November 17, 2016
The saying goes that it’s a long road that has no turning. Thankfully, Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson went around the right corner last Saturday.
He had picked up eight placings in the aftermath of Hopetoun Street’s win at Gympie on September 24. At Mount Perry the same horse, starting at 6/4, broke the stable’s sequence of 23 winless attempts.
The Kaphero mare has earned her keep with two wins, a second and three thirds coming from her eight essays for Richardson.
Maybe she will inspire her stablemate Canid (Hannah English) to seize the day at Roma on Saturday.
A breakthrough for the perennial placegetter would put the cherries and cream on a Black Forest cake for the team.
Mt Perry was a great day for English, with Richardson’s apprentice finishing a head shy of a treble.
She booted home Hopetoun Street and The Equine Bolt, while Nothin’ Zappenin’ ran a close second.
Her tally of eight wins in just over a month embraces doubles at Gayndah, Chinchilla and Mount Perry and singles at the Sunshine Coast and Wondai.
Hannah is in demand at Roma this Saturday, too – her six rides on the TAB card include Unbowed in the $50,000 Royal on 99 Roma Cup (1460m), and her tally would have been seven rides if Brooklyn Boy hadn’t been a late scratching in Race 2.
A triumph on her Wondai Cup hero from Pat Duff’s Deagon establishment would give her back-to-back trophies as she landed last year’s edition with Oggie.
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Kumbia Form Franked
Charge Missile and The Equine Bolt, two of the Melbourne Cup day winners at Kumbia, continued on their merry ways at the highly popular Mount Perry fixture.
For the former, it was a case of the cloud having more than a silver lining.
After drawing 18 of 18, the Charge Forward gelding was withdrawn by trainer Brenton Andrew from a Doomben race that was subsequently washed out.
So little fish proved to be better than an empty creel for the sprinter that was again the punters’ elect for an Open sprint.
Louise Dillon, the six-year-old’s partner, was severely reprimanded for causing Winner Wimmer to be checked.
After taking into account the fact the Sunshine Coast rookie has only been licensed for a period of 10 weeks together with her guilty plea and unblemished race riding record thus far, stewards settled on issuing the censure.
The effort of The Equine Bolt (9/4) was especially pleasing for his connections.
The sparingly raced four-year-old led all the way to comfortably make an immediate transition to the step above maiden class.
Trainer James Curtain had a few disappointments with I Am McLovin before he went on to gather up six races.
Racing is a severe test of faith and patience and it is reassuring to see thoroughbreds, after trials and tribulations, take strides in the positive direction.
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Appo In Command Again
Regular racegoers over the years have witnessed Lyall Appo’s masterly rides on pacemakers, including two Nanango Cups he won using those tactics.
The Lee Park feature has also gone twice to his brother Bradley, and once to his son Beau.
While Lyall’s original roots were in Eidsvold, his father Lionel hailed from Mount Perry. So winning the Evolution Mining Mt Perry Cup (BM 55, 1400m) on I Got Trix was a moving experience for the genial horseman.
In recent times, Appo has concentrated his riding itinerary around the needs of his old mate Mark Goodwin, the currently disqualified Chinchilla trainer.
I Got Trix, in Goodwin’s usual orange purple stars and cap silks, was prepared by Mark’s daughter Jemimah Forde, the I Am Invincible gelding’s part-owner.
Lyall resumed with a win on Shockwave at Bundaberg on November 1 after a five week break.
Meanwhile, Beau Appo has recorded doubles at each of his last three outings at Toowoomba.
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Pre-Christmas Picnics At Lee Park
Nanango Race Club’s next meeting on Sunday, December 4 is an ideal way to launch Christmas catch-ups for family, work colleagues or groups of friends.
Firstly, there is no need for someone to do all the preparation and cleaning up – folk can come early and just grab a table.
Alternately, families could set themselves up with their own little marquee or tent cover and chairs, or simply spread a blanket under the trees.
It is the perfect time to bring someone along who usually works on a Saturday.
Santa will also be popping in to Lee Park that day before things get busy at the North Pole.
Mini-stands plus the grandstand provide many viewing options, while club members have the added bonus of their own lounge.
The Moffatdale Ridge Wines Fashions Theme is “Tea Party Florals and Bowties” and live music and fashion parade will be offering great post-race entertainment.
A photo booth will be set up in the grounds, too, and patrons could use the images to make their own home-made or online Christmas cards.
Whilst there are no guarantees that you will win in the betting ring, you never know your luck.
You just may collect enough to meet Festive season costs!
