September 26, 2015
by Paul Dolan*
The Nanango Race Club held its annual Heritage Nanango race day last Saturday, and the theme colours were Springtime blue and green.
Clever omen punters would have backed the first two winners, having observed a fair percentage of the race day crowd dressed in those colours.
Race one, the South Burnett Western Performance Handicap over the flying 800 metres, was won by the Oakey-trained mare Jeptoo.
Her rider, Hannah Phillips, wore silks which were predominantly blue in colour, with a splash of pink.
Jeptoo is very much a short course specialist, with her trainer (Oakey’s Brad Hudson) taking her to Esk, Kilcoy, Gatton and Nanango in recent weeks where she has chalked up two wins, a second and a fourth.
The lucrative south-east Queensland Cannonball series, which kicks off with an 800 metres event at Kilcoy on Saturday week, still awaits this very interesting horse.
Hannah Phillips is also building up an imposing record.
“I got my rider’s license on Valentine’s Day last year but sustained an injury which kept me away from riding for four months,” she said.
“I started riding in July last year, and in the last 14 months I’ve ridden 33 winners.
“I love her (Jeptoo) – I was her rider at Esk when she won there in July.”
Jeptoo’s win on Saturday was a track record breaking run of 45.37 seconds.
The previous record was 45.80, held by Compolo.
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In the second race, the Raising Hell in Maidenwell Maiden Plate, Jason Hoopert booted the Beaudesert-trained daughter of Ferocity, Feisty Girl, to a comfortable win for trainer Ben Robinson.
Hoopert’s silks were green with gold stags.
Jed Hodge, apprenticed to Pat Duff at Deagon in Brisbane, rode the third winner, Issy Command, who romped home to an easy win in the Heritage Nanango Country Muster Handicap.
The jockey’s silks were red, blue and pink. Troy Pascoe trains Issy Command at Toowoomba.
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The Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup over 1200 metres went to the Oakey-trained nine year old gelding Conhenri.
Trainer Gary Maroney has an interesting background.
He obtained his license to train horses in 1982 and a mere two years later, won Toowoomba’s time honoured sprint, the Weetwood Handicap, with Little Pete.
“I had engaged another jockey for the ride but he got injured the day prior,” Gary said.
“I then booked Wayne O’Connell for the mount and he rode him as good as anyone could have.”
Conhenri is owned by Maroney and his stepson Bill Millett, who is the horses’s strapper.
Maroney has two horses in work at Oakey: Conhenri and Man Overboard, who ran sixth in race two at Nanango and might win a maiden race sooner than later.
“Wayne O’Çonnell rides all my trackwork and I’m happy to have him ride my horses in their races,” the trainer said.
“Wayne and Conhenri have a particular affinity.
“The horse’s best distance is 1100 to 1200 metres, so I’ll aim him for the Warwick Newmarket on their Cup programme on October 10.
“The Warwick Cup is over 1500 metres which is a bit too far for the horse, but the Newmarket is 1100 metres which will suit him.”
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The Rural Fire Brigade Handicap over 1600 metres wrapped up the Nanango card.
Short priced favourite I’m No Ruby made it three wins in succession following recent victories at Gatton and Goondiwindi.
The horse is trained by Peter Kings at Oakey. Apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester brought the horse wide around the home turn and comfortably gathered in the leaders to win in runaway fashion.
Each of the five Nanango races was won by trainers from afar.
Three winners were from Oakey and one each from Toowoomba and Beaudesert.
The locals might enjoy more success at Nanango’s next meeting which is on Saturday, December 5.
It’s the pre Christmas raceday and the fashion theme is very appropriate: the colour red.
Meanwhile, it’s Kilcoy on Saturday, October 3; Gayndah Jockey Club races on October 10 (Caulfield Guineas day in Melbourne); and then it’s back to the sand at Wondai on Caulfield Cup day, October 17.
*Note: Ross Stanley is currently on holidays, but will be returning to this column next week.
