February 11, 2022
After Aypeetee’s November victory at Mount Perry, Nanango’s Glenn and Hannah Richardson have had a frustrating run.
The cancellation of the December meeting on home turf washed away an opportunity for the multiple premiership-winning unit to bolster the scoreline.
The turning point was on January 11 on a soft track at Rockhampton when Weboughtazou, a new starter for the stable resuming after a three-month break, led all the way to account for the open handicap dashers.
Last Saturday the Zoustar gelding contested the $75,000 event for non-metro winners at Doomben.
He was not disgraced in finishing after making the pace with 60kg.
The bay’s first chapter was written by Caloundra trainer David Vandyke with 28 starts earning $188,750 via a 6-10-2 formline. Four wins were registered at the Sunshine Coast, with one apiece produced at Doomben and the Gold Coast.
Another new acquisition for the Richardson unit in I Am Fearless ($12 into $7.50) prevailed easily first up in an 800 metre Warwick Maiden at last Monday.
The bay by I Am Invincible had three barrier trials and a poor result in a Goulburn Maiden in December 2020 for Richard and Michael Freedman’s Sydney yard.
He failed at his next outing at Rockhampton for trainer Leanne Applewaite in April 2021.
The Richardsons did exceedingly well to prepare the four-year-old for a confidence boosting win at its third start.
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The side has two candidates for Lee Park on Saturday.
Mr Noddy, having picked up a Benchmark 55 at Kilcoy on Australia Day, lines up in the Nanango RSL-Pedersen Memorial QTIS Class 2 (1000m).
Informer, placed six times in 18 starts, is seeking a deserved breakthrough in the Nanango Bookmakers Association Maiden Plate (1200m).
The Choisir four-year-old, having been on the podium twice in richer recent races at Rockhampton, is a discard from Kelly Schweida’s Eagle Farm establishment.
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Two new Lee Park-based trainers will saddle up on Saturday, too.
Patrick Sexton, formerly of Oakey, is now domiciled in Nanango.
In the Malcolm McCallum Class B (800m), he has an interesting contender in The Waiting Man.
Bel Esprit’s son, runner-up on a soft Dalby surface last Saturday, is raced by his father Peter and retired Brisbane lawyer Alayne Peterson.
Jockey Gemma Steele will sport the all brown silks used by Peterson’s uncle Roley Edkins.
The livery was aboard his fine stayer Piastoon when it collected the 1926 Brisbane Cup and the 1927 Sydney Cup.
The colours have also been Alayne’s and were on show when her horse.
Lord Sambeau was placed in the 1983 Doomben 10,000.
Peterson made history in 1980 when she was the first female admitted to the membership of the Brisbane Amateur Turf Club.
Sexton will also be represented by Ask Audrey and Run The Cutter.
Meanwhile, Adam Briskey is kicking off his training career with the Maiden candidates AllJeed Up and Timely Reward.
He will be hoping that his partner Nicole Vuille will bring him luck.
She is to be congratulated on her success with The Angels Kiss ($12) on New Year’s Day at Gatton.
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Pink Turns Blue
At the corresponding Pretty in Pink meeting last year, Hannah Philipps in pink silks booted home the Maiden winner Kitty Kat’s Kitten for local trainer Janene Armstrong.
Sadly, Phillips will be a bystander this time round.
The South Burnett jockey broke and arm and suffered dental damage in a jump out accident at Toowoomba on January 25 when her mount’s saddle slipped in the straight.
In a split second, Hannah was under the horse’s back legs.
“I was very lucky it wasn’t worse,” Hannah said.
“It’s my first time I’ve had a really bad fall in my eight years of riding professionally.”
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Green, Green, Green
The lovely recent rain has produced plenty of green grass on the Lee Park course.
Although the Nanango Club President Andrew Green has been getting giddy mowing it, the environment will be a joy to behold.
It is a great racing card.
See you trackside!
- Related article: Full Fields For Nanango Races
[UPDATED with correction]
