August 28, 2015
Kumbia horseman James Curtain hasn’t saddled a runner since The Equine Bolt stepped out at Ipswich on May 27.
Four days earlier Amber Ale, with Hannah Phillips in the irons, had won under difficulties at Thangool.
The sprinter was leading when he ran off on the turn, crossing the face of the field before coming down the outside fence.
“We found a bone chip in his knee afterwards which explained the problem. He’s had surgery to have it removed, has recovered well and resumes work soon,” James said.
He’s also very excited about The Equine Bolt returning to work.
“He’s completing a month’s pre-training at the water walker at Bahram Stud.
“He had a great spell and was 636 kilograms when he left here – the biggest horse I’ve ever had.”
James believes the horse was always going to be a better three-year-old.
“He’ll appreciate some longer races, so we’re really looking forward to getting him racing again.
“He’s owned by a syndicate headed up by Martin Pearce, the principal of a small Victorian stud.
“He bred Bolt and his brothers there – Old Mates Act, Navillus Superman and The Kitkat Kid, a Hong Kong winner under the name of Windicator Star.”
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Curtain, who operates Old Boyneside in partnership with his brother Laurie, has been exceptionally busy of late handling a string of arrivals.
It is a tonic for South-Burnett racing to have such an injection of newcomers.
Thumbnail sketches of the 13 thoroughbreds below reflect a diverse range of player involvement.
Peter Marshall of Marshall Thoroughbreds heads the Staghurst operation, a family breeding and spelling property at Gregor’s Creek near Kilcoy.
His homebreds Flossy Few Clothes (born 2013, Mosayter-Queen Emma) the half-sister to the Listed ATC Winter Stakes winner Irish Dream and Captain Galaxy (2012, Gonski- Star Tour by Dolphin Street) along with an Unnamed colt (2013, Raheeb-Kardonay Girl) are all yet to face the starter.
Peter’s winning mare Lady Wivenhoe (2010, Bon Hoffa-Lavina Bay by Dehere) has been leased to Kate Curtain and Margie Duff.
Marshall has had great fun with the Liam Birchley-trained filly Blueberry Hill.
During the winter carnival, the outstanding juvenile by Mycharlieboy scored in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 2), was runner-up in the Sires Produce Stakes and ran sixth in the J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1).
Curtain will be hoping that a slice of that style of fortune comes the way of the Marshall members of his string.
An Unnamed colt (Bernadini – Snowfall by End Sweep) was bought at the Magic Millions’ June sale.
The sire has produced four individual Group 1 winners in the USA and, of course, Boban, victorious in the Epsom, Doomben 10,000, Chipping Norton Stakes and Emirates Stakes has been his wonderful ambassador on the Australian turf.
The colt’s maternal side is very interesting, too.
Snowfall’s dam Stormy Hill (Danehill-November Rain) was a South African Oaks winner.
November Rain was a triple Oaks winner, while Stormy Hill’s filly by Unbridled Song was the dual stakes winner Bridal Hill.
“I really like this fellow. He will end up a very big horse even though he’s a bit immature at the moment,” James said.
“We’ve broken him in and he has a great temperament so we’ll have him ready for racing next year.
“South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and some of his friends have come in on the syndicate and we have a couple of shares left.”
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Meanwhile Sequoia Miss (2011, Ferocity-Like A Sequalo from Miss Petty) certainly ticks some breeding boxes.
Her dam won 14 races. Fred Giltrow, who owned Miss Petty, bred the filly.
She is expected to step out in a few weeks time for the Curtains, Giltrow and Peter Hancox.
This unraced prospect comes from a family that knows all about the winning post.
Miss Petty won 22 straight in 1986-89, eclipsing the 21 in a row set between August 1984 and July 1985 by the “Murgon Marvel” Picnic In The Park.
Incidentally, Rita Giltrow was Amber Ale’s original buyer and Peter Hancox managed the Moonie Mob syndicate that raced Night Escort.
The racetrack debut for Chain Road (2010, Your Tent or Mine-Via Roma), the half-brother to Morphettville winner Sweet Talking Guy, is looming.
The bay will be raced by his breeder, Brisbane barrister Bill Brown and daughter Stephanie who happened to break the gelding in.
Kevin Taylor of Kingaroy Real Estate has two hopefuls, namely Hiddenpark (2010, Hidden Dragon-Mosman Park by Falvelon), a mare that has needed time to grow and Saykrid Lady (2013, Rothesay-Ekka Ride), a two-year-old that could be an early-comer.
Also on the books are Ziggy Lad (2013, God’s Own-Oubladee by Sir Laurence), a youngster owned by Gladstone’s Robert Scoullar and Dexter Sullivan’s Unnamed filly by Henny Hughes from the Lion Cavern mare Famulus, a great grand-daughter of Secretariat.
Sydney’s Anand Adiyodi, who bred the Curtain trained winner Park Central, has an Unnamed half brother to that galloper by Buriton.
Lucky Larrikin (2012, Zizou- Pinoshea by Pins) is a nicely bred commodity while New Copy (2010, Publishing-Midnight Monday by Centaine), a lightly raced mare owned by Charters Towers miner Carl Keehn, has not competed since December last year.
School certainly has been in with 13 of the 15 James has in work all to make their debuts.
The other activity drawing near is the mating season for the resident stallion Over.
There is always something to look forward to in racing!
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Sincerest condolences are extended to leading apprentice jockey Billie-Rose Derbyshire following the death of her partner Adrian Robertson in a car accident near Kilkivan last weekend.
Our thoughts are with the Gympie racing fraternity.
Adrian, 24, was a popular race day figure at the Southside racecourse and will be missed.
