August 25, 2017
Nanango trainer Brian “Bunny” Laherty saddled his first winner on Sunday, August 13.
Machu Picchu, a Krupt mare he races with his son Darren, scored for Hannah English at Caloundra in the $16,000 Edgell Class 3 (1400m).
Given the rise in grade, the bay was a 14/1 chance.
The same team returned to the Sunshine Coast’s metropolitan standard meeting on Wednesday and picked up third money in the $20,000 Sponsor A Race for Dad Class 3 over a shorter 1200 metre journey.
The Lahertys paid just $2000 for Machu Picchu, the 2012 daughter of the Fantastic Light (USA) mare Manu Peru.
The now five-year-old was unraced at two, won a Cooma maiden at her second of three outings at three and saluted in an Adaminaby BM 45 (1300m) in November 2016.
The southern chapter of nine appearances was followed by a long break that ended in the Nanango Vet Surgery BM 60.
Machu Picchu was in need of match practice. She missed the start on that occasion and has done the same at each subsequent run bar the last one.
The ex-Wagga Wagga galloper’s lead up form included a sound fourth at Esk, a close second at Dalby and a luckless third at Gatton.
Laherty and English agree that Machu Picchu, having banked $16,600 in Queensland, appreciates the longer stretches at Caloundra.
The Class 4 over 1400 metres on September 17 at that venue is likely to be the next target.
Brian, whose grandfather Richard Laherty served as an assistant starter at Nanango, had successful interests earlier on with the likes of Slerch and Muffet. They were trained locally by his nephew Anthony Greaves.
Hoofnote: Brian and Darling Downs trainer Donald “Duck” Baker have something in common. Their respective animal nicknames feature in their racing silks.
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More South Burnett Triumphs
The $22,000 Nolan Muster Cup (1600 m), the rich non-TAB contest at Gympie last Saturday, went to Lindsay Anderson’s old warrior Glenthorn Avenue with Gemma Steele in the irons.
The win maintained the Hivesville horseman’s outstanding strike rate.
The event was the second leg of the GTC $5,000 Three Cups Gold Rush Challenge for Trainers.
The title for the incentive bonus series is slightly misleading. Although the cash goes to the mentor, it is based on the feats of an individual horse.
Anderson collected the first leg with Clouds.
To be eligible for the prize, a horse must start in the final round which is the Gympie Cup (1600m) in October.
Meanwhile, Orleans backed up seven days after his Nanango victory to take out the Bribie Island RSL Afghanistan Class 2 (1060 m) at Kilcoy last weekend.
The outcome was immensely satisfying for Nanango trainer Barry Phillips and his apprentice daughter Hannah.
Although it was a small field, the gelding has won twice from three attempts after a thirteen month long absence.
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A Lee Park Loser Will Be A 120/1 Winner
Fancy turning a few dollars into something worth $600! The odds are easy to take.
But thanks to Nanango Race Club’s bookmakers, a losing betting ticket with a minimum stake of five dollars will deliver a great weekend for a fortunate pair at the Sofitel Hotel Pacific Resort at Noosa.
The night’s accommodation comes with dinner at the Noosa Beach House.
The scenario will be played out with a Losing Betting Ticket draw after the last race at Nanango’s next race meeting on September 16.
If the lucky winner has left the course, there will be an immediate redraw.
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Hope For The Future
Young Jorja Crompton certainly enjoyed the upshot of the recent XXXX Fitzroy Hotel Nanango Cup.
The victor King Ludwig was prepared by her mother Jackie, the Toowoomba trainer who races the veteran with her husband Wayne.
The family therefore were presented with two trophies.
Jorja found the magic of the cup more compelling than playing with her computer tablet – and that is saying something in this highly technologically equipped era.
It is a touch reassuring to see children in numbers at country race meetings.
Sadly, they are thin on the ground at most city programs.
