November 29, 2018
There are two undecided contests in the Burnett To Beach Series to be played out in the Heritage Bank Benchmark (1000m) at Nanango this Sunday, December 2.
Patche Gift, from David Reynolds’ Dalby stable, is in an unbeatable spot as the top galloper and will not be appearing at Lee Park.
Clouds, the main protagonist for the $3,000 prize, is fourth reserve for the $75,000 Country Cups Challenge at Doomben this weekend.
The grey has four rivals in an alternative opportunity in the Open Handicap (1400m) at Thangool on Saturday.
It comes as no surprise to see his trainer Lindsay Anderson bypass the Nanango offering.
Although the Bradbury’s Luck gelding handled short sprints earlier in his career, his recent preparation has been aimed at the metric mile of the rich city event.
Meanwhile, Reynolds, the leader with seven points, and Glenn Richardson, on five, are both in a position to win the trainer’s $5,000 cash bonus.
The former will hoist Leeanne McCoy on to Music Scene and Pietro Romeo into the pigskin on Tapestry Vision.
The latter saddles up Murranji, the I Am Invincible gelding that will have the services of Zoe White.
The odds favour the Darling Downs conditioner in the competition that rewards the points to placegetters on a 3-2-1 basis.
In the Jockeys’s division, English, with a two point advantage over McCoy, will partner Dave’s Valor, a springtime winner for her at Warwick.
At stake in the outcome is a $2,000 dividend.
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Miles From Miles
No one would begrudge the success that comes the way of Miles trainer Bevan Johnson – he certainly travels his team around in search of suitable races.
This month alone he has started aspirants at Dalby, Yeppoon, Charleville, Kumbia, Gladstone, Chinchilla, Mackay, Roma, Gatton, Murwillumbah Gympie and Clermont.
During that period, his string have chalked up seven wins and 13 placings.
Quite remarkably he has qualified Fab’s Cowboy, Blue Jest, Artie’s Shore and Still The Same for the Construction Skills Queensland Country Cups Challenge.
Furthermore, he has three in at Goondiwindi and five acceptors for Nanango.
Johnson has already been victorious in the $100,000 Battle Of The Bush Final earlier this year.
A win in Saturday’s lucrative Final in Brisbane would be an admirable feat.
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Strong Support
Considering Kilcoy stages a TAB program on Saturday, officials should be delighted at the field sizes for Lee Park’s Christmas meeting.
Points of interest include:
- The appearance of Anderson’s Solgaze in the opening sprint, the Wild Horse FM Yarraman Class 2 (800m). Under the set weights of the Plate conditions, the Statue of Liberty mare is not well served at the weights when compared with Princess Kandis. Most of the five-year-old’s recent racing has been on the sand but she has drawn the inside, will be handled by Jason Hoopert and has an attractive turn of foot.
- Exoterical is down to sport the livery made famous by Strawberry Road, the star galloper developed (prior to his global travels) by Doug Bougoure. This ex-Victorian is prepared by Doug’s son Danny. The lightly raced Charge Forward mare is widely drawn and may well end up spending the day at home at Eagle Farm. If it does trek north, the drop in class will help.
- By sheer coincidence, Zoe White has been engaged to ride Zoe Is The Best in the John Dundas Automotive Class B (1600m). The dam of the mare from St George is Mighty Zoe.
- The QTIS bonus scheme has again proved to be a magnet. Eight of the dozen to line up in the Nanango RSL-Pedersen Memorial Maiden Plate (1200m) are QTIS registered.
- There may not be any indicator of a likely triumph in the form of Big Jay Kay. Omen punters might chance their hand because the bay entire’s colours of red and green with a gold cap perfectly fit the Moffatdale Ridge Wines Fashion theme. Maybe his jockey Cecily Eaton can send a selfie to the judges.
- There will be a race for the Arabian breed after the last thoroughbred event.
Best of luck as you set about winning some money to help with the Christmas expenses!
