason Hoopert, with two seconds to his credit at Gatton, is likely to be “silkless” at Nanango.
The widely travelled horseman has no engagements but expects to attend wearing his photographer’s hat.
Hoopert, who has a number of professional shoots under his belt, often brings out the camera before or after he competes.
Saturday is a rare opportunity for a full-on shutterbug session.
* * *
Toowoomba based apprentice Michael Schrapel, a former South Australian rookie, is backing up from the Lockyer Valley fixture.
The three kilogram claimer, presently indentured to Shane Iverson, has also been in action at Goondiwindi, Chinchilla, Bell, Texas and Dalby since his debut in Queensland last November.
Meanwhile Matthew Powell, another former interstate apprentice whose earlier work focussed on the Armidale-Tamworth district, appears in south-east Queensland at Lee Park for the first time this weekend.
He landed a double at Mackay last Saturday and has booted home five winners since arriving in Central Queensland in early November.
* * *
Local junior Hannah Phillips has a full book at Nanango as she strives to return to the winner’s circle following an injury-enforced break.
Barry Phillips, Hannah’s father and master, will be hoping his smart mare Lisa Fashionista can win again at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
The Omaru Force mare, second at Nanango last April in BM 65 company, was only beaten four and half lengths in the pressure cooker Bat Out Of Hell Quality at the Gold Coast on a soft track a fortnight ago.
Prior to that she was victorious at the Sunshine Coast (BM 75) and Doomben (Class 4) at her only outings after a spell.
The Phillips team also has Captain Clayton lining up in the John Dundas Automotive Group BM 65 on home turf.
Note: Except for Christmas Day, there has always been at least one country meeting scheduled somewhere in the state each Saturday. Originally, January 17 was a total blank apart from three TAB programs. Accordingly Nanango, granted the date in lieu of its December washout, becomes an historic sole rural flag-bearer! It is a double-header for the race club as it will host the South-East Queensland Country Racing Association’s annual meeting and conference at the racecourse on Sunday.
* * *
Cobalt Brings On The Blues
Stewards in at least three Australian states are currently handling cases involving the detection of cobalt above the defined acceptable levels.
In Victoria, Peter Moody (pictured), Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien have been advised that thoroughbreds from their stables have failed the tests. No charges have been laid as yet.
New South Wales trainers Darren Smith and Paul Murray also have cobalt-linked problems, while in Queensland, the following media release posted on Racing Queensland’s website details the present official position:
Queensland Trainers Knew This Was ComingThursday, January 15, 2015 11:56 AM Racing Queensland General Manager of Stewarding and Integrity Wade Birch says Queensland trainers have been aware of the control body’s crackdown on cobalt for more than a year. Racing Queensland, in conjunction with Harness Racing New South Wales, sent a batch of urine samples to the National Measurement Institute in September 2013 when intelligence first emerged regarding cobalt use in harness racing. “Our trainers were then made aware that Racing Queensland would be testing for cobalt in October 2013 and a number of samples from both thoroughbred and harness horses have been frozen since then in anticipation of the new threshold, which came into effect on January 1 this year,” Mr Birch said. “These samples are in the process of being split to obtain a B-sample for further testing, in accordance with State Legislation, which includes the need for the process to be filmed in its entirety. “Queensland legislation is very stringent in relation to testing methods. However, this ensures all sampling activity is conducted with the utmost integrity in the interest of Racing Queensland as the control body and the trainer.” Mr Birch said if any of the samples, including those taken from last year’s Winter Carnival, were found to exceed the threshold, the offending trainer could be subjected to lengthy bans. “We make no apologies for this stance and trainers have had ample warning that as soon as the testing capabilities were in place, we would pursue this course of action,” he said. “The underlying principle of racing integrity is to ensure the sport is carried out in a fair and just manner in the interest of the punter, the participant and most importantly the horses themselves.” |
* * *
There are several variations with respect to rules, definitions and timelines from state to state.
It is premature to make comment except to point out that Racing NSW stewards have set a January 23 deadline for Smith to make submissions before any determinations to proceed will be made.
Terry Bailey, Victoria’s head stipe, has indicated the whole process will be a lengthy one.
Naturally the Queensland fraternity is holding its breath awaiting the naming of horses and licencees allegedly involved.
There have been a number of media references claiming that the misuse of cobalt was widely rumoured some time back. Accordingly the different authorities moved to tighten regulations.
The most vital of all outcomes is that any parties found guilty of a “cobalt infringement” must surely be dealt with in the strongest possible ways.
The Magic Millions organisation must feel incredibly lucky.
The Victorian and Queensland cobalt-case announcements came after their major sale had just been completed.
Presumably an earlier disclosure may have led to some buyers keeping their bidding fingers in their pockets until more is known about these very serious findings.
