March 26, 2018
On Monday afternoon, history enthusiasts will be quick to check the nomination list for Nanango’s Easter Saturday program.
There are several current racing folk with connections to the Re-Opening Day fifty years ago, and it will be interesting to see if they are represented by runners during the celebratory event.
On April 20, 1968 racecaller Barry Green conveyed glad tidings to the favourite backers.
All the winners at that inaugural gathering were the punters’ first elect.
Tulkara, trained by Des Burns, kicked the run off at even money, Mick’s Luck (Les Hone) prevailed at 5/1 on, Bar Book (R.Teague) started at 6/4, Small Cat (K.Rees) at 10/9 and, Myendetta (R.Teague) scored at 6/4 on in the finale, a race that proved to be more than fascinating for the stewards.
Green went on to be a leading trainer.
Presently, Murranji carries his livery of purple, gold braces, sleeves and cap.
The I Am Invincible gelding that he part-owns followed up a Chinchilla victory three weeks ago with a tidy fourth at Wandoan on Saturday.
Green’s son Andrew, the Nanango Race Club President, trainer Glenn Richardson and Kilkivan truck driver Mark Ferguson are syndicate members of the Murranji team. Ian Duncan and his son Matt are also in the side.
The former was involved with the Nanango Cup hero Alify, and the latter is Hannah English’s manager.
Richardson has direct family links with Mick’s Luck – his mother Glenda has the dual honour of having booted home and trained the bush champion, and her father Fred was a prolific winning rider on the tough son of The Magistrate.
Mick Wecker’s titanic trooper was prepared for his aforementioned Nanango triumph by Pat Duff.
Tom Moloney’s father Mick and Fred Freeman’s brother Clive were other Burnett conditioners that handled Mick’s Luck while Glenda’s sister Margaret also visited the winner’s circle, courtesy of the old iron horse.
Peter Sexton, whose trainer-son Patrick is a former premiership title-holder for a Lee Park, tasted success with Coogal’s Rocket at Nanango.
The versatile Rocket Star gelding’s regular country rider was the late Billy Barnes, Tulkara’s jockey a half century ago.
Ted Goodwin and Barnes were both disqualified for twelve months after an inquiry was held into aspects of the last race on the card.
Barnes on the runner-up Narrawakka and Goodwin on the only other candidate in Ben’s Idea faced charges of improper practices and failing to allow
their mounts to run on their merits.
The club’s honorary stewards that assisted Jim McGill, the Queensland Turf Club stipe, were John Lee’s father Graham, Ray Hickmott and W.F. Williams, the N.R.C. Vice President at the time.
Note: There will be a touch more history later this week when the Nanango program is previewed.
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Bits And Bridles
- Although it was a quiet weekend for Burnett yards, Hannah Phillips did salute on Malcriado at Gatton on Saturday. The success followed the previous Saturdays’ victories at Bundaberg and Esk.
- Regrettably, free-to-air television coverage of major days such as the Golden Slipper seemingly has to devote valuable time insane conversations with non-racing identities. A practical downside is that the provision of accurate and complete turf information is compromised. On Sunday, the Channel 7 panel was quick to mention that some Golden Slipper hopes from the likes of the David Hayes and Gai Waterhouse stables were caught in a tunnel because of a traffic problem. Fair enough, but they failed to mention that Ef Troop was also involved. Surely the full news should be aired. The stewards were aware because five juveniles were referred to in the official report.
- The commentators may be well advised to only broadcast verified material. Helicopter noise was spoken of as a reason for the starter not hearing Damian Lane’s call regarding his dilemma aboard Harlow Gold just before the gates opened for the Epona Stakes. This extract paints a very different picture: “Prior to the declaration of correct weight an application was made from jockey D. Lane that his mount was denied a fair start. D. Lane advised that, after being loaded into the barriers, he observed the buckle of his reins to have come apart and he was in the process of attempting to refasten the buckle. He said, as he was effecting this process, the start was affected, which resulted in Harlow Gold jumping awkwardly and he lost balance and became dislodged soon after the start. Stewards were satisfied that Harlow Gold was denied a fair start and, acting under the provisions of AR134A, the mare was
declared a non-runner.” Incredibly the official on line results at racingaustralia.horse went on to show Harlow Gold as “Lost Rider”. Even by late Sunday morning, the significant error was still there.
- There will many battling riders and trainers scratching their heads over the notation that also appeared in the Racing NSW document. It stated that “Stewards permitted T. Berry to ride (the last winner) Quilista one kilogram overweight.” There was no justifying explanation. If there was no other jockey that could make the weight, the report should say so.
- With a short week ahead, nominations and acceptances for the Nanango’s Easter Saturday fixture close this Monday and Wednesday respectively.
