October 7, 2022
Leading Nanango jockey Hannah Richardson was undefeated at Eidsvold last Saturday.
She watched on as Kelly Gates booted home No Better Affaire for local trainer Bob Murray in the opening event before leaving Murray’s remaining seven hopefuls in her wake.
Hannah landed a double for the Corey and Kylie Geran’s Toowoomba stable in the Maiden with Dreamseeker ($2.30) and Vinasta ($2.50) in $12,000 Eidsvold Cup.
She also scored twice for Krystle Johnston’s Sunshine Coast yard with Craiglea Etna ($8) in Class B company, and Craiglea Bandit ($6) in the Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap.
Richardson has chalked up seven successes over the last three Saturdays.
A win at Dalby on September 17 aboard Ben Waldron’s charge Real Hussey was followed with Gladstone wins a week ago atop Craiglea Etna and aboard Credenza for her husband Glenn.
Craiglea Bandit has now secured a crack in the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 3.
Another qualifying opportunity will be offered at Kumbia on Melbourne Cup day.
The good news for Bob Murray is that No Better Affaire and his third placegetter Comments have him on top in the trainer’s category after the first of eleven rounds of the Burnett to Beach Series.
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Wondai Cup Day Is October 15
While most patrons at Wondai on Saturday week will be both tickled pink to be there and also in pink condition, some who look “pretty in pink” will be a chance of receiving a fashion award.
The feature contest will be the $12,000 Roy and Glenys Radunz Wondai Cup.
Monica Ryan Demircan will be remembered and sponsors Smithfield Feedlot, Harley’s Heavy Diesel and Maurie Atkins Bobcat Hire are again providing support.
Racegoers are reminded to phone 0418-916-646 to reserve Marquee Seating for tables of ten costing $50 and to order Grazing Platters for $30.
Please remember that there are no ATMs on course, so bnring cash.
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Steward Was Spot On
QRIC’s Kym Daly was correct in his decision not to declare Ramtastic a late scratching after the running of the opening event at Gympie on September 17.
The report for the meeting indicated that “correct weight was delayed allowing Gemma Steele, rider of fourth placegetter Ramtastic and starter Mr R Hanson, to view the start of the event.
“On review of the patrol footage, it was established that after Ramtastic had become fractious after being loaded into the barriers Gemma Steele did not have both feet in her stirrup irons as the start was effected, and as a result she completed the event with both feet out of the irons.
“Considering Ramtastic had finished in fourth place and acting under the provisions of AR204(1), the horse was declared a runner and correct weight given on the semaphored placings.”
At first reading, many punters would assume that horse in question should have come out.
But Australian Rules of Racing: AR 204 (titled as riderless and disadvantaged horses at the start of a race) states
If, in the opinion of the Stewards, any horse was:
(a) riderless at the time a start was effected; or
(b) encumbered by equipment applied with the permission, or at the direction, of the Starter; or
(c) denied a fair start; or
(d) encumbered by any other outside influence after gaining a fair start,
and that materially prejudiced the chances of that horse finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race, the Stewards may declare that horse to be a non-starter and may make an order in relation to betting on the race as provided for separately in the Rules of Betting (except that a horse which is ultimately declared as coming 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race must not be declared a non-starter).
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Bits And Bridles
There are some interesting names among the new season juveniles that stepped out for the first time at Eagle Farm, Randwick and Flemington on Saturday.
In Brisbane, the colt by Written By from Sunday Rose is simply known as Sunday Mail. Avoids, a filly by Sidestep, is also an uncomplicated monicker.
The Sydney line up included Kata Kapi, a two-year-old by Headwater. In the Pitjantjatjara language, “water” is Kapi while Kata Tjuta refers to The Olgas, the large Northern Territory rock formations that look like “many heads”.
Blind Date (Headwater-Perfect Stranger) was an easy call but Insane Volt (All Too Hard-Very Puzzling) is more intriguing.
Although there are no links to athletics in the pedigree, there seems to be a play on words regarding the stellar sprinter Usain Bolt.
Platinum Jubilee was registered before the passing of Elizabeth II and its dam is Miss Debutante.
This is a little ironic because, in relation to the beloved monarch’s reign, that title was apt seventy years ago.
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Melbourne racecaller Matt Hill’s mention that Zulfiqar had put his rivals “to the sword” in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial was spot on.
The colt and his dam Sayf Shamal are both related to historic Middle Eastern sabres.
Meanwhile, the bay produce of Ribchester and Skagerrak has been named by juggling letters from both parents. The result is a painfully sounding Krakarib.
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The stallion Headwater was also in the news after his three-year-old daughter Typhoon Titmus finished second in the VRC Edward Manifold Stakes.
She was named for Ariarne Titmus, the champion Olympic and Commonweath Games swimmer.
The Victoria Racing Club’s ambassador for the upcoming Melbourne Cup was competitive in dressage and showjumping circles during her earlier life in Tasmania.
In short, Titmus has been donated a share in Typhoon Titmus and was trackside on Saturday.
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Winter form has again been to the fore in the past week with the Stradbroke quinella horses saluting.
Alligator Blood impressively took out the lucrative Underwood Stakes at Sandown and Private Eye, his nearest foe at Eagle Farm, prevailed in the VRC Stakes.
The Chris Waller trained Zougotcha has added the ATC Flight Stakes to her spring sweep.
The Zoustar filly, having rested in Queensland after running fifth during the carnival, picked up the ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and the ATC Tea Rose Stakes.
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Leeanne McCoy continues to enjoy a happy run in the pigskin.
Since returning south, she has sported silk at five race days for five wins and two seconds.
Topping the list was a treble at Taroom a a week ago.
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Journeyman jockey Josh King has thrived since he took up the training caper.
Since end of July, he has saddled up Ironside, Enabler and Incentivise’s half brother Argyle Lane.
They have all earned an income with three wins and two placings registered from just seven opportunities.
King was Incentive’s handler and valued track work rider during the stayer’s Queensland chapter with his breeder-owner-trainer Steve Tregea, who is now concentrating on operating his Windermere Stud on the Darling Downs.
King prepares Tregea’s racing bloodstock.
Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski, who are also in the ownership group of the likes of Verry Elleegant, bought a half stake in Incentivise, the 2021 Caulfield Cup winner for the Peter Moody stable.
