January 30, 2015
by Ross Stanley
Marc Alexander and Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson have profitably played with some of the earnings of Canid, the very inexpensive Elusive City gelding that they part-own.
At Kilcoy on Australia Day, Clifford – the duo’s latest investment – prevailed in fine style in the Queensland Indoor Foliage-Raheen Stud BM 55 (1200m).
The bay gelding, who was having his third outing for his new connections, lived up to the promise he displayed when hre ran a half length third to Canid on home turf nine days earlier.
Clifford’s unraced sire Bramshaw is a son of Encosta De Lago and Cotehele House, the dam of Danewin and Commands.
The stallion’s grand-dam Eight Carat produced Octagonal, Mouawad, Diamond Lover, Kaapstad and (Our) Marquise.
Richardson shrewdly removed the tongue control and lugging bit from Clifford’s head gear for his Lee Park engagement.
The five year old, a narrow Warrnambool Maiden (1000m) winner in mid-December, has been handled by promising apprentice Matthew Powell at his two most recent appearances.
When the lad’s father Peter was a fledgling apprentice, he partnered runners in the Burnett prepared by Glenn’s grandfather Fred Freeman.
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In The Pink Is The Place To Be
For Nanango’s upcoming meeting on Valentine’s Day (February 14), I’m sure the choice of “A Twist of Pink Romance” as the Moffatdale Ridge Wines Fashion theme will create a loveable ambience.
Patrons who like to find omens for their betting selections will be heartened by a couple of precedents.
The “pink day” in 2009 coincided with the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Classic in which the long shots Phelan Ready (first) and Motown Lady (third) both had pink parts in their livery.
Moreover, the Pink Champagne Bar opened for business at Lee Park that day and Rosie’s Boy (Shaun Bayliss, $9) was successful sporting pink sleeves, horseshoe and cap while its trainer Matt Connor utilised a pink bucket, pink towel and a pink and black gear bag.
Last January, Lee Park’s “Pink Perfection and Pinstripes” program was also staged on Magic Millions day.
The Mossman filly Pink Perfection, one of the reserves that missed out on a crack at the rich juvenile contest, scored as a hot favourite at the corresponding Warwick Farm fixture.
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Hannah’s Rare Feat
Gallopers lining up twice on the same day was a more common happening in past eras than it is today.
Occasionally, a horse won at the first attempt, copped a penalty, then repeated the dose later in proceedings.
However, backing up inside 24 hours was a less frequent occurrence.
Dixie Miss, triumphant last Saturday and Sunday respectively at Thangool and Taroom in a Class 3 (1300m, $15) and a BM 60 grade (1400m, $6), was equal to that challenge.
The Southern Image mare had not been to the winner’s slot since scoring at her first two starts at Nowra and Goulburn in April 2013.
The newcomer to Bryan Dixon’s Rockhampton yard was ridden at both tracks by Hannah Phillips, the Nanango apprentice whose past dozen rides have yielded three wins, three seconds and a third.
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On The Horizon
There is no non-TAB meeting in South-East Queensland this weekend.
But action is building nationally in coming weeks as the Sydney and Melbourne clubs strive for autumn carnival plaudits.
Bundaberg will be the host for Burnett racing on February 7, with Nanango and Eidsvold following on the next pair of Saturdays.
After this, Gympie will resume on March 7; Kumbia will stage its special meeting on March 14; and Nanango’s signature Easter Saturday program falls on April.4.
So while things ma be a bit quiet in the short term, there are lots of great local race days coming up shortly.
See you there!
