(Photo: Ross Stanley)
May 26, 2016
Nanango trainer Kaylene Hamilton would love to record a hometown success in the BP Roadhouse Nanango BM 50 (1000m) at Lee Park on Saturday with either Stratalena or Monte Lago.
Stratalena, first-up since January, will be stepping out in Queensland for the first time and will be ridden by Ian Coombes.
The Stratum mare from Madrilena has won twice on rain-affected going at Hawkesbury.
Her grand-dam Regina Madre took out the AJC Analie Handicap (Listed) and the STC Darby Munro Stakes (Listed). She also produced Fashion Cafe, a Tycoon Ruler filly that prevailed in the Rancher Quality (Listed) at Caulfield.
Monte Lago was just pipped at the Burrandowan post two weeks ago.
The Encosta de Lago gelding, a winner of a maiden at Bong Bong and a Class 2 at the Sapphire Coast, has raced well this time in.
His pedigree page includes the famous names of Northern Dancer (twice), Danehill, Vain, Luskin Star and Wiley Trade, the dam of Melbourne Cup hero Subzero, and will have Jason Hoopert aboard at Nanango.
The event has further local interest with Glenn Richardson’s charge Jill’s Shadow and I Am McLovin also in the line up.
Three weeks ago, the latter was mentioned twice in the Esk Stewards report.
Firstly, “after looking at the film, stewards did agree with apprentice Adam Spinks that his barrier was marginally slow to open. However, allowing for where the horse raced in the early stages and the manner in which the horse finished the race off, stewards believed this did not have a material effect on the gelding’s performance and therefore it was declared a runner.”
The second reference stated that I Am McLovin “shifted in after passing the 400 metres, causing tightening to runners on its inside. Apprentice Adam Spinks was advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground”.
The Murtajill gelding from James Curtain’s Kumbia stable was not disgraced in his two and three quarter length defeat at Ipswich a fortnight ago.
That 1,000 metre race was at the higher Class 5 level.
The downside is that the bay carried 54 kilograms and goes up to 59 this weekend, after accounting for Mel Cox’s three kilogram claim.
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Tough Break For English
The name Hannah English will be missing from the riding ranks for the next several weeks.
The Nanango apprentice, after scoring on Rough Eddie for the Michael Nolan yard, broke her wrist and suffered facial bruising when she was dislodged from Kid Kruize at Toowoomba last weekend.
The incident effectively brings English’s first year in racing silk to a close.
The local lass has come a mighty long way since her winning debut day at Gayndah on Stradbroke Day last year (June 6, 2015).
Her work ethic has been superb and the kilometres logged astronomical.
Every cloud has a silver lining, so maybe the enforced rest does have a replenishing upside.
Inside twelve months, Hannah has booted home more than 50 winners, which is better than one a week.
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Meanwhile, Hannah Phillips, who has not been in the best of health, was fined $400 at Burrandowan over a weight problem.
She was over the mark in the opening event and was replaced.
Two races later she was unable to claim her full allowance.
After an examination by Queensland Ambulance Service bearers she was stood down for the remainder of the card and will need a medical clearance before resuming race-riding.
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Spinks Boys Relished Thangool
Adam Spinks, who was successful on Itty Gitty at Thangool last Saturday, will be in action at Lee Park this weekend.
His father Andrew accompanied him to Central Queensland and made it a “double” for the name by saluting on Confident Star.
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Concertina Cluster Of Cards
Nanango’s field sizes for Saturday have not been helped by the clash with Dalby and the TAB fixture at nearby Kilcoy on Sunday.
Diamondine, Artistic Choice, Favorite Shadow, Hizou and Our Clarky ultimately accepted for Lee Park and Kilcoy.
Given that Jandowae operated last weekend, there has been a concentration of racing in a small zone of late.
Sometimes that is not a problem.
But there are no certainties when it comes to attracting competitors.
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The 10,000 Seventy Years On
Punters have the best of two worlds at Nanango on Saturday with a TAB tote and bookmakers operating on-course.
The $750,000 Doomben 10,000 should be the centre of national attention now that the Adelaide carnival is over.
The event kicked off as the Newmarket in 1933 down the straight six trip.
The course was permanently reduced when the adjacent airport resumed the long chute during wartime.
Classy commodities such as Manikato, Baguette, Takeover Target, Apache Cat, Campaign King, Sovereign Red, Maybe Mahal, Black Onyx, Winfreux, Aquanita, Murray Stream and the locals Falvelon, Chief De Beers, Charlton Boy and Bengalla Lad are on the honour board.
The 1946 version, known as the Terry Ahern Memorial, offered a £10,000 purse for the first time.
The potency of the money is appreciated when it is compared with that year’s Melbourne Cup kitty of £13,000.
For many years, the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club ensured that the then handicap was Australia’s richest sprint contest.
Renowned artist Brian Malt was in the massive crowd at Doomben for that June 1, 1946 program.
He perched on his father’s shoulders to watch Bernborough storm home to an unforgettable triumph.
About four decades later, the BATC commissioned him to paint a portrait of the champion (see above).
Hope you find a share of the winners at Lee Park!
