December 2, 2022
Saturday’s principal event at Nanango Race Club’s “Jingle All The Way” Christmas meeting is the running of the fourth heat of the Burnett to the Beach Series.
Although the Kumbia offering was washed out, the events at Eidsvold, Gayndah and Mount Perry have been decided.
The competition, with a pool of $10,000 in bonuses, has been tweaked this year with all unplaced runners receiving just a point rather than the previous descending order system.
This method places due emphasis on the placegetters that earn 10, 8 and 7 points respectively.
The South Burnett representatives for the 0-60 handicap over the metric six furlongs are the Patrick Sexton trained Raku’s Secret and Adam Briskey’s charge Blue Smartie, a Toowoomba maiden winner in August.
Raku’s Secret, with five wins including one on home turf, has better qualifications than most of her rivals.
The current leaders will clash in the Lee Park leg.
Eidsvold trainer Bob Murray already has 27 points, courtesy of Comments (16), No Better Affaire (10) and Qwick (1). Jamesatelli and his Bundaberg conditioner Gary Clem are next with 18 points.
The defending champion Kelly Gates (19) will handle Raku’s Secret.
Her closest attendants are Adam Spinks (11), Landan Sykes (10) and Alisha Donald (9), and they will respectively partner Astrophysics, Legend Rules and Jamesatelli.
The topweight Legend Rules was formerly trained by Les Bridge in Sydney.
The bay’s seven outings for Caloundra conditioner Louise White has produced a Kilcoy success and placings at the Sunshine Coast and Murwillumbah. The I Am Invincible gelding has never competed at a non-TAB meeting.
Another highlight of Saturday’s meeting will be the debut of the NRC’s new set of starting stalls, which the club had originally hoped would be delivered in July.
Plans are also a foot to provide safer access for officials working in the tower.
The aim is to install steps so that carrying heavy equipment used for the video coverage and photo finish operations can be better managed.
At 7.45 am on Friday, the Nanango track rating was showing as a Soft 6 on the official racingaustralia.horse website, and NRC officials declared Saturday’s meeting will be going ahead as planned.
But Thursday’s Gatton fixture has been switched to Monday.
* * *
Rich Country Finals At Doomben
Veteran trainer Pat Duff pulled the right rein by taking Dare To Share to Chinchilla last month.
With Emily Lang on board, the sprinter clinched a berth in Saturday’s $105,000 Country Stampede Final (0MWL2Y, 1110m) at Doomben.
Jimmy Orman, who will have the ride in town, has to overcome a very wide gate from a notoriously difficult despatch point.
Mark Du Plessis will be atop the well drawn Bungaribee Lad, an easy victor at Nanango in May.
Also well in at the start is the greybeard Hard Stride. Jason Judge has decided to take on foes in the “big smoke” rather than tackle the Members Open Handicap at Lee Park with his twelve-year-old.
Number 19 was on the marble that the topweight The Tenor drew.
His journeyman jockey Paul Hamblin will be hoping that the wet track will prove helpful as the duo walk the plank.
Kappy Cino, Vinasta, Mr Vista, The Carpenter and Bellicose are aspirants for the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final (0MWL2Y, 1600m) that have raced recently in the south-east’s rural corner.
* * *
Bits And Bridles
- Heartiest congratulations go to apprentice jockey Nicole Vuille and trainer Debbie Corbett for bringing home the bacon with Buddy’s Tale ($4) at Kilcoy last Saturday. The trio were all deserved winners. Vuille, in comeback mode after being seriousl injured at Dingo in August 2016, resumed her career in race day silk on October 8 at Gayndah. A mere week later, she was narrowly denied a triumph when Invaness, prepared by Adam Briskey, was beaten a half length at Wondai by Daulat Machtignaga. Nicole then chalked up eight top four finishes before her breakthrough. Buddy’s Tale, a consistent galloper raced by Debbie and her husband Stan, was rated beautifully in front before cruising away in the short straight. The Corbetts also own Fort Myer and Xerri.
- As well as Adam Briskey and Patrick Sexton, South Burnett trainers Mark Ferguson, Tom Moloney, Peter Blackwell, Kaye Hill, Barry Phillips, Laurie Curtain and Bruce Davis are scheduled to saddle up candidates. Meanwhile, the Glenn and Hannah Richardson team have relocated to Gympie. The side has acceptors for this Saturday for the programs at Rockhampton and Lee Park.
- Great to see Kristen Roon score again with Vizone.Her maiden winner at Wondai on Anzac Day saluted again in sterling style at Gympie in Class B grade a fortnight ago. The lightly raced Eurozone gelding, starting at $21, battled on well for apprentice Shania Willis. Punters should note that the chestnut appreciates sand tracks.
