June 17, 2016
Cecily Eaton has ridden at Barcaldine, Warwick, Roma, Rome and Gayndah following her return to the race-day saddle on April 30.
There is no typing error in the preceding sentence.
The popular hoop, who broke her fermur in January 2015, finished third on Tabasco at the Italian capital’s Capanelle racecourse on May 29.
The race was the eighth leg of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR), which is being conducted in eight countries to promote horse-racing for the Arabian breed.
The 14 heat winners meet at Abu Dhabi in a lucrative final that Deagon-based Eaton will witness in November.
Victoria’s Linda Meech also picked up a minor placing in the event’s Moroccan edition.
Cecily’s comeback, with successes at Roma and Gayndah, has produced a current 15:2-2-2 Queensland form line.
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Bells Rang For Sexton
Oakey trainer Peter Sexton, a very familiar figure around the Burnett, chimed in at Gayndah last weekend with another double, courtesy of Burketown Larrikin and Dr Quincy.
That effort, along with his two wins at Eidsvold, was rewarded with the trainer’s $1,000 bonus.
The points system for the scheme, that was designed to boost field sizes, awarded 4,3,2 marks to the respective placegetters and one to unplaced runners.
Bundaberg’s Darryl Gardiner went down by the barest possible margin while Eidsvold’s Bob Murray was a similar distance back in third berth.
Their strings produced one winner each over the two days.
Gardiner missed out on the $1,000 feature double bonus when his Eidsvold hero Al’s Briefs went down narrowly to Robert’s Command in the Gayndah Cup.
On the same program, Glenn Richardson and Melody O’Brien combined to grab second money with Hidden Angel in the QTIS Maiden Plate while Monte Lago experienced a luckless passage when fourth, beaten less than a length, in BM 60 grade.
Kaylene Hamilton, the grey’s conditioner, had reason to be very pleased with the performance of Stratalena at Gatton the next day.
The last start Nanango BM 50 winner stepped up to BM 70 level.
With Ian Coombes as pilot, the 12/1 chance conquered all bar Ol’ Brown Eyes and the ultra-consistent Favorite Shadow.
Meanwhile Miss Alexandra will attempt a hat-trick when she runs in the half-mile Class B at Kilcoy’s Non-TAB fixture this Saturday.
The in-form Wayne Farrington prepared mare will again be handled by Maurice Crawford.
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Tightrope Times For Eagle Farm
The general consensus seems to be that although Eagle Farm’s new circuit will develop into a fine facility, that was not the case for its much heralded debut on Stradbroke Day.
The four Group One contests that closed out the card were dominated by runners traversing a wide course.
Eleven of the twelve placegetters left from gates between 10 and 16.
The first five of 18 home in the Oaks came from barrier 16, 17, 3, 15 and 18 while 11 was the lucky “marble” with four of the ten winners despatched from that slot.
Some punters took to social media to declare that there is nothing wrong with track bias.
They claimed money can be made be backing those that will use it to advantage.
However, how were fans to know that Damien Oliver would persist in the softer zone on the Stradbroke favourite Azkadellia or that the less famous Rosie Myers on the third placed The Virginian (80/1) would follow a similar home stretch path to the quinella pair Under The Louvre and Black Heart Bart?
Actually, the main point is that these rich, prestigious events are long term dreams and goals for connections.
They are entitled to compete as far as possible on a level playing field.
Punters can simply turn to the next offering, but owners have made a more lasting investment.
Sure, afternoon downpours that reshape the track rating cannot be avoided. There was not a drop of rain at headquarters on Saturday.
As anticipated, the upside was the brilliant infield screen. The picture clarity was so superb that race callers could probably have put away their glasses and described proceedings from the massive image.
The dilemma for the authorities is that they must get the track’s program right in the coming months.
Putting a foot or two in the wrong direction could create lasting problems.
Even laymen know enough to appreciate the importance of preserving and assisting the root structures.
The venue is scheduled to hold meetings on June 25th, July 6th, 16th and 27th. However there are three successive Saturdays listed for activity there in August.
One standby step would be to transfer midweek programs as an interim precaution.
The saying that pride goeth before a fall may be worth revisiting.
The other bright side was the opportunity to watch top flight riders ply their trade.
The likes of Zac Purton, Joao Moreira, Tommy Berry, Dwayne Dunn and Blake Shinn are only around only at carnival time.
Racegoers were given the chance to study their styles, the length of their leathers and feet position at close quarters.
Rosie Myers, a multiple Group One winner in homeland New Zealand, added to a special tradition.
Her victory on Benzini in the Brisbane Cup continued the run by Kiwi lasses in Brisbane’s staying events.
Linda Jones broke the ice on Pay The Purple in the 1979 Labour Day Cup while Maree Lyndon (on Mr Trick in 1985) and Dianne Moseley (Double You Em, 1982) saluted in Doomben Cups .
In 1987, Lyndon, on Argonaut Style, was the first female to have a crack at the Melbourne Cup.
