March 5, 2018
Neighbours Barry Green and Barry Goodwill live an effortless hop and a skip away from Nanango racetrack.
Last Saturday week on soft home turf, their horse First Bid ($1.95 favourite) was able to take a leisurely stroll over the final part of the Wellcamp Fabrications Maiden (800m).
On the wire, the chestnut had a margin of nearly five lengths.
The Sidereus four-year-old, with the race in its keeping before heads were turned for home, gave rider Hannah English her seventh victory for the season.
The non-claiming apprentice has a commanding lead in the Jockeys Premiership with two meetings to go.
The success also lifted trainer Glenn Richardson’s prospects for back-to-back honours.
His side is just one adrift of Patrick’s tally thus far.
Horses that score with such comfortable ease can gain get a useful confidence boost.
First Bid, having just his sixth career outing, did place at Gayndah and Nanango last year.
Green, along with his son Andrew, are part-owners of Murranji, the bay that sports the family’s purple and gold livery.
The I Am Invincible six-year-old progressed from his third placed, second-up effort at Nanango to prevail at Chinchilla in BM 65 grade on Saturday.
Danehill’s grandson had previously won twice at Muswellbrook and once at Tamworth.
The Greens are in a purple patch at present.
The association with Lucky Larrikin came up trumps at Eidsvold a fortnight ago, and collectively they have harvested three races since February 17.
Barry Green, who was the race caller for Nanango’s card on April 20, 1968 card, is no doubt looking forward to the club’s Golden Anniversary program on March 31.
It would be something special if his colours are carried by a winner.
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(Photo: Ross Stanley)
Wondai Workers Went Well, Too
Stewart Barr, principal of an engineering and management consultancy and a former Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, has trained two winners in a week.
They were both handled by Sunshine Coast four-kilogram claimer Gregory Hayes.
The half-brothers Endless Don and Endless Puzzle picked up the major end of the prizes in the Ken Mills Toyota BM 60 (1570m) at Nanango and the BM 70 at Gympie respectively.
Stewart and his wife Dr Jennie Barr, who is the Deputy Dean of Research in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Brisbane campus of CQ University, are involved with a string of thoroughbreds.
Their son Peter kicked off the family’s equine interest back in 1997 with his participation in the endurance sport while daughter Katie, an experienced eventer, presently works for trainer Brian Guy.
The Barrs have the Lilivale Stud at Barambah and a base at Kilkivan.
There the foreman Kim Afford, with a stint at South Australia’s famous Lindsay Park under his belt, and his wife Sonya manage the racehorses in training.
“Our horses are so happy out in the natural environment. They have open, grassy spaces for many hours during the day and a yard with a covered area during the night,” said Barr.
The End Sweep mare Endless Maize is a key producer for the Barrs.
The foremost foal to date is Dane Shadow mare Endless Shadow, a mare by Dane Shadow from Corn Mazcay.
She accounted for her rivals in the 2015 Magic millions Fillies and mares Handicap for the Peter Hubert yard.
Endless Maize is also the dam of Endless Don, Endless Puzzle, Endless Days, Endless Sizzle and Excelebrazione.
Corn Maizcay also appears in the maternal line of Cornrow, a recent Doomben winner for a syndicate headed by the Barrs.
Stewart would love to pick up a race on Anzac Day at Wondai.
He has yet to collect one on home sand and given his military background, April 25 would be an appropriate day for the breakthrough.
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The Saga Seems Endless
Apparently almost a third of the Eagle Farm circuit is still grassless.
It does seem pointless to listen to predictions about when the course proper will again host live gallop action.
One of the interesting upsides to the Nanango meeting was the fairness of play.
Two winners were able to come from a long way back in the run while others were successful after being on-pace.
