February 12, 2016
The leading pair in the parade for the opening event at Nanango on Saturday will both display pink hearts in their jockeys’ colours.
The situation was not created because it is Pandemonium Pink Day at Lee Park.
It just so happens that Calgary and Rocking Connection, the top duo in saddlecloth order for the Threeway Photos Class 1 (800m) at 1:20pm, are both prepared at Gympie by Andrew Hayward.
The jacket to be worn by Adam Spinks on Calgary will be adorned with multiple hearts, while Jason Hoopert’s top on Rocking Connection will have a single heart. But racegoers who like to wear their hearts on their sleeves will be accommodated with this outfit too.
Further down the list is Shinzo Mashuranbo.
The chestnut from Peter Blackwell’s Hivesville stable is set to be less romantic: rider Jed Hodge will don a black outfit with a large pink spot.
Favorite Shadow, Jack Attack, Wardeh and Mister Loosel will all have a pink connection later in the day.
There are also several acceptors with cerise tonings for those who wish to extend their omen options.
Omen hunches often prove productive.
When the Pink Champagne Bar swung into action for the first time in January 2009, Rosie’s Boy won the Nanango RSL Handicap.
His trainer Matt Connor had a pink towel and a pink bucket to go with the pink horseshoes, pink cap and pink sleeves worn by jockey Shaun Bayliss.
Lee Park punters who end up in the pink this weekend know exactly where to head for their celebratory drinks.
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(Photo: Ross Stanley)
Quadrella Chances For The District
South Burnett trainers will saddle up contenders in each of the first four races on the Nanango card.
Glenn Richardson and Brian Laherty will take on Peter Blackwell in the Class 1 sprint.
The former hopes luck will change with Mollara, a former Victorian whose three appearances in Queensland have earned second money at Mount Perry, Nanango and Bundaberg.
The latter is bringing back Grace’s Gift, a mare that was previously trained for him by his nephew Anthony Greaves.
Danehill’s six year old grand-daughter is one of the best bred gallopers stepping out on Saturday.
Her dam, True Confession, is a half sister to Shamekha, the Secret Savings mare that banked almost $1.9 million in stakes and entered the honour boards of the AJC All-Aged Stakes, AJC T J Smith Stakes, STC Coolmore Classic, STC Magic Night Stakes, STC Tea Rose Stakes, Tatt’s (NSW) Furious Stakes and BTC Champagne Stakes.
Grace’s Gift was bred by Gerry Harvey.
Her maternal sire Naturalism won an AJC Derby. And other classic victors in her pedigree include Northern Dancer (Kentucky Derby), The Minstrel (English and Irish Derbies) and Nijinsky (English and Irish Derbies, English St Leger,Two Thousand Guineas).
The bay’s debut was over 1000 metres at Nanango on January 14, 2012, where she missed on an instant breakthrough by a mere neck.
Her subsequent nine outings added a third placing at Caloundra in February 2012.
Rock of Gibraltar’s daughter has been off the scene since her failure on Toowoomba’s cushion surface on November 10, 2012.
Grace’s Gift faces an enormous challenge. Hopefully her performance will be encouraging.
Meanwhile Kumbia’s James Curtain is on the lookout for a magician’s wand.
His eight most recent starters have returned five seconds and a third.
The Equine Bolt and Lord Wivenhoe both ran second at Dalby last Saturday.
Lady Wivenhoe, his upcoming Lee Park representative, has collected three runner-up cheques this time in.
Barry Phillips (Lisa Fashionista, Alemana), Tony Williams (Lillian Eliza) and Glen Richardson (Canid) will also engender local interest.
Apprentices Hannah Phillips and Hannah English both have programmed a busy day.
After fulfilling their Nanango engagements, they will back up at the Toowoomba twilight fixture.
Punters do face a task assessing fitness levels with around a quarter of the candidates resuming from breaks.
On the other hand, many patrons will be focussed on winning the silver jewellery fashion prize kindly donated by Cr Kathy Duff, or the Valentines Day dinner courtesy of the Copper Country Motel and Restaurant.
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Watch For Winx And More Winks
The southern autumn warm-ups are very exciting.
Glamour Street Cry mare Winx is at unbackable odds to make it six on the trot in the $250,000 Apollo Stakes (Gr 2) at Randwick.
Her three first-up successes to date were all over trips shorter than 1400 metres.
On paper, the only possible danger would be Solicit, another Street Cry mare that has a had a pip-opening run and should like covering her pet distance.
On the other hand, the five-year-old has failed twice at the venue.
Realistically, Winx’s main danger could be ill luck in transit.
She has the rail gate and rider Hugh Bowman will not be given a “get out of jail card” any time soon.
It will be fascinating tactical battle to observe.
Caulfield’s $500,000 C F Orr Stakes line up is understandably head and shoulders above Sydney’s drawcard when it comes to depth of chances and quality.
Waller has made Winx’s assignment easier by shipping her stablemate south for Melbourne’s Group 1 exercise.
A wink is a signal of affection or greeting.
There could well be some warm ones on the eve of Valentines Day trackside on Saturday.
Good luck – you never know who you might see during this exciting program!
