August 28, 2021
South Burnett players relished special moments at Lee Park earlier this month.
After receiving the prizes for topping their premiership tables, trainer Glenn Richardson and his wife Hannah promptly posted three successes apiece to kick start the new season.
Courtesy of a fine ride to lead all the way from an outside alley and a tidy preparation, the Nanango couple secured their first Nanango Cup with an $8 outsider in Vermutin.
The now five-year-old was unraced at two and then won twice from his ten outings at three for Oakey conditioner Patrick Sexton.
After an absence of almost seven months, the gelding resumed with Richardson as his custodian.
Vermutin turned in a creditable first-up fourth at Nanango on February 13 before taking out a Benchmark 60 on a firm track at Chinchilla.
The statistics suggest that Vermutin is not effective in soft going so his fifth at Esk to kick off his current campaign in mid-July was a sound performance.
The subsequent unplaced result at Gatton could have been discounted as stewards reported he laid out throughout.
The upshot of Vermutin’s open company victory was a lift in his official Handicap Rating from 51 to 62.
This change will affect weight allocations for future targets.
The horse’s name is probably a slight variation of a German word that means to suspect.
The bay is by Unusual Suspect, the Werribee Cup winner that also scored in black type company over distances ranging from 1100 to 2400 metres at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.
The other legs of the Richardsons’ treble were provided by The Old Bird and Brutus, a grey formerly prepared by Sexton.
Hannah Richardson went on to make it six for the week by booting home Toowoomba galloper Accumulated for Brett Baker at Kilcoy on the Sunday and by grabbing a double at Gladstone on August 14 with and Neville O’Toole’s entry A Good Chance and Alcaso, a member of Kym Afford’s Kilkivan string.
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A Joyous Happening
The Lee Park contest dedicated to the memory of Colin Ryan was won exhilarating style by Kakatiya, a thoroughbred deeply connected to the family of the Nanango Race Club stalwart.
The chestnut, adorned with head gear that is an artistic expression of her red, black and white racing silks, was saddled up by Ryan’s grand-daughter Kristen Roon.
She races the Monaco Consul mare with her husband Bodie, Colin’s daughter Narelle Wenck and her husband Jeff.
Kakatiya (Olivia Webb, $5), having just her third career outing, was rearward early.
However the five-year-old unleashed a brilliant turn of foot in the straight to swamp the leaders and win the Maiden clearly.
Roon has done very well with her charge.
Although she raced very greenly second up at Caloundra on June 18, Kristen had her cherry ripe for her sought-after target.
Back in January 2019, the team pinned their hopes in the Colin Ryan Memorial at Wondai with Ascot Bound.
The Domesday gelding, having just his second run in more than six months, picked up third money.
The name Kakatiya, is related to her dam Ourkohinhoor. It was during the Kakatiya dynasty (12th-14th century) that the fabulous diamond called the Koh-in_Hoor was discovered in India.
There is a large white diamond in the Roon stable livery, and Kakatiya’s performance was a gem in more ways than one.
By the way, Ryan’s successor Ken Dennien did his mentor proud.
His despatch of the Star Motel BM 60 Handicap was perfect with the candidates sustaining a cavalry style straight line formation for quite a distance after he pressed the button.
On a personal note, I can say that each time Col executed a great start he would approach me with a subtle smirk on his face.
He knew that such excellence made the racecaller’s task in the early stages difficult.
It is an easier assignment when a mention about couple of slow jumpers at barrier rise gives time for the field to spread.
Bookmakers had some relief at Lee Park as no favourites saluted.
The lady jockeys also did well with Richardson (3), Webb (2) and Isabella Teh (1) sweeping the entire card.
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Jockey’s Welcome Comeback
Brooke Stower, a former familiar face on Queensland tracks, made her return in race day silk at Cilgandra on Saturday.
The hoop, who partnered the Richardson trained Canid in the 2018 Battle of the Bush Final at Eagle Farm, fractured her L3 in her back after a mounting yard accident at Grafton on August 31 last year.
Fears were held that she could become wheelchair bound.
Stower had enjoyed a productive 2019-20 season during which she visited country winner’s circles in two states 63 times, with a Moree Cup topping the list.
Armidale trainer Jane Clement furnished Stower with a number of bookings.
The Tamworth based rider was beaten a mere half length on the third placegetter Jade at her very first ride back before picking up second money on He’s Our Toy Boy later in the program.
The fraternity wishes Brooke all the best for the future.
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Upcoming Spring Fixtures
Nanango Race Club’s next meeting is scheduled for September 11 with the South Burnett Race Club following on with its Cup day on October 16.
Kumbia, as usual, will host its popular Melbourne Cup day program on Tuesday, November 2.
Meanwhile, the spring carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne will be fascinating to follow.
