March 20, 2015
by Ross Stanley
It was appropriate that I Am Mclovin was the winner that Kumbia Race Club President Brian Lenihan greeted in the mounting yard after last Saturday’s Murphy Pipe & Civil Maiden (900m).
Just a few minutes earlier the jockeys, the racing fraternity and the public had observed a minute’s silence for his late brother Jim.
I Am Mclovin, a Patinack discard, is raced by his trainer James Curtain, KRC’s Vice President, his wife Kate and his brother Laurie.
Jim Lenihan, a jockey, trainer and punter in his lifetime, would have loved the fact that a local Kumbia team had prevailed, particularly as it was the Celebrate Country Race Day featuring the Joyce and ‘Boy’ Reed Memorial Open (1200m).
“I Am Mclovin has had a series of setbacks. He showed ability in trials at Caloundra and Toowoomba but kept going sore,” Curtain told me.
“X-rays led to knee surgery and each time we thought he was in the clear, something else would go wrong. He was in and out of work and we seemed to be at the end of the road.
“But all three of us had turns at persuading each other to keep going. He started to mature and we had him gelded. There was confidence that he would jump and run and kick on at his first start on Staurday. I picked Nathan Day for the ride as I wanted a strong senior aboard as some nursing in running was also needed.”
The day before at Ipswich, Day landed his first winner since his horrific fall in 2009 when he booted home Gold Buttons for supportive trainer David Murphy.
Back-to-back successes at just his fourth and fifth rides back is a phenomenal achievement.
I Am Mclovin is a three-year-old by Murtajill from the Magic Albert mare Magic Kisses.
The bay’s genetic endowment includes contributions by Danehill, At Talaq, Zedative and Rubiton.
Most recently it was Laurie who was keen to push on with the horse he named after McLovin, the fake ID for Fogell, a character in the racy teen movie Superbad.
But it was a Supergood day for Curtain.
Although he was away attending the 50th birthday party for his mother-in-law Lyn Hengstberger, the hometown debut triumph was something to savour.
James Curtain also went within a half-length of taking out the main race with wife Kate’s sprinter Amber Ale, the Sequalo gelding who battled on strongly over a journey longer than its comfort zone.
Graeme Postle, owner-trainer of the victorious Writtenintherain, scored a complimentary service to Over, the Dr Grace entire that downed Sunline in the AJC Doncaster.
The bonus came courtesy of the Curtain brothers’ Old Boyneside Thoroughbreds.
At another part of the money spectrum, faith was shown by Peter Moody in his jockey Linda Meech.
While several overseas stars were in demand in Sydney and Melbourne, the Caulfield trainer stuck with the productive lady rider in the rich Group 1 Coolmore Stakes.
The move paid off with Plucky Belle grabbing a narrow win.
This season the Moody-Leech side have combined 93 times for a 22:21:10 return.
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Bella Bears Through Brilliantly
Isabella Rabjones’ joy at saluting for the first time in her life was evident on her face as Monschapelle neared the mirror at Kumbia last Saturday.
Her pleasure was evident long after correct weight was signalled for the Adama-BGA Agriservices Maiden (1200m).
The former Murwillumbah junior has been with Bradley Smith, her Deagon master, since October.
“They don’t conduct many trials down there. Progress was slow so she came north. She has light hands and horses travel for her. I put her on the good horses,” Smith said.
“She has done a great job with Monschapelle, a filly that does not go well for male riders. She turned the corner with Bella.
“The winning ride was not easy because the saddle slipped on straightening.”
There was an added dimension in that Bradley’s father Gary rides a lot of track work for the string.
He was a leading Brisbane apprentice in the early 1970s when indentured to Tommy Murphy.
These days Gary Smith is a valued Racing Queensland Apprentice Mentor and that was the hat he was expertly wearing at Kumbia.
Rabjones’s win was a special thrill for the ex-jockey who has also served as Clerk of the Course, Assistant Judge and Clerk of the Scales at Doomben.
Importantly, he complements his racing experiences with the educational know-how he required for his junior cricket coaching.
Wonder if Bella was cheeky enough to remind Gary that she had got Monschapelle to improve after the guys had failed?
* * *
Nanango Gears Up For Easter Saturday
It is time to tell all your Easter visitors that they are off to the Nanango races on April 4.
You should also inform them that they don’t have to put all their eggs in the one basket fashion-wise as there are several ways of picking up a spot prize.
Ladies can go the way of the main theme and dress in a floaty frock or feature polka dots while the guys can get into the polka dot fad with well chosen socks, hat trims and tie.
Braces could be decorated with spots, and so could sunglasses.
The other angle is the Easter link: the roving judges will be looking for bunny tails, bonnets and similar displays, too, I hear.
There will be more about the prizes and the fun for the children in next week’s column.
* * *
Bits And Bridles
- Jason Hoopert is facing a lengthy recuperation following his tumble from an electric scooter on the Sunshine Coast last Wednesday. The 43-year-old jockey has been hospitalised at Nambour after suffering ten broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a punctured lung. Fortunately he was wearing his track work skullcap.
- Curtain’s apprentice Rhiannon Payne, after securing a winning double at Rockhampton last Saturday, heads to Wandoan on Saturday, as does Nanango’s Hannah Phillips.
- Barry Phillips is set to saddle-up Lisa Fashionista for a Doomben BM 80 assignment with Luke Tarrant as pilot on Saturday. Road To The Top and Simply Chanel will represent the stable at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
- Wondai trainer Norma King and her apprentice son Joshua will combine with Burketown Larrikin, Vain Dazzler, Fiscal Cliff and Flight Command at Springsure on Saturday.
- Glenn Richardson is on the road again. This time he has Bundaberg in his sights with Clifford and Ferocious Jewel.
- The specific support for Kumbia’s Reed Memorial was profound. Among the busload of more than 50 that came from Brisbane for the race was Chas Clifford, the former steward who supervised countless country meetings. As well as the presence of folk linked to the Kumbia district, there were patrons from the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Canberra. The roll-up certainly was a fitting tribute to ‘Boy’ and Joyce.
