February 13, 2020
Last year, Hivesville trainer Lindsay Anderson tightened the race day girth for 25 runners, and accrued six wins courtesy of Clouds, Kentford and Momentum Glory, along with six placings.
Lindsay chalked up another victory at Bundaberg at the beginning of this month with the $1.90 pop Ruby Lil, a mare by Captain Gerrard (Ire), the sire of Anderson’s speedy mare, Liverpool Jane.
This achievement – with jockey Hannah English aboard – was very special.
Peter Hale, who races the chestnut with his wife Patricia and their friend that everyone calls “Keepie”, told Lindsay he desperately wanted a wall photo.
In other words, he had never been next to a winner’s circle.
Peter and “Keepie” are well known piggery operators while Patricia has relished a very long friendship with Anderson’s wife Jodie.
The triumph by the $5000 purchase was a great tonic for “Keepie”.
The Gatton area resident is not enjoying the best of health at present and has had to endure much more than most in an earlier phase of his life.
Ruby Gem is an acceptor for the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
The six-year-old, with a $22,000 Maiden at Warren to her credit, boasts an international pedigree as her dam is the American-born Ruby Wedding.
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Nanango’s Brilliantly Timed Rain
Nanango Race Club President Andrew Green was naturally delighted around 8:00am on Thursday.
Lee Park, host to a great card on Saturday, was rated a Good 4 after 144 millimetres fell into the rain gauge over the previous seven days.
Hopefully there will be no more downpours until after the last race.
Racing Queensland opted to give every acceptor for the Nanango Bookmakers Association Benchmark 50 Handicap (1200m) a run by making two divisions of 10 runners apiece.
The alternative of a single race of 12 horses with five reserves and two ballotted out would have deprived a set of connections of a vital opportunity.
The move is more than welcome during a period when there have been few country class grass meetings and programs have been lost because of the weather.
Leading local trainer Glenn Richardson has engagements for Miss Carolee, Canid, Beauty Secrets, Black Envy, Carpe Noctem, Gallopinakis and Arnwood, the Better Than Ready gelding who showed promise as a juvenile and is stepping out for the first time since last July.
Other South Burnett stables with aspirants include Barry Phillips (Glam Rock, a last-start Thangool winner), Royce Connolly (Macmissile and Gin and Tonic), Brian Laherty (Machu Picchu) and Jason Livingstone (Mountebank).
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Pink, Pink And More Pink!
The Moffatdale Ridge fashion theme for this Saturday’s Nanango race day provides a host of omen tips for those who prefer to ignore the form guide.
Airport, a gelded son of Romantic Storm and his stablemate Dave’s Valor will both sport a purple jacket with a pink heart, purple sleeves and cap with pink hearts.
Bradley Hudson’s contingent, namely Coalbank Cavalry, Dream On Lucy, Last Round, Storm Born Angel, Spezia Lady, Tin’s Pocket and Mayfair Lady all have pink in their silks as does Miss Macpherson, Major Luck and El Demonio.
The opening contest, the Bechly’s Transport Class B (800m) is due at 12:55pm.
The finale, the Ken Mills Toyota BM 55 (1600m), is scheduled to jump at 4:15pm.
Other race naming sponsors are Nanango Caravan Service and Repairs and Nanango’s Heritage Bank.
An interesting visitor will be Luke Berger, the Inverell conditioner, who makes regular sorties into Queensland.
Success by Shiver Me Timbers, Cavitation or Cathvalanna would make the long haul worthwhile.
Large fields will make for an absorbing experience that has been totally enhanced by recent rains.
See you at the track!
