November 12, 2017
Gary Geran saluted twice while wearing Matt Kropp’s royal blue and white stable livery at Kumbia on Tuesday, much to the delight of favourite backers.
The jockey-trainer combination collected the Joyce and “Boy” Reed Memorial QTIS Class 1 (1200m) with Okanagan Miss ($1.70) and the Huston Motors Kumbia Cup (1200m) with Zip To The Moon ($2.20).
Kropp sowed the seed for a financial flourish by aiming Okanagan Miss at QTIS events.
The three-year-old filly, named for was the British Columbia area connected to her sire Monashee Mountain.
Her break-through on debut at Rockhampton on September 29 yielded $20,550 (including a $12,750 bonus) with her Kumbia success adding a further $9800 (including a $5250 bonus).
But her two-start prizemoney pot of $30,350 would have been just $12,350 without the relevant QTIS schedule.
Zip Of The Moon, the Dusty Moon chestnut that travelled with Okanagan Miss to Central Queensland, was beaten a nose at the Callaghan Park meeting before finishing third in the $25,000 Warwick Cup (1500m) last month.
The Kropp string has certainly reaped rewards at the top of the month.
As well as the Kumbia double, Matt saddled up the Toowoomba winner Kurrajong Dragon on Melbourne Cup day while Romakash prevailed for the yard three days earlier at the Gold Coast.
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Flemington Flair By Shannon
There is a Melbourne Cup motto that suggests jockeys should not really let go before they reach the clock tower.
The idea is probably an exaggeration but it does stress the need for patience at tracks with a long straight.
When it comes to that category, Kumbia’s home stretch is longer than those at most country courses.
Shannon Apthorpe brought the ten-year-old Singaraja ($3) into the fray at the right time during the Jim Lenihan Memorial BM 55 (1855m).
Gary Geran had sent There’s Nemo ($4) past the joint leaders Navillus Rexted and Ascot Bound inside the final 600 metres.
Todd Banks, on the hot favourite Stratalena ($1.50), opted to cover that move by slipping up to second berth before the final turn.
The leading pair locked horns a long way out and were sitting shots for Singaraja, having his 54th outing, over the final part.
The season’s campaign ensured the Keep The Faith gelding was very fit.
He followed a third in the Nanango Cup with tasks over 1900 metres and further and relished Tuesday’s chase.
With 60 kilograms to tote, the old boy that had been off the scene from November 2012 to April 2014 conceded his rivals up to five kilograms.
The sterling effort secured the book ends for Oakey trainer Graham Banks.
In the South Burnett Regional Council-BGA Agriservices-Rohan Voller Denture Studio-Radio Hit FM 89.1 Class B, Court Rules and Leeanne McCoy reprised their May triumph at Burrandowan.
South Burnett duo Tom Moloney and apprentice Hannah Phillips prevented a rout by Darling Downs’ gallopers when the Wordsmith gelding Danish Diction comfortably scored in the AGL Energy-Fiedler Brothers Plumbing-Anderson’s Produce-South Burnett Times Maiden Plate (1000m).
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(Photo: Ross Stanley)
Bits And Bridles
- Glenn Richardson treks to Ballina on Monday. Flying Charger and Waiting Game line up in $20,000 events. Hannah English will partner the pair and Haylee Prince for Pat Duff. It is handy that these New South Wales meetings provide a $200 Starter’s Subsidy.
- Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Gemma Steele and Cecily Eaton. They fell at Dalby last weekend. Unfortunately the accident occurred a few days before Eaton was due to ride in an invitational event in Dubai.
- Russell Reed added a unique touch to the Kumbia program that honoured the incredibly long contribution to racing by his parents Morris (Boy) and Joyce. He donated the Starter’s Flag his grandfather Morris (Senior) used to despatch fields in the South Burnett in the early 1900s. The beautifully framed gift is a treasure for the Kumbia Race Club to display as a reminder about the community spirit rural meetings have showcased over the decades.
- Reminder: Nanango stages it’s pre-Christmas fixture on Sunday, December 3. It will be a great setting for a Festive Season party … time to organise the guest list!
