February 26, 2016
Wondai trainer Tony Williams was a relieved man after the Past Members Memorial Maiden (1030m) at last weekend’s Eidsvold meeting.
After a horror run of drawing wide gates, a handy marble rolled out this time for Lillian Eliza.
The five year old, who had posted six top four finishes in her last eight outings, had a lovely run for Kelly Gates.
The 12/1 shot was eligible for the QTIS bonus, so her three lengths victory earned $8,375 for owners Graham and Pam Field, Jimmy Cross and Tony’s wife Sue.
The Fields bred the daughter of Zabeel’s half brother Break The Vault and the Naturalism mare Bouchon.
They also are the owner-breeders of Western Maizcay, the Southwestern Heat-Our Stolen Maizcay gelding that scored for the stable on home sand last October.
Lillian Eliza, who is named after Graham’s grandmother, had the inside barrier when she was beaten a mere half head by Crack of Dawn on Melbourne Cup day at Kumbia.
The bay lost some ground when another runner shifted in abruptly at the 300 metre point in late January at Thangool.
She rallied for third money, just over a length from the winner Excel With Reward.
No one could begrudge the change of luck that eventually came along at the 18th attempt – and it helped put the icing on the cake for Williams’ birthday a few days later.
There was a touch of irony for Hannah English, who piloted the runner-up Hidden Angel (8/1) for her master Glenn Richardson.
She was aboard Lillian Eliza recently at Nanango when the pair were unplaced after jumping from the extreme outside.
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Steward Kim Daly Maintains His Form
(Photo: Ross Stanley)
The hardest seats on a racetrack are occupied by the stewards’ panel. They have to make a series of crucial calls during each working day and rarely please everybody.
Racing Queensland’s versatile stipe Kim Daly is a respected, familiar figure at all sort sorts of rural non-TAB fixtures as well as city and provincial venues.
His commonsense approach ensured that the last two events at Eidsvold were run over their advertised journey of 1350 metres.
He organised for plastic marker hats to be placed on a troublesome stretch just after the start.
Riders were able to avoid the very wet section that was about four horses wide.
At the end of last month, Daly’s observational skills and initiative led to a judicious resolution of the $100,000 Sunshine Coast Cup.
Gold Coast jockey Paul Hammersley didn’t lodge a protest when Timeless Prince was a short half head second to Pillar Of Creation. with Mischievous Girl a nose away third.
Daly, who was stationed on the home bend, entered his own protest.
It was on behalf of stewards after he saw that Pillar Of Creation had shifted out in the straight.
It bumped the tiring Sambuca Shot, which in turn shifted onto Timeless Prince.
The quinella placings were subsequently reversed.
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Bits And Bridles
- Hannah English has been paid the ultimate compliment. The leading rookie’s services have been booked by six different trainers for Dalby’s TAB meeting on Saturday. Her full, seven strong book includes the Peter Blackwell trained Count Romano in the Stayers Cup (0-62, 2000m). The in-form Hivesville galloper was far from disgraced last Saturday when beaten less than six panels in a $65,000 Doomben BM 75 Handicap (2200m).Impressive Nanango Class B winner Eight Chance will be a rival.
- Brian Laherty’s mare Grace’s Gift continues along her comeback trail in the $10,000 Maiden (1200m) at Bunya Park.
- Technological advances in jockey scales are being brought out to country courses. The modern gear is computerised, and the process is quicker because of all the pre-loaded information. Tales from yore about individuals with weight problems tampering with the equipment are not likely to be added to any time soon.
- Hannah Phillips will not kick off race riding for Rex Lipp’s Toowoomba yard until after March 3. She was given time on the sidelines for whip infringement at Dalby on February 6 and then incurred another suspension at Nanango.
- Jason Missen is getting close to a return to the saddle after injuring his collarbone in his new territory on the Darling Downs. Rhiannon Payne has relocated to Brisbane. Both hoops are former trackwork riders at Wondai.
- Flemington was not trialling the thirty minute interval between races last week, some club personnel were certainly in a hurry. The presentation for the C.S. Hayes Stakes was apparently conducted before correct weight was given. The event featured a controversial protest in which Palentino lost the first prize to the runner-up Tivaci. It is tough losing a race because of an incident 900 metres out. It is worse still when you have the give the trophy back just minutes after receiving it.
- Eidsvold’s track rating was changed from a Soft 5 to a Heavy 8 late last Saturday morning. Officials were glad that the course was raceable. Last year’s February program was washed out, but Eidsvold was given a replacement date in June. Both Bundaberg and Emerald lost recent fixtures to the wet. Racing Queensland has added an extra race to the next two Bundaberg cards and one to Emerald’s agenda.
- Upcoming meetings in the South Burnett and its fringes are scheduled for Gympie (March 5), Esk (March 12), Bundaberg (March 19) and Nanango (Easter Saturday, March 26).
