December 11, 2017
Nanango Race Club’s Christmas meeting on December 3 turned up a series of close shaves and some remarkably good luck.
The good luck was that patrons were rewarded with a fine day out. Dire weather predictions had forecast heavy rainfall, but it failed to appear until well after the meeting finished.
And the close shaves were three jockeys avoiding injury in separate incidents.
In the opener, Gary Geran scrambled to safety when Anexpense misbehaved in the gates. The Oakey galloper was a late scratching.
Soon after the start, Beau Appo was harmlessly dislodged from Tailgating when the All Bar One gelding swerved suddenly.
The runaway was a cause for concern as he approached the tie-up stalls at great speed, but fortunately he was quickly recaptured before any damage was done.
Appo had a luckless afternoon – none of his mounts gained a place, and Mon Clinton went on strike and simply failed to leave the barrier in the Heritage Bank Ratings 0-55 Handicap.
Geran fared better, scoring comfortably on Anexpense’s stablemate Squeemi with a tidy front running display in the Wild Horse-FM Yarraman BM 65 Handicap.
The most worrying scrape, though, was felt by jockey Leeanne McCoy prior to the Band 0-55 event.
Lucks In reared in the parade twice and, each time, almost landed back on top of the Downs rider.
The Bradbury’s Luck gelding was promptly withdrawn.
By the way, folk who appreciate high quality horsemanship should chase down the online video clips that show the skilfulness of young Irish jockey Jack Kennedy.
Somehow he recently managed to get back in the saddle after Robin Des Mana made a mistake at the fourth jump in a steeple at Clonmel. The pair went on to record an astonishing win.
Kennedy had made a similar recovery on Bilko at Thurles in January but, on that occasion, victory was not the reward.
* * *
From End To Beginning
There was a touch of irony surrounding the Soft 6 rating for the Nanango track at the club’s Christmas race meeting.
It is rare for the course to get an assessment in the damp range, so it was appropriate that Kay Nicholson – a former Nanango Shire Council water truck driver – owned Past Dark, the winner of the Nanango RSL-Pedersen Memorial QTIS Maiden (1000m).
Glenn Richardson, who was Nicholson’s Road Maintenance Supervisor at the time, prepared the four-year-old for her exciting breakthrough on debut.
The Arlington mare did remarkably well, battling on defiantly for Taylor Williams even though a wide draw had forced her to cover ground.
In the past, several retired horses that were part of Richardson’s racing string have been given a second life by Nicholson, a Quarter Horse breeder at Kilkivan.
For example, Manner Lassie acts as a nurse maid to her youngsters while Jill’s Shadow is destined to take on barrel racing in the National Barrel Horse district that radiates out from Gunalda.
Past Dark reverses that trend because she was bought to race as an unraced, broken-in commodity at age three.
“She is more thick set when compared with the usual thoroughbred and looks more like a Quarter Horse,” said Nicholson, whose horses also share the property with Blonde D’Aquitaine cattle.
Kay has versatile, equine interests with campdrafting and clerk of the course work at Roma early this century among her other involvements.
Past Dark’s form was franked post-race.
Last Friday, Showus Ya Diamonds bolted in with a Doomben Maiden, after finishing just two and a half lengths ahead of Dark Past’s daughter in a Deagon trial on November 21.
* * *
Hannah English made it six successes at Lee Park for the half-season when she booted Marlahn home for Warwick trainer Garry Schwenke in the Dundas Automotive BM 50 (1600m).
That effort constitutes a two per meeting average.
It is handy to have the runs on the board, as England found out in the Adelaide Test against Australia.
The Nanango apprentice was in the thick of it in city class contests last week. She was beaten a nose at Ipswich on Match Day, and by the same margin on Noor Dropper at Doomben on Friday.
It was a buzz and an experience for Hannah when she rode at Doomben on Saturday.
Although she was unplaced on Steel Zip, Origin Jockey Challenge participants such as Jamie Kah, Clare Lindop, Michael Rodd, Dwayne Dunn and Craig Newitt donned silk on the day.
* * *
Bits And Bridles
- It was great to spot a number of new faces at Lee Park on December 3 – several possibly those who cannot get to Saturday meetings. Old hands were also on deck, with N.R.C.’s life members Graham Knight and Reg McCallum, who is also a former Chairman, hard at work. The former was in the judge’s box while the latter attended to the enclosure gate, letting in the winner, placegetters and the also-rans after the numbers were posted.
- Stratalena quickly bounced back for trainer Scott Pedron after missing out at Kumbia on Melbourne Cup Day. She romped home in a $10,000 BM 55 over 1900 metres at Kilcoy on Friday, December 2 with Adam Spinks in the irons.
- Rhiannon Payne has re-entered the South East Queensland winners’ list after a recurring shoulder injury required a lengthy lay off. She prevailed on A Little Wicked for her master Chris Munce at Beaudesert last week.
- Please note: The next Nanango Race date is Saturday, February 24. The Moffatdale Ridge Wines fashion theme is “Floral Shirts, Floppy Hats and Floaty Dresses”.
