November 7, 2015
Memorial events are by nature a mix of sadness and celebration. The initiative of Glenn Richardson has proved that when your luck’s in, a fitting touch of happiness can envelop proceedings.
When the young Nanango trainer became aware that Kumbia Race Club had programmed a Jim Lenihan Memorial (BM 55, 1400m) for its Melbourne Cup day meeting, he set about finding a runner that could be raced by Lenihan’s family and friends.
After one failed attempt, he secured Lucks In from Pat Sexton’s Oakey stable.
Richardson’s apprentice Hannah English had already scored twice on the horse.
The new ownership syndicate included Jim’s brother Brian, Richardson and his mother Glenda, Wayne Hancock (a working mate of Jim’s) and English’s grandmother Noelle Bartlett, a cousin of Pat and Cedric Duff.
The Richardsons and Lenihans have a relished a long association.
A key figure in their connection was the legendary Burnett galloper Mick’s Luck.
Glenda, her father Fred and Jim’s father Mick had close involvements in chapters of the trusty warrior’s campaigns.
At one stage, Pat Duff also put the polish on the tough, evergreen money-spinner.
Lucks In ($2.60 favourite) occupied the vanguard spot for English and comfortably held off Famechon Baroness (Nathan Evans, $5) and King Pin (Robert Faehr, $10).
Richardson’s choice of entrant proved spot in.
The galloper’s lead-in runs were all over 1400 metres in Benchmark 55 company so he was in the ideal company.
A sound form line read as follows: Success in the Talwood Cup in August, a runner-up spot at Goondiwindi on 12 September and a tidy fourth at Taroom a fortnight later.
Hannah’s seven rides on the Bradbury’s Luck gelding have chalked up two wins, two seconds and a third.
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As if on cue, the Kylie Geran owned Jam Tin ($8) led all the way for English in the Huston Ford Kumbia Cup (1200m).
The Geran and Lenihan families also have long standing ties.
The pacemaking Piccolo gelding, after travelling sweetly for English, had a neck to spare from Writtenintherain (Leanne McCoy, $2.20 favourite) with Brady’N’ Me (Lyall Appo, $3) two lengths further away in third berth.
St Covet’s bay grandson, a member of Pat Richardson’s Oakey-based team, has something in common with the Melbourne Cup hero Prince of Penzance.
Both gallopers have had interruptions to their stints on the track.
The veteran’s previous win was at Bedourie with Gary Geran aboard in September 2013.
After a nose second at Chinchilla next up, Jam Tin was off the scene for 14 months.
The comeback had yielded seven placings and three fourth prizes so the breakthrough success on Tuesday was deserved.
Incidentally, McCoy landed all four races at the corresponding meeting 14 years ago.
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The first of a treble for Hannah English was provided by Sexton’s charge Squeemi ($3 favourite) in the Rob Stewart Memorial Class B (900m).
In the run to the post, the consistent Not A Single Doubt mare streaked away from Hot Scent (Leanne McCoy) and Cast Out (Melissa Cox).
For her full book at Chinchilla on Saturday, English’s claim comes down to two kilograms.
Her 99 career engagements to date have landed 20 winners for a very praiseworthy strike rate of a first placing every five attempts.
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The Toowoomba duo of trainer Tom Dougall and jockey Nathan Evans prevailed in the QTIS Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with the Marked Assassin mare Dangerous Danica, while Sunshine Coast trainer John Mott made the journey worthwhile when his Casino Prince mare Crack of Dawn ($11) scored for Damion McIntosh in the Maiden (1000m).
The four-year-old’s ten previous outings had not earnt a dollar so the $5,000 return on this occasion was most satisfying.
The next Burnett district program will be in the north at Mount Perry on 14 November.
