June 28, 2021
Queensland country racing’s $200,000 plum purse was up for grabs at Eagle Farm on the weekend.
Two representatives from each of the eight districts vied for an income and honour in a pressure packed sprint on Saturday.
Nanango’s trainer-jockey team of Glenn and Hannah Richardson fought their way into the final round of the state-wide competition, courtesy of Sweet Venom.
The little daughter of Golden Snake and Milking Off deserved her spot in the Battle of the Bush Handicap.
Her appearances in the heats returned third placings at Burrandowan and Jandowae, a fourth at Gayndah and the vital breakthrough at Thangool, where planning and persistence finally paid off for her connections.
Back in 2018, Richardson saddled up Klammer (Hannah Richardson) and Canid (Brooke Stower) in the final at Doomben.
Both outsiders were drawn right off the track and were duly unplaced.
For the 2019 edition, Nanango’s “Bunny” (Brian) Laherty legged Hannah on to Machu Picchu.
After jumping from a handy barrier, the duo were in the firing line until the last few bounds, but their performance was utterly praiseworthy.
The six-year-old’s career summary stands at 23:3-6-7 plus four fourth placings.
And since departing Victoria for Richardson’s Lee Park yard, the record for her new chapter is 12:2-3-3.
However Sweet Venom’s pet distance seems to be 1200 metres, so she was at long odds on Saturday and regretfully didn’t score a place.
Nonethless, the Richardsons did admirably to again be participants in a highly competitive and coveted feature and thoroughly deserve congratulations for their efforts.
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Ex-Nanango Maiden Seeks Crown
Following Nash Rawiller’s withdrawal because a Covid situation, Jimmy Orman picked up the mount on Sweet Deal in the $600,000 Tattersall’s Tiara run later in the day at the same Eagle Farm meeting.
The state’s current leading jockey in the All Tracks category won his very first race at Lee Park.
His initial stakes win was on the longshot Choice Bro in the 2016 Toowoomba Weetwood and he now has a real chance at Group One level.
After injuring his back at Caloundra in early January 2018, the 21 year-old from Gatton registered his 400th winner three months later.
Orman is in form.
With a month left in the season, he leads on the statewide ladder with 107 victories (with $3,340,000 in prizemoney).
He is also fifth on the metropolitan table which shows that Ryan Moloney and Jim Byrne are in a tight struggle for the title.
On June 16, Jimmy chalked up a Doomben success before landing four from five at the Sunshine Coast two days later.
He also snatched a last gasp triumph at Ipswich on Bayerische, the two-year-old that flashed home after being rearward at the 400 metre mark.
And in Saturday’s Tiara, he backed that effort up with a third placing on Sweet Deal.
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Wondai’s Classic Touch
The Fashion on the Field Theme for South Burnett Race Club’s July 3 meeting is “Classic Black and White”.
There are Best Dressed categories for Gentlemen, Ladies, Girls and Boys.
Bookings for reserved marquee seating are $50 per table of ten and you can order Grazing Platters by phoning 0418-916-646.
Racegoers are reminded that there is no ATM facility at the track.
