March 10, 2017
It was just one of those days at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park course on Thursday.
Kumbia trainer James Curtain and Nanango apprentice Hannah English were among the participants on a program when a protest that involved a nose went against a South Burnett runner, two false starts happened and a winning horse was given a temporary ban because of its galloping action.
Curtain’s entrant The Equine Bolt ($31, Dakota Graham) progressed encouragingly after his unplaced effort at Nanango late last month.
The striking individual was second past the post, beaten three parts of a length, in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
Stewards found “that approaching the 900 metre, Chica Peeps (Adrian Coome) had established running to the inside of The Equine Bolt, which was over-racing and shifted in, and, as a result, caused Chica Peeps to be checked. Stewards were of the opinion that the ground lost in this incident exceeded the margin at the finish and the objection (third against second) was upheld.”
Sequoia Miss ($13, Hannah English) wound up in sixth place behind her stablemate The Equine Bolt.
Black Creek was fractious in the gates for the Ray White Gracemere Maiden and made contact with the front of the barriers.
A start was triggered and because most riders and horses were affected as a result, stewards declared a “no race.”
Two races later, Nathan Day was injured when Cheeky Star reared over in the enclosure.
Later in the BM 70 Handicap (1200m), Fab’s Cowboy also misbehaved after all the runners had been loaded. He got his head down, effected a start and the false start siren was sounded.
The offender and two others were declared unfit to run.
Curtain and English combined in this contest with Amber Ale, but the long shot ran fourth of four, albeit less than four lengths from the victor.
The Sequalo nine-year-old with a BM rating of 61 was reappearing after a five weeks absence.
After Poetic Luck had scored in the JP and DP Jenkins Maiden, stewards advised that because of concerns with the action of the horse’s near foreleg, it’s nomination would be refused until such time as the matter was reviewed.
Note: Although a neddy named Causing Mayhem was scratched from the opening event, parts of the meeting seemed to reflect its “presence”.
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Esk Stems The Flow
With 45 final acceptors declared, the field sizes at Esk on Saturday are an improvement on recent averages elsewhere.
Hopefully the upward trend will continue.
There is no action at Clifford Park this Saturday so Dalby is the provincial venue on the Downs.
At Gatton’s fixture last Tuesday, Nanango losers Jai’s Luck and Poetic Dragon both advanced to the winner’s circle in the BM 58 divisions.
The former’s saddle slipped at Lee Park.
The latter, a mare by Hidden Dragon, has really fired this preparation for trainer Peter Overell.
Kaylene Hamilton’s charge Monte Lago ($20) resumed after a break and ran a very creditable third at BM 58 level.
Peter Kings has accepted in the $60,000 BM 75 (1630m) with his last start Nanango winner I’m No Ruby.
The specialist metric miler’s BM rating is 58.
The South Burnett interest in the Esk meeting surrounds the books of Hannah English and Hannah Phillips.
The former is down to partner Striking Warrior for Wayne Farrington and Pat Duff’s trio Master Denhro, Courting Spirit and Flinders Dragon.
The latter will be aboard Sariaya for her father Barry, Duke of Kingsford (Neil Coy), Trusted Magic (Mark Palmer) and Miniver (Ben Robinson).
Both young ladies are in form. Last Saturday, Phillips landed a double on Lightning Artist and You Can’t Be at Gladstone, while English maintained her master Glenn Richardson’s rich run by booting home Hidden Angel at Gympie.
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Calendar Corner
Time to grab a pen and mark up these forthcoming rural dates: March 18 (Bundaberg), March 21 (Gatton TAB), April 6 (Gatton TAB), April 8 (Gympie), April 15 (Nanango, Easter Saturday), April 22 (Kilcoy TAB) and Anzac Day (Wondai, Beaudesert TAB).
Trust you are aiming to get to at least one live race day this year – see you there!
