May 18, 2018
After horses that train at Wondai dominated the Anzac Day program on their own patch, Nanango representatives played exceptionally well away from home last Saturday.
Glenn Richardson had a field day, taking out a double at Burrandowan with Lucky Larrikin and Mr Bon Vivant.
The Nanango trainer also picked up a juicy plum with Klammer at Warwick.
Meanwhile, Monte Lago, part-owned by Kaylene and John Hamilton, experienced a welcome change of luck to register his seventh career victory to go with the 18 placings the horse has had across two states.
Lucky Larrikin (Gemma Steele) survived a protest fired in by the connections of the third placed Kyrie Eleison (Loiuse Dillon) following the running of the South Burnett Times Class B (1050m).
The Zizou gelding’s gap over the runner-up Churchill Dawn (Hannah Phillips) gave the syndicate from the Nanango RSL, that races the bay, a degree of confidence.
The stewards deemed “that approaching the home turn Lucky Larrikin shifted out approximately three horses taking Kyrie Eleison, which had raced four wide up to that point of the event, wider on the track. Further, it was established close to the line, whilst Lucky Larrikin did shift out under pressure, any inconvenience to Kyrie Eleison was minimal. Bearing in mind the half length margin, and the manner in which both horses finished the race off, the protest was dismissed.”
As second emergency, Monte Lago’s first slice of fortune was actually getting a start in the Hot FM 89.1-Graham Downs Memorial BM 65 Handicap at Burrandowan.
The Encosta De Lago eight-year-old was beaten a nose when runner-up there in 2016 and at the corresponding fixture last year, he downed all bar Charge Missile and Klammer in the open sprint.
After being inconvenienced at the start by another runner, Melissa Cox parked the bay off the speed and he unleashed a decisive burst in the stretch to grab a short half head edge over Flavian (Joshua King) with Boaz (Hannah Phillips), another Nanango aspirant, a handy third.
Meanwhile in the $10,000 Ergon Energy Battle Of The Bush Qualifier at Warwick, Klammer (Hannah English) came off consecutive seconds at Eidsvold, Wandoan and Dalby to cement a spot in the $100,000 series Final line-up at Doomben on 23 June.
Part-owner Peter Jackson has invested heavily in the thoroughbred world.
The side deserves a crack at the lucrative prizemoney for the event that is designed for non-TAB gallopers on Tatt’s Tiara Day.
There was a sporting theme to Richardson’s run.
Franz Klammer is a notable former Austrian alpine skier and Zizou – Lucky Larrikin’s sire – is the nickname for Zinedine Zidane, the French soccer star who now manages Real Madrid. Both horses carry the Penrith Panthers’ colours.
Incidentally, Richardson’s stable stalwart Canid picked up another pay cheque for his third place at Warwick in BM 50 company.
His record now stands at 74: 7-14-14-11.
The $400 buy in April 2013 has banked $72,490 – what an astonishing return on the investment !
* * *
Nanango’s Gateway To Doomben
Owners and trainers are reminded that Lee Park is the venue on Saturday, May 26, for the Battle Of The Bush’s final leg in the south-east.
By then, the heats at Cunnamulla, Emerald, Bundaberg, Gordonvale, Longreach, Mount Isa, Warwick, Home Hill, and Charleville will have been done and dusted.
The remainder of the set of 16 are at Thangool, Atherton, Bowen, Cloncurry, Goondiwindi and Barcaldine.
On the social front, the Moffatdale Ridge Winery spot fashion theme is “Capes, Culottes and Cravats”.
There will be a number of St Mary College’s fraternity having their annual catch-up so spread the word.
An Australasian Arab horse race will be staged after the last thoroughbred contest.
Visitors to the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival can also make a real weekend of it.
A free bus will leave the Goomeri Hotel at 11:30am and returns after the races.
Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Nanango Race Club’s Administration Secretary Lesley Berger on (07) 4163-1513.
* * *
Hoopert’s Cherished Tally Is 121
Jason Hoopert and Torquato Tasso, a bay by Red Dazzler from the Tuscany Flyer mare Sorrento Star, prevailed in the 4SB 1071-O’Reilly, Nunn, Favier Surveyors Patrons Cup QTIS Maiden Plate (1175 m) at Burrandowan last Saturday.
They jumped straight to the front, set a fast clip and held on to narrowly account for the luckless Super Freak (Joshua King) and Ringo’s Magic (Mark Elliott).
The lightly raced gelding, which is named after a famous Italian poet who was born in Sorrento in 1544, was eligible for the QTIS bonus and so earned $8,375.
It was the 121st success for Hoopert since he was told he would never ride again.
Following a serious fall at Kilcoy in July 2006, he was in a coma for eight days at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Jason took up the enormous challenge of rehabilitation with determined toil, and was rewarded by a return to the saddle in 2011.
With two months left in the South East Country Racing Association Premiership, Hoopert (17 wins) and Gemma Steele (14) are engaged in an interesting duel.
Darryl Gardiner (14) and Lindsay Anderson (11) top the trainers’ table while Hannah English (11), Hannah Phillips (7) and Gregory Hayes (6) are foremost in the Apprentices’ race for honours.
