November 11, 2018
by Ross Stanley
When it comes to securing a slot in the $70,000 Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 1, the situation remains as uncertain for Still The Same as it was soon after the running of last Tuesday’s Huston Motors Kumbia Cup.
Although the Bevan Johnson stable’s $11 chance, with Hannah Phillips aboard, was originally declared as losing by a nose to Land Office (Ron Goltz), there was a significant post-race development.
The stewards’ report states:
“After the judge had semaphored the placings as No. 3 Land Office first and No. 7 Still The Same second, and – prior to the declaration of correct weight – the stable representative for B. Johnson, trainer of second place-getter Still The Same, requested to view the photo finish image for first. After further review of the photo finish image and in the presence of the assistant judge and Mr D. Ward, trainer of Land Office, the judge, acting under AR156(1), sought to amend the placings to read dead-heat for first No.3 Land Office and No. 7 Still The Same.”
So under the rules of the Country Cups Challenge Series, Land Office – with a Handicap Rating of 76 – is favoured over Still The Same with its 71.5 assessment.
However, Land Office is not eligible at present. It has only raced at two non-TAB meetings since November 21, 2017.
To chalk up the necessary third appearance, the Ukok Warrior gelding must compete at one of the upcoming race days at Mount Perry, Julia Creek or the Herbert River Jockey Club’s program that has been transferred from Ingham to Townsville.
If the Deagon based seven-year-old fails to tick that box, then Still The Same would be given its place.
Although the Roma Cup on November 17 is the 16th and last roll of the dice for those seeking to clinch a berth in the Final, the race is on a TAB card and of no help to the Land Office team.
No doubt there will be a large band of nominations for Roma’s $50,000 feature over the metric mile.
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(Photo: Ross Stanley)
Favourites To The Fore
Kumbia’s top fancies Princess Kandis (Rebecca Goildsbury, $4), Mister Spinks (Brooke Mackie, $1.80), De Bandit Vega (Ron Goltz, $1.80) and Gambit (Miki Nakao, $2.80) took out the first four events last Tuesday, while Land Office was the $3.50 second favourite in the Cup.
Meanwhile, two Burnett hopefuls turned in eye-catching performances to collect second money.
Black Envy, a maiden newcomer to Glenn Richardson’s Nanango yard, put in a stunning effort with 58.5 kilograms to miss out by a half head after an absence of more than two years.
The O’lonhro entire, whose best previous form had been on wet tracks and synthetic surfaces, last sported silk at Pakenham on September 1, 2016.
His partner on that occasion was Damian Lane, the former Perth lad who booted home Aristia in this week’s VRC Oaks.
Richardson added bandages and applied winkers instead of blinkers for the ex-Victorian’s northern debut.
The six-year-old, formerly prepared by Robbie Laing, looked very well in the parade and displayed pace and determination in the run.
Fort Myer (Joshua King, $8), saddled up by Scott Pedron, was a half length shy of victory in the Jim Lenihan Memorial Handicap.
The Arlington five-year-old dug deep and was not disgraced to go down to Gambit, the in-form Bundaberg visitor that had previously saluted at Nanango and Rockhampton for her owner-trainer and ex-jockey in Laura Cronan.
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Bits And Bridles
- Downs trainer Matt Boland, with three aspirants at Kumbia, had one of those days on Cup day. Forsox was hurt en route to the course and was taken out by stewards on veterinary advice. Classic Beau reared in the gates and was scratched at the barrier and then the survivor, Flaming Lamborgini, was the furtherest from the checkered flag at the end of the Maiden Plate.
- At Bundaberg on Tuesday, the Richardson side had better luck when Schindler quickly joined the winners’ list. The Snitzel gelding was a sound third first-up at Wondai last month after a ten month break.
- Jockey Jason Hoopert re-opened his account when the Lindsay Anderson trained Clouds, humping 66 kilograms, continued on his merry way with an important success in the Channel 7 BM 60 Handicap (1380m). The consistent grey, in beating Richardson’s Revelio, has now collected two of the four legs of the Burnett To Beach series decided thus far. Mount Perry (BM 60, 1000m), Gympie (BM 60, 1030m) and Nanango (BM 65, 1000m) will provide the remaining opportunities.
- Land Office, Still The Same and Baker Boy all picked up points with their Kumbia Cup results.
- Clouds clearly has the runs on the board in the race for the respective prizes for the leading trainer ($5,000), owners of the top horse ($3,000) and the foremost jockey ($2,000).
- REMINDER: It is time to organise a Christmas Party at Lee Park for the Nanango Race Club’s December 2 meeting. This is a SUNDAY event and so the folk who cannot get to the course on a Saturday get a chance to watch live racing. The Moffatdale Ridge Wines Fashion Theme is appropriately “Christmas Red and Green with a touch of Gold or Silver”
