March 13, 2015
by Ross Stanley
Given that Saturday’s very special meeting at Kumbia has drawn acceptors from far and wide, there will be keen tussles between South Burnett based gallopers and the visitors.
Lodgers from stables as distant as Bundaberg, Eidsvold, Gatton, Beaudesert, Goondiwindi and Deagon will battle with runners from Kumbia, Hivesville, Wondai and Nanango for a share of the $45,000 prizemoney and a $5,000 QTIS bonus pool.
The sponsorship and support for this program that features an edition of Racing Queensland’s Celebrate Country series is diverse and valued.
Well known local firms such as ADAMA, BGA Agriservices and Ollie’s Mower Service along with the Brisbane branch of Murphy Pipe and Civil, a leading national pipeline construction company, and the Dalby based livestock agency Grant Daniel and Long provide a business backing while The Gums at Memerambi and Old Boyneside Thoroughbreds through Laurie and James Curtain link in with an equine flavour.
The likes of Radio Hot FM 89.1 and Deb Frecklington MLA add to the mix.
Australia’s system of rural racing is part of the nation’s heritage.
It would not be sustained without the voluntary contributions of individuals and groups through their labour or cash.
Hopefully the surrounding district will really get behind this opportunity to enjoy a great day out and reward all those that put their hand up to keep it going.
Horses and the sub-set of thoroughbreds have been an integral part of this country’s history.
In a highly virtual world, it makes a change to actually hear the whinnies and the clip clop by actually going to the track.
If the sight and sounds of gallopers fighting out a close finish is not enough for you, there is always the face-painting (for all ages), social drinks, betting on Melbourne’s Newmarket and Australian Cup, the fashion contests and the foot-racing.
Because of work ties, many folk are not able to get to the Kumbia races on Melbourne Cup day.
This rare Saturday fixture is a great chance to remedy that!
And there is an ideal daily double up for grabs with the races in the afternoon followed up by an evening at the Wine and Food In The Park Festival at Kingaroy.
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From Subways Into Day-light
For Nathan Day, Brisbane’s top apprentice in 1992-93, riding at Kumbia on Saturday will go down in his diary as one of his most satisfying thrills.
All he has to do is breakthrough after a long, long drought.
The veteran hope, having previously broken his back in three places in Macau, shattered his leg to such an extent when Iron Fist fell at the Gold Coast on 17 January 2009 that the limb was pinned for 14 months.
That hiatus was followed by a further six months of recuperation.
Meanwhile. Day and his wife Julie successfully got into the Subway business, working hard running several outlets in Brisbane.
However the racing bug lingered in Nathan’s system and colleagues encouraged him to try a comeback.
After extensive trackwork, Nathan filled third placing on Saveeda at the Deagon meeting on 14 September last year.
He has been unplaced at his only two subsequent rides at Caloundra (2 November) and Kilcoy a week ago.
At the Flemington of the North on Saturday, Day has five chances for that long-awaited success.
His bookings are Canid (for Glenn Richardson), Summer Jewel (Norm Larkin), Mystery Angel (Pat Richardson) and Not Without Sin (Mark Goodwin) and I am McLovin (for James Curtain), a conveyance that Day would probably prefer was called SubLovin!
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Rookies May Rejoice
At the other end of the timeline are the raw beginners.
Isabella Rabjones, runner-up on Clifford behind her fellow beginner Stephanie Lacy at Gympie last Saturday, will be ultra keen to salute on the same horse.
Her next opportunity is Monschapelle, her second placegetter on her debut day at Nanango last month. Peter Bradford, the other four kilogram claimer, is set to open his innings with attempts on Temper Trap and Tornadoes.
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Hammer Is Poised
An all-important Magic Million Yearling sale gets under way at the Gold Coast on Monday.
This two day affair with 394 lots catalogued is a major source of trade for the Queensland industry, both from a selling and buying perspective.
The financial returns for thoroughbreds racing in Queensland, now and into the future, have been boosted with both the bread and butter purses and the QTIS scheme significantly enhanced since the 2014 edition of this auction.
By the time the purchases start their competitive life the massive rehabilitation of racetrack surfaces will hopefully have delivered the goods.
Mackay, Rockhampton and Ipswich have had their turn; Toowoomba, Eagle Farm and Townsville are works in progress; and the Gold Coast is on the waiting list.
Patience is required at present as the disruption to schedules has impacted in various ways.
Among the disappointments is the Toowoomba fixture scheduled for 21 March.
It will be conducted on the Inner Track and because it has Sky 2 broadcast status, prize money has been dropped from $14,000 to $10,000 per race.
The other down side is that fields will be limited to eight starters.
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A Ludicrous Precedent For Sydney Racing
Racing participants that hold the view that some decisions in the game reflect favouritism to the higher profile figures have been given fuel for their fire by a Racing NSW decision regarding overweights in the Group One Coolmore Classic.
The published Racing NSW website statement is as follows:
“If required the Stewards have given permission for the following riders to ride overweight in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 14 March 2015: Jason Collett on MAHARA (+ 1/2 KG) and Tommy Berry on ADRIFT ( +1KG).”
There is no justification or explanation given nor are the relevant trainers (Peter and Paul Snowden and Gai Waterhouse) mentioned.
From time to time, stewards do give raceday permission for a hoop to ride overweight but this usually is done when there is no other rider available and it is more often than not at country meetings.
Mahara and Adrift have both been handicapped at 52 kg.
The irony is that in an earlier race, Tim Bell, who can ride at that mark, has an engagement.
No doubt there are jockeys around who could have made the weight.
Jockeys also do well with the notion that penalties for two suspensions coming around the same time are often served concurrently.
The only way to make things fairer is to add them back to back.It is a nonsense that one of the two offences can attract a zero penalty.
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Early Reminder: Make sure the Nanango program for April 4 (Easter Saturday) is in your plans … more details next week!
