July 3, 2015
Hivesville trainer Peter Blackwell is giving Count Romano a crack at the metric two miles of the $150,000 Queensland Cup (3200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
It’s common for connections to roll the dice to see if their horse can run out the marathon distance. Many grand stayers such as Tails comfortably got 3100 metres but found the final part a tad too far.
There’s only one way to answer the question about stamina.
On weights, Count Romano should be double his early odds of 100/1.
Although he is officially rated at 54, he has to carry the same impost as all the others.
The dilemma with the handicaps happened because the top weight Escado (rating 100, 59.5kg) did not accept.
Closest in the pecking order were the visitors Lovethebeaches (79, 54kg), Major Major (78, 54kg) and Mister Impatience (78, 54kg).
All weights were raised to 58kg after acceptances to satisfy the minimum top-weight requirement.
Given that load to carry, there will be some very weary thoroughbreds at the end of the trek in wet ground.
Because of Escado’s significantly superior rating, a gap had to be left to the next in the weights.
The upshot was that 10 of the 11 entrants were given the minimum mark.
Of course, if Escado had not been nominated there would have been a spread of the weights.
Obviously in these rare circumstances, rules should be in place so a provisional set of weights can be applied. Realistic adjustments need to be allowed.
Count Romano’s best staying effort to date was his second in a small field in BM 62 grade over 2200 metres at the Sunshine Coast last November.
The Latarmiss eight-year-old is coming off a second placing in much lower grade over at Ipswich, but he has won on three occasions over 1800 metres and once over 2100 metres.
The grandson of Sadler’s Wells does have a speckle of wet track form.
One positive point for Count Romano is that Blackwell is a horseman first and foremost and a fine conditioner.
There is one certainty about the contest: it will be one of the most popular races for viewers over the weekend.
In the recent Stayers Cup (3200m) in Sydney, Lovethebeaches and her rider Paul King left the opposition sunbaking in their wake.
It was a case of the pacemaker being in Manly and the rest jogging along at Bondi.
The leader did not compound and got in by five lengths.
Stewards held a formal inquiry into the tactics of the beaten jockeys but decided against taking any action.
Countless eyes will be glued to television monitors at 3:21pm this Saturday to see what unfolds this time around.
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The Captain Marches On
The remarkable Captain Clayton has saluted yet again!
His win in open company over 1100 metres at Warwick last Saturday was his fifth in 10 starts since entering the rural environs at Barry Phillips’s Nanango set-up.
A look back at the sprinter’s earlier days reveals that he was a tidy performer whilst in the Robert Heathcote camp in Brisbane.
He won three times at Eagle Farm and also scored at Doomben and the Gold Coast.
All up, his 56 runs (for a 10-4-9 tally) have accrued $204,000.
The Danbird gelding will celebrate his ninth birthday on August 1, the date for his 2014-15 Horse Of The Year presentation at his home course.
He is a delight to watch in running, seemingly bossily in command and keen to maintain his lease on the winner’s slot, particularly at Lee Park.
Hannah Phillips has been the reliable old trooper’s race day companion for all bar his two unplaced attempts at Caloundra.
The pair have also chalked up two placings.
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Fireworks At Esk
Patrons heading to the Brisbane Valley on Saturday can enjoy a pyrotechnic display around 7:15pm, because the Esk Jockey Club has a late licence to round out its American Independence Day meeting on July 4.
During the program, racegoers will be able to savour American beer and food.
Punters looking to follow the red, white and blue theme of the USA flag have few options.
The combination is set to be worn by Sean Palmer on Lady Schiller. The mare is fresh from a break and Ben Currie’s string has been in sparkling touch of late.
Given the trip is only 800 metres, the English rider will not have time to think about the loss of colonial America in 1776.
Somewhat perversely, the layout of the jacket resembles the reverse of St Andrew’s flag.
Hannah Phillips will be hoping Jeptoo, Alofthym, Flinders Luck, Yamanners and Lucks In are as fast as sky-rockets.
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Bits And Bridles
- Joshua King, who is now senior rider, successfully teamed with his mother Norma at Alpha last week when Missamork prevailed in the $10,000 Class 2 sprint. The stable has accepted with Oh Golly and Fiscal Cliff at the upcoming two day Oak Park meeting. This time honoured occasion, staged at a spot directly north of Longreach and west of Townsville, offers superb purses.The minimum stake is $12,000 while the $19,000 Lyndhurst Shield BM 65 tops Saturday’s bill.
- At Warra on Saturday, Hannah English’s full book includes engagements for Patrick Sexton, her boss Glenn Richardson and Tony Sears. It will be interesting to see if Hannah can continue her streak on Winner Wimmer, the Real Saga gelding part-owned by Todd Rohl, the Deputy Chief Executive at Logan City Council. Sexton was the rugby league coach during Rohl’s junior days at Oakey. Miss Mega Herz, a half-brother to Winner Wimmer, reigned victoriously for the Rohl-Sexton unit at Wondai last October.
- Reminder: Wondai stages its Winter Wonderland themed fixture next Saturday, July 11.
