June 2, 2017
Last Saturday’s premiership battle for leading rider honours was a highlight of Nanango Race Club’s very successful meeting, which also featured a clean sweep for female jockeys.
At the start of the five event program, four of the competing hoops had registered two wins apiece.
Although Hannah English, with three seconds placings, had a buffer if a countback was needed, Melody O’Brien, Leeanne McCoy and Paul Hamblin were all in with a show.
Mathematically speaking, a treble by any rider on the day could deliver the title.
First up, English picked up a runner-up spot for her master Glenn Richardson with Hopetoun Street, the Kaphero mare that had already parcelled up the Horse Of The Year award.
O’Brien hit the front when Kingsmith Flyer prevailed in the next race ahead of Joyfily (Gemma Steele) and English’s mount Urubamba.
However Hannah matched Melody by saluting on Jill’s Shadow for her home team in the the third.
The knockout was delivered by O’Brien in the fourth.
English gave the favourite Klammer (62 kilograms) every chance and the Richardson prepared aspirant loomed up menacingly on the turn.
However Lee Park’s outgoing Horse Of The Year Turbo Teddy, with a seven kilo pull in the weights, kicked strongly.
Klammer wound up in third berth, beaten about a length and a half.
English, with an engagement at Clifford Park ahead, had completed her local book. Her final tally was 3-4-3 while O’Brien’s was 4-1-1.
The book ends were taken out by Hannah Phillips, who chalked up her seventh success on Jeptoo, and Gemma Steele who was astride Get On.
Toowoomba’s Tom Dougall with a 6-1-2 line held on to collect the Trainer’s Premiership after a late challenge by Richardson (4-4-3).
Brisbane-based Melody O’Brien has completed a Diploma of Business Administration.
She works for a company that makes yacht sails and dons silk in the south east corner on the weekends, and recalled being the top apprentice at Clifford Park the year a trophy was no longer involved.
Naturally, she was grateful to hear that there will be a presentation at the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Nanango officials were delighted with their first hook-up with the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival. The move to provide a free bus for the campers and early comers in Goomeri for the Sunday event drew lots of new faces to the track.
Now, mark down Saturday, August 12 in your diary.
It is Nanango Cup Day with Basic Black and a Splash the Moffatdale Ridge Wines Spot Fashion Theme.
The other five dates for the 2017-18 season with themes are: September 16 (Feather Fascinators,Fedoras and Furs), Sunday, December 3 (70s Flares and Big Hair), Saturday, February 24 (Floral Shirts, Floppy Hats and Floaty Dresses), Easter Saturday, March 31 (Vintage Glamour and Bonnets) and May 26 (Capes, Culottes and Cravats).
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Bits And Bridles
- Hivesville horseman Lindsay Anderson continues to bank prizemoney. Clouds, with an excellent third placing at Caloundra last week, has yet to miss a place since coming up from Victoria. Meanwhile, Glenthorn Avenue rattled home for second spot at Nanango last Saturday to record his sixth podium placing from his last seven essays.
- Wondai breeders Julie and Tony Brown will be taking extra special interest in the $500,00 Queensland Oaks to be decided at Doomben on Saturday. They purchased the unraced King’s Best mare Mrs Windsor when she was in foal to Sebring at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. They on-sold the product that now races as Egg Tart, the favourite for the classic for fillies.
- Racing is a game of snakes and ladders. Astro Avalanche, a scratching from the Lee Park fixture last weekend, is a case in point. The now eight-year-old gelded son of Gailieo was once a member of Aidan O’Brien’s prestigious outfit. The bay managed three wins in Ireland when handled by the trainer’s son Joseph. After seven northern hemisphere outings, Astro Avalanche made his Australian debut at Morphettville in April 2015. Although winless Down Under, he did run second over two miles on a heavy Randwick surface and obviously has had problems. O’Brien Senior is seeking a sixth Epsom Derby triumph on Saturday (GMT). He has a number of contenders but surely must be hoping that either The Anvil or Venice Beach obliges. The former will be partnered by his daughter Ana while the latter will have the services of his son Donnacha. The now retired Joseph had turns at winning on Camelot and Australia in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
Hope your wagering selections take you to the top of the ladder as the Brisbane Winter Carnival continues with three major black-type days on the immediate agenda.
