December 16, 2016
The name Contessa Diamantina di Roma is well connected with western Queensland place names – she was the wife of Sir George Bowen, this state’s first governor.
Hannah English was in her own seat of power at Roma last Saturday.
She was in command for the first three events decided at Bassett Park, a venue named for Samuel Bassett, the founder of the Romavilla Winery.
The past twelve months at that circuit has been a vintage year for Hannah.
Although English was only able to ride at the two fixtures in November and December, she has been writing her own special history.
Her ten engagements have produced five winners and a second for a range of trainers.
Prior to that period, she saluted on Oggie in the 2015 Roma Cup.
Hannah’s latest treble embraced very narrow victories for her master Glenn Richardson, with Henagan, and Craig Smith (Just like Errol) while her opening success for Scott Rodgers (All The Tricks) was by a very comfortable margin.
The Nanango apprentice continued on in fine style by taking out the first race at Dalby last Tuesday with Winner Wimmer ($14).
Her agent is Matthew Duncan and so she is “stablemates” with James Orman, Nozi Tomizawa and Lyall Appo.
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The Busy Business Continues
With five wins from her three most recent work days, Hannah is looking for further conquests at this Friday’s provincial double-header.
At Ipswich, she partners I Am McLovin in the early afternoon.
Her last mount at the Bundamba course is scheduled to leave the gates at 4.15pm.
Then it is off to Caloundra for bookings between 7.55pm and 9.30pm.
Her book of five Saturday rides at Chinchilla gets into stride at 12.45 pm.
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Burnett Takes Aim At Esk And Chinchilla
Wondai trainer Kristen Wenck saddles up two aspirants at Esk’s Christmas meeting this Saturday.
Nug’s Pocket (Alannah Badger) has drawn the coveted inside stall for a first-up crack at the Pat and Margaret Moffatt BM 55 (800m).
The Sequalo gelding, podium placed for 16 of its 33 starts to date, goes well fresh.
The chestnut was mentioned in the stewards’ despatches at its last two appearances in July and August.
Wenck’s fascinating Maiden hopeful is the unraced four-year-old Ascot Bound.
The Domesday gelding has trialled four times at Randwick in the winter of 2015 and spring this year.
Glenn Richardson and Hannah English combine with Corryvreckan and Canid in the line up for the Chinchilla Cup program.
Their third acceptor, the recent Nanango heroine Jill’s Shadow, drew barrier 14 and will stay at home.
Neville “Shorty” O’Toole, with the festively named Star Of Bethlehem, and Peter Blackwell (Cold As Ice) and Richardson (Canid) are rivals in the BM 55 contest.
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Hodge Suspended In Rare Circumstances
Apprentice Jed Hodge was sent out for three months on November 2 for an unusual incident at Caloundra on September 18.
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission report states:
“Stewards established that Recompence had been sound during the lead up to the event however during the preliminary prior to the running of Race 2, Recompence was significantly lame in the near hind leg. Stewards were unable to identify any incident that may have contributed to or caused the lameness. Furthermore, it was established that no official was made aware of this lameness and that immediately after the start of the event Recompence was extremely awkward in its action and as a consequence was retired from the event after passing the 700m. Recompence was diagnosed with a suspected fractured pelvis and subsequently euthanized on humane grounds.
The specifics of the charge being that, as the rider of Recompence, during the pre-race preliminary of race 2 at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on September 18, 2016, Apprentice Hodge was negligent in failing to identify a pre-race occurrence, namely the lameness exhibited by Recompence, which should have been reported and which may have impacted the running of Recompence. The stewards believe that this negligence led to a breach of AR.140(aa).
(AR.140(aa) states that) the rider of a horse must report any pre-race occurrence or incident involving or affecting the horse occurring after the order to mount which may impact the running or performance of the horse in the race. The report by the rider must be made to the Stewards or, in the absence of the Stewards, to the race starter, prior to the start of the race.Apprentice Hodge pleaded guilty to this charge.”
Jed rode on a stay of proceedings and his agent Glenn Davis reported the ensuing appeal resulted in the penalty being reduced to one month.
