April 2, 2016
Shane Essery, the Ipswich trainer who races Favorite Shadow with his wife Nicole, is clear about a major influence behind the gelding’s Nanango success last Saturday.
“I have tried other horses as traveling mates for him, but ‘Princess’ has been the difference,” Essery said as he tied up his winner in a stall next to one occupied by a tiny, placid milky coloured Shetland pony.
In an era when so many trainers utilise pharmaceuticals that are legal in type and timing, it was refreshing to find a case that centred around satisfying a thoroughbred’s needs naturally.
No doubt Princess earned some extra treats because the son of Dane Shadow made it two on the trot.
Eight consecutive unplaced efforts have been followed by strong wins in BM 45 company at Esk and last weekend’s Crow FM BM 50 at Lee Park.
Mind you, the five-year-old may also especially enjoy a day out at Nanango.
His three appearances there to date have picked up cheques for first, second and fourth.
There was a comical sidelight to the event.
‘Princess’ stood in the stall that had be marked for Gympie rival Commander Bond, a bay that on breeding could well be dubbed James.
The seven-year-old by Commands from the Royal Academy mare Dux of the Class has a 007 vibe about his name.
‘Princess’ certainly could have been a super cool, innocuous, undercover spy when compared with all the tall operatives stationed nearby.
Hannah Phillips made a welcome return to the winner’s list with a dashing, well rated front-running ride.
The duo stepped up the pace well before the home turn and stoutly defied the opposition over the final part.
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Time To Toast Pick Of The Pubs
Oakey based jockey Leeanne McCoy has enjoyed a lot of success in the South Burnett over the years.
However last Saturday’s triumph on Pick of the Pubs in the McDonalds Kingaroy Maiden QTIS Plate was in the category to be cherished.
The Publishing gelding is the first winner her father David has raced and the three-year-old is prepared by her fiancé David Reynolds.
The couple could add another tier to next month’s wedding cake because the QTIS bonus lifted the first prize to a healthy $8050.
McCoy had partnered Sequalo’s grandson for five of his six previous assignments.
The day off was in mid-March when her hens’ party clashed with his start at Ipswich.
This time, it was all over bar the shouting before heads were turned for home.
Hopefully the six length margin Pick of the Pubs posted signifies a promising future.
Connections will drink to that!
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Mardi And Andrew Put Their Names To Marrew Mia
Hervey Bay based trainer Andrew Hayward, his partner Mardi Liebelt, his son Joshua and his daughter-in-law Karina race Marrew-Mia, the All Bar One mare that took out the Glendalough Brangus Stud Maiden Plate (800m) in fine style for Jason Hoopert.
The four-year-old had registered just one placing from her eight essays prior to her Nanango engagement.
The daughter of the Commands mare Tara Girl had not sported silk since last September.
On that occasion she failed badly at Gladstone.
Her name was derived by adding the last half of Andrew to the first half of Mardi.
The couple bred Marrew Mia’s younger sister Marrew Bar None.
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This Saturday’s Racing
Monto, the most northerly member of the South Queensland Country Racing Association, will be hosting its annual Ken and Gordon Russell Memorial event on Saturday.
There are no South Burnett based gallopers heading up that way, but Andrew Hayward’s trio of Rocking Connection, Calgary and Marrew Mia are set to back up after last weekend’s Nanango runs.
Nanango’s Glenn Richardson is taking Mollara and Canid to Dalby.
Hannah English, who added the winners Daddy Long Legs (Sunshine Coast, Sunday) and Bob Mark’s Boy (Goondiwindi, Monday) to her resume, has three rides there before handling a quintet at Toowoomba.
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Autumn Championships Seem Poorly Timed
While racing in Queensland struggles financially with more belt tightening ahead, New South Wales has the benefit of major government funding in the form of The Championships.
This extravaganza occupies the limelight for the next two Saturdays at Randwick.
Alas, the much vaunted centrepiece has shrivelled up.
The project was aimed to match or surpass the hype and international fervour generated by Melbourne in the Spring.
There is NO overseas trained horse left to compete after Tosen Stardom was declared a bleeder.
The final Japanese aspirant for the 2016 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes has joined his compatriots Tosen Reve, Isla Bonita and Logotype on the scratching list.
The autumn time slot is very problematic with the recent Dubai World Cup and Hong Kong in early May serving as persuasive counter-attractions.
Even Brisbane’s Buffering has skipped home turf to beat a global path.
The British are not going to trek to Australia with their best bluebloods when Royal Ascot is on the horizon.
The Grand National at Aintree is run during The Championships and steeplechasing – not flat racing – occupies English minds at present.
Stellar mare Winx, who takes on handicap conditions in Saturday’s Doncaster, will need to back up in the mega rich weight-for-age contest seven days.
If that doesn’t happen, the remnants of Easter eggs will be found on the faces of the Sydney carnival proponents.
