May 24, 2018
There is a very exciting mixture on offer at Nanango Race Club’s fixture this Saturday.
Two breeds of horses drawn from diverse sources will be competing in front of racegoers.
The racing centrepiece is the $10,000 Heritage Battle Of The Bush Qualifier, an Open company Plate event over 1200 metres.
The incentive, along with the winner’s cheque for $6500, is automatic entry into the $100,000 Series Final at Doomben on June 23.
Nanango mentor Glenn Richardson has already clinched a spot there with Klammer.
He has accepted with Revelio for Saturday’s offerings at Thangool and Nanango, while fellow stable lodgers Hopetoun Street and Canid are also down to run in their home town’s leg.
Richardson’s runner Lucky Larrikin adds a special touch to the the Nanango RSL-Gary and Margaret Banks Memorial (RB 0-60, 1000m).
His ownership syndicate centres around a number of members of the local RSL, so the bay by Zizou should not be lacking cheer squad support.
Other representatives from South Burnett yards on the card are the Brian Laherty trained Machu Picchu, Boaz (Barry Phillips), Lomi (Lindsay Anderson), Heirsroc (Stewart Barr) and the Richardson pair Demesne and Past Dark.
The travel logs of many racehorses make for interesting observations.
For example, on Saturday, Ben Robinson will bring the Irish born hopeful Dashing Power up from his Beaudesert set up.
The Footstepsinthesand (GB) gelding failed for trainer Gary Moore in both Hong Kong and Sydney.
On the other hand, Louppy Bend, a Battle Of The Bush combatant, was placed at Charleville a week ago.
The veteran by Refuse To Bend had previously stepped out at Augathella, Cunnamulla, Noorama (where he scored) and Quilpie.
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A Different Breed
After the Nanango Vet Surgery Benchmark 50 Handicap, the Australasian-Arabian Racing Club will stage an event for pure-bred Arabian horses over a metric mile.
Cecily Eaton and Jason Hoopert, two jockeys who regularly ride in the South Burnett, will sport silk on Monster Energy and Windcharm Lea respectively.
Their rivals will be Ausden Prince Mahal (Peter Bradford), PVE Remington (Renee Dawkings), Neesa’s Golden Girl (Debra Pickford) and Sashenka Lea (Isabella Teh).
At this time two years ago, Eaton was Australia’s representative in the Rome leg of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship for the Arabian breed.
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So Near To A Black Type Triumph
At Nanango back on May 21, 2011, the Starcraft mare Carnivale Queen made the first of her only two racetrack appearances.
She picked up third money on that occasion and started at $15.
Last Saturday at Doomben, Spurcraft, her son by Jet Spur, went exceedingly close to saluting in black-type grade in the Listed Chief De Beers Quality (1050 m).
With Les Tilley looking for his fourth success atop the chestnut, they set a sizzling pace to defy the challengers until Gracida (Jeff Lloyd) nabbed them in the very shadows of the post.
The four-year-old, whose lead up form included thumpingly easy victories at Toowoomba (Class 2) and Ipswich (Class 4), now boasts a 7: 4-1-2 career line.
The South-Burnett connection goes further as Torquato Tasso, the recent Burrandowan maiden winner, carries the same colours.
They were both bred by Andrew Rogers and he races the duo in partnership with his wife Ebony and parents Noel and Sue.
Charlotte White, who saddled up the Nanango maiden winner Wilhelmina in March, puts the polish on Spurcraft.
Rochelle Smith tends to Torquato Tasso, an acceptor for Nanango’s upcoming St Mary’s College Class B Handicap (1200m).
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Nanango Reminders
- Saturday’s meeting is an annual catch-up opportunity for the past and present fraternity of St Mary’s College at Kingaroy.
- There will no doubt be a crowd taking advantage of the free transport to and from the Goomeri Hotel. Bookings need to be made by calling Lesley Berger on (07) 4163-1513. The races serve as a prelude to Sunday’s Pumpkin Festival. It is great to see that type of connectivity developing from a tourism perspective.
- The Moffatdale Ridge Wines spot fashion theme is Capes, Culottes and Cravats.
- Best wishes go to those who will be at Lee Park for the celebrations surrounding the Happy Wedding Anniversary Tom and Helen Greenslade Maiden Plate (800m)!
- It is a around two and a half months before the next meeting is scheduled for Nanango, so do make the most of the one this weekend!
