November 30, 2015
After seven events had been decided at Roma on Saturday, November 21, Nanango apprentice Hannah English had not been required to weigh-in.
The rookie, who had notched up 23 winners since her June debut, had not finished closer than sixth.
There was one roll of the dice left for Hannah to make it eight consecutive meetings with at least one winner per occasion.
Soon after despatch in the finale, the feature $50,000 XXXX Gold Cup (1640m), the chances of maintaining the winning spree were very clouded.
“There was so much uncertainty in the early stages with some riders calling out about a false start.” English said.
“Our plan was to follow Performia and Tints but they were nowhere to be seen.
“I knew I would not have been able to pull up Oogie before we had passed the post the first time around. By then I had got into a good spot just one off the fence and the race was on.
“I got a bit worried at the 1000 metre mark when he dropped back a few lengths but we started a run at the half mile, and just like at Chinchilla, he gathered them in.
“Leaders had been doing well all day so I was still worried about the pacemaker Manfred The Mann. But Oogie powered away and we won by more than four lengths.”
The ensuing post-Cup drama is best described by citing the official Stewards Report:
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Correct weight was delayed whilst Stewards questioned the riders in the event and the Starter, Mr T Sheehan, in relation the start of this race which saw Perfomia lose considerable ground and Tints take no part in the race.
The intention of Stewards was to determine if the Starter had correctly effected the start or if a false start had occurred.
Upon questioning by Stewards, Mr Sheehan advised that he had effected the start of the race and therefore in his view a false start had not occurred.
After viewing the patrol films and taking evidence of the riders, Stewards were satisfied that Mr Sheehan had in fact effected the start of the race and therefore a false start had not occurred.
Stewards were then required to determine if Performia and Tints were afforded a fair start and furthermore if Performia had gained any advantage at the start.
After taking evidence in relation to this matter from the respective riders and viewing the patrol films, Stewards found that shortly prior to the start Performia reared high in the barriers making heavy contact with the front gates.
A short time later, the start was effected and due to Performia having lunged forward, this resulted in the mare forcing its barrier to open marginally quicker than the remaining barriers.
As it was evident that Performia actually lost ground at the start, Stewards were satisfied that it had not gained any advantage.
Furthermore it was established that the mare’s own actions were the sole reason for it losing ground, and therefore Performia was declared a confirmed starter in the event.
In relation to Tints, jockey Evans advised Stewards that as a result of Performia, which was drawn alongside Tints, rearing in the barriers, he was not completely settled in the saddle prior to the start.
He added that when the barriers opened he in fact thought a false start had occurred and therefore immediately restrained Tints out of the event.
As jockey Evans had incorrectly formed the view that a false start had occurred there were no grounds upon which Stewards could rule Tints a non-runner and therefore it was deemed a confirmed starter and correct weight was declared.
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For what it is worth, TAB and non-TAB tracks have a siren that the starter immediately activates to signal a false start.
The emergency facility has been used at least once in the South Burnett. Presumably it was available at Roma’s prime fixture.
Oogie ($7) should have been strongly supported by the locals.
Trainer Scott Rodgers races the Haradasun gelding with his his wife Hayley.
His record around the course now stands at 6:3-2-0 and he is yet to be beaten after three cracks at the distance there.
Punters may have stood back a tad because apprentices could not claim.
The five-year-old son of the Danehill mare Danelza has an amazing earning rate with seven wins and eight seconds accrued from just 20 career starts.
His last nine outings have collected five first and three runner-up prize money cheques.
Rodgers has placed his charge well around the bush circuit.
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The other rare aspect about the Roma Cup excitement was the impromptu cheer-squad at the Ascot track in Perth.
Lionel Richardson, who is working in Western Australia, watched his brother Glenn’s apprentice take out her most prestigious victory to date.
Nearby was Michael McInally, the Three Way Photos photographer who is so well-known in the South Burnett.
He was covering, by invitation, the Ascot carnival day.
Michael’s father Paul and brother David were in the harness at Roma.
Three Way Photos brilliantly captured Hannah’s joy after she had successfully passed the post.
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Hoofnote: Hannah English trekked to Beaudesert on Friday for a single engagement. She went within a neck of stretching her run to nine straight working days when Omission ($12) ran third in the last event, the $20,000 Racing Queensland Summer Provincial Series BM 75 Handicap.
Note: Next week’s column will feature a preview of the Christmas program at Nanango on Saturday 5 December. Meanwhile, comprehensive information for patrons is available at What’s On in the South Burnett.
