July 29, 2016
The cliff-hanger that is the Queensland Country Apprentice Premiership duel will be finalised this Saturday.
According to Racing Australia, Stephanie Lacy’s 186 rural rides for the season have recorded a 28-31-19 form line.
She will be in a head-to-head battle with Hannah English (154:28-19-17) at Roma.
Amazingly, the pair have drawn side by side at the barrier for the first two contests and both have full books.
They will also face off, at provincial level, on Friday at Ipswich and Sunday at the Sunshine Coast.
Although irrelevant to the country table, Lacy has enjoyed a good week with provincial wins at Beaudesert and Townsville.
A broken wrist robbed English of a significant slice of the action at a key time. At least she does have a chance to add to her pre-21 May tally.
Further east at Gatton, Adam Spinks (164:26-19-21) needs to defy the odds to bring off a last gasp victory.
The Caloundra lad has three confirmed bookings.
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Avenue Is On The Right Road
Lindsay Anderson has the knack of picking a positive pathway for Glenthorn Avenue.
With Corey Bayliss using his four kilogram claim for the last time, the bay followed up his recent Wondai victory with another success at Gympie.
The Bel Esprit gelding that blows out eight candles on the carrot cake next Monday humped 62.5 kilograms in the BM 55 event over 1170 metres.
The son of the Encosta De Lago mare Tolago originally cost Victorian trainer Gerard Moloney $62,000 as a yearling.
Before being on-sold quite cheaply to Anderson, the galloper recorded wins at Benalla and Terang.
The 20 starts in that southern chapter also harvested four seconds and three thirds.
Anderson found the key to Glenthorn Avenue.
The 43 run phase thus far in Queensland has generated a dozen wins and 22 placings.
The open conditions of the $10,000 Fitzroy Hotel Nanango Cup (1600m) on 13 August may suit the consistent performer.
The gutsy trier has won over the metric mile at Burrandowan and Lee Park and was runner-up in the 2014 Nanango Cup.
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See The Cup
The 2016 Melbourne Cup travels to Monto and Eidsvold this Sunday.
The presence of the coveted trophy in the Burnett brings back memories of the appearance of Rogan Josh’s 1999 Cup at Lee Park a few years ago.
Nanango racegoers that day had an opportunity to talk with the Old Spice gelding’s part owner Wendy Green.
Monto will hold a Breakfast of Champions with a barrel race at the racetrack at 8:30am.
At Lions Park at 10:00am there will be a morning tea and the unveiling of the Ken Russell bronze statue prior to the family day and luncheon at the town’s Historical and Cultural Complex.
Eidsvold’s activity at the R.M. Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre will kick off with a country style afternoon tea at 3:30pm followed by Cocktails and Canapes with “The Cup”.
For more information about the program, contact Lyle Murray (Eidsvold) on 0427-651-923) or Kerri Williams (Monto) on 0488-508-987.
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Bits And Bridles
- Kaylene Hamilton’s charge Monte Lago and Tom Moloney’s Yamanners both collected second prizes last Saturday. The former stepped up to BM 70 provincial grade over 870 metres at Clifford Park while the latter earnt a crust in a Class B at Thangool.
- Canid kept paying for his food and lodgings at Glenn Richardson’s establishment with a third placing at Gympie. The Exclusive City gelding’s last six chores have delivered a 1-2-2 product.
- The widely travelled Rebecca Williams struck the best possible pay dirt last Saturday with a Doomben victory aboard the Rex Lipp trained In The Genes ($26). Similarly Jason Missen’s trekking proved successful at Thangool on the Laura Cronan prepared Gambit and at Beaudesert with Star Hero ($26) from Shane and Adam Barling’s Woodford base.
- James Curtain is having a throw at the stumps from very deep in the outfield with Somerset Lass in the seven horse Doomben Open Handicap (2200m) on Saturday. Although the Shinzig mare is on the improve with a fourth placing over 2000 metres at Dalby on 19 July and a third spot at Toowoomba over 1625 metres on 17 July, she faces stiff opposition. The Kumbia horseman is deserving of a breakthrough any time soon. At the Dalby meeting, the stable’s maiden Sequioa Miss, in registering her third second from her past five outings, acquired the ninth runner-up cheque for the stable this season.
- Reminder: It is a fortnight to the Moffatdale Ridge’s Classic Black and White themed Nanango Cup Day. The $10,000 feature race is sponsored by the Fitzroy Hotel. It is time to get your gear into the act of going racing.
