November 18, 2019
Trainer David Reynolds and his jockey-wife Leeanne McCoy scaled the heights at Mount Perry on Saturday.
The couple, who are familiar faces in the South Burnett, landed a double with Rather Salubrious in the $10,000 Evolution Mining Mount Perry Cup (BM 55,1400m) and He’s A Moral in the Nick Georgetta Open (1200m).
The eye-catching effort for second money by Run Pam Run in the R.D. and S Prior Burnett to the Valley Ratings Band 0-60 Handicap was more than useful.
The outcome put the same side on the points scoreboard for the six-heat series that has the two offerings left.
Top points from the event went to Dia Vernon, Eidsvold trainer Bob Murray and the Downs jockey Sally Sweeney.
No firm favourites have emerged for the Burnett to the Valley competition.
The opportunities at Nanango on Sunday, December 1 and Saturday Esk on December 14 are vital for owners, trainers and jockeys aiming to pick up a slice of the $5,000 purse.
This month has seen the nine starters from the Reynolds yard deliver three wins, a second, two thirds and two fourths.
* * *
Quick Return For Moloney And Black
Trainer Tom Moloney, a Vice-President of the Burrandowan Picnic Race Club and Bob Black, his local client and fellow B.R.P.C. Committee member, had instant success when McCoy booted home Diggity ($1.90) in the Burnett Livestock and Realty QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m), the opener at Mount Perry.
After Diggity had filled the minor placing in a $22,000 Albury Maiden (900m) on October 26, the chestnut was obtained by Black and his wife Dorothy.
The couple had fun with a pair of Moloney’s earlier lodgers in the Haradasun mare Famechon Baroness and the Sebring gelding Seramasa.
Diggity’s eleven starts for the Flemington father-son training partnership of Michael and Luke Cerchi also yielded two third placings on Ballarat’s synthetic track.
It is little wonder that Moloney was delighted with Diggity’s condition on his arrival in the South Burnett.
Michael Cerchi’s father Jim was a notable Victorian conditioner of yesteryear.
At age 76, the sire of some thirteen children produced a huge surprise when his charge Dandy Andy (125/1) swept past the tiring Vo Rogue to collect the 1988 Australian Cup.
Cerchi (Senior), who frequented Brisbane during the winter when he had the right horse, saddled up Dandy Andy for his 1987 Doomben Cup triumph.
The astute horseman was also quick to sense that the galloper that scored under the name of Royal School at Casterton in May 1972 was an impostor.
He was spot on: it turned out that the substitute was Regal Vista, the classy sprinter that had been placed in both the Stradbroke and the Doomben Ten Thousand in 1969.
Diggity has elite level performers on his pedigree page.
His sire was Equiano (Fr), the dual winner of the King’s Stand (1000m), the Royal Ascot feature that has the Australians Scenic Blast, Miss Andretti, Takeover Target and Choisir on its honour roll.
Equiano (Fr) also fathered Belvoir Bay (Breeders Cup Turf Sprint) and The Tin Man, the bay that was successful in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes some five years after Black Caviar had prevailed in the coveted English event.
The maternal side of Diggity’s lineage includes the Golden Slipper heroes Flying Spur and Rory’s Jester and Black Caviar’s grand-dam Scandinavia.
* * *
Nanango’s Christmas Card
As well as the leg of the Burnett to the Valley series, the Lee Park program on the first Sunday of next month contains a QTIS Class 1 race over 1,000 metres.
Fillies and mares eligible for a bonus have the chance to pick up a first prize cheque of $10,250.
The equivalent reward for the males is $8,500.
The fashion theme of “It’s All About Christmas” should suit everyone!
