December 23, 2016
The efforts of Nug’s Pocket and Ascot Bound at Esk last Saturday were a positive sign for young Wondai trainer Kristen Wenck.
The former bounced back first up after finishing well back at Gympie and Nanango in July and August.
The chestnut, in taking out third money, was only two lengths adrift of the winner Jeptoo in the Pat and Margaret Moffatt BM (800m).
The result was better than the margin indicated as it was not all smooth sailing in running.
Stewards reported that Nug’s Pocket hung for the majority of the trip and will now have to trial before lining up again.
The lightly raced Sequalo gelding, with a form line of 33: 2-4-10, is certainly deserving of a breakthrough.
Ascot Bound, although beaten decisively in the Travis Thornton 30th Maiden Plate (800m), was fifth of eight on debut.
The four-year-old had not faced the starter in a number of earlier preparations in the south, so it will be all the better for the experience.
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Jeptoo Joined An Unusual Club
While there have been many instances over the years of horses racing twice on the same program ,it is rare to see a galloper compete on successive days.
The Charge Forward mare Jeptoo followed a pleasing second behind Jill’s Shadow at Nanango earlier this month with a sixth placing at Ipswich on Friday, December 16 at Ipswich.
The losing margin was a mere length and a quarter.
The six-year-old, prepared at Oakey by Bradley Hudson, passed the vet check at Esk and raced with plenty of zip.
It was far from the first occasion that winning rider Chelsea Jokic had teamed up with Hudson.
The pairing was successful twice at Eidsvold in February 2012 when Chelsea, aged 16, registered the third and fourth victories of her career.
Jokic, who is in the final stage of her indentureship to her brother Michael at the Sunshine Coast, made it an Esk double with Air Diamond.
The result capped of great week with success also coming along at Eagle Farm and Mackay.
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Drake Defies The Clock
Unlike Jokic, Beaudesert hoop Sheree Drake was at the forty-plus mark when she began race riding in 2005.
Last Saturday, she piloted Pink Chaperone in the Grand Hotel Esk BM 50 (1750m).
After staging a tremendous duel with Shannon Apthorpe on Singaraja, she had to endure a nose defeat.
Drake, whose trainer-partner Greg Cornish served his apprenticship with Tommy Woodcock of Phar Lap fame, had the satisfaction of winning in the metropolitan area earlier in her pigskin days.
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Upcoming Calendar
Country racing fans will find very little on course action over the coming six weeks.
There is a feature program at Warwick on Boxing Day; Bell will be holding its a once-a-year meeting on January 7; and Kilcoy (and Beaudesert) will race on Australia Day.
But things will return to normal in February, courtesy of Bundaberg (4th), Gatton (11th), Eidsvold (18th) and Nanango’s “Think Pink” race day at Lee Park on February 25.
I’ll be taking a festive season break myself until January 22, and I’d like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas.
I hope that folk who don’t go racing will make it a New Year’s resolution to get to the track at least once in 2017.
