A New Racing Year Begins

A winning combination … 2022-23 Nanango Premiership winners jockey Nicole Vuille and trainer Adam Briskey with Bellamy, 3; Adam also owns and trains the Nanango Horse of the Year, Beeokay

August 8, 2023

The start of the new racing year was marked in the South Burnett with Nanango Race Club’s traditional Cup Day meeting on Saturday.

August 1 is the “horses’ birthday”, ie. the date all thoroughbred horses in Australia turn one year older, no matter the actual date when they were foaled.

It also marks the start of the annual jockeys’ and trainers’ championships.

Nanango always celebrates the start of the new racing year with a “blessing of the jockeys”, which was led on Saturday by local resident Rod Morgan ahead of Race 1.

Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green also presented the club’s 2022-23 championship trophies.

It was a real family affair with Nicole Vuille taking out the jockey’s trophy, and her partner, Adam Briskey, being presented with the trainer’s award.

Briskey’s horse, Beeokay, was also named Nanango’s Horse of the Year.

There was a full card of eight races, with the Nanango Cup scheduled late in the day as Race 7.

This year’s Nanango Cup winner was six-year-old gelding Torbreck, ridden by Nathan Fazackerley and trained in Toowoomba by Corey and Kylie Geran.

Unfortunately, the day was not without incident with apprentice jockey Corey Sutherland suffering a minor hand injury in Race 4 when his mount, Otelo, collapsed near the 600m mark.

Sutherland was unable to complete his other rides on the day.

However, another apprentice had a very good day … Shania Willis only began her professional career as a jockey in March last year, but booted home three winners at Saturday’s meeting.

Nanango Race Club’s 2022-23 Horse Of The Year, Beeokay, warms up on Saturday with Paul Hamblin on board … the topweight finished in fourth spot in Race 1, the Col Ryan Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap

Rod Morgan, right, blessed the jockeys at the start of another racing year … the group prayed for protection for racegoers, club workers, starters, barrier attendants, stablehands, strappers, trainers and, particularly, for the safety of all horses and every jockey during the new racing year

Jackson Forsyth, Kingaroy, and Brenna Prendergast, Tingoora, were looking forward to a day at the races

Marley Stuhmcke, Hayley Nightingale and Cody Barnes, all from Nanango

Sue McLeod, from Brisbane, and Andrea Douglas, Sandstone Point

Mary Green, from Nanango, with Kerrie Green, Bribie Island … Kerrie is the wife of the late Leon “Panda” Green; Race 3 was run in his memory

Members of the family of the late Col Ryan, who was remembered in Race 1 … Val Alexander, Kristen Roon and Narelle and Jeff Wenck; Col served the Nanango Race Club for more than 35 years as starter

Nanango Cup trophies and Club trophies which were distributed on Saturday

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Race Results

Bright Daisy (Shannon Apthorpe) and Zenia (Sariah Champkin) lead the field home in Race 1

Race 1 – Col Ryan Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Bright Daisy (3) – Shannon Apthorpe
2. Zenia (9) – Sariah Champkin
3. Rhapalong (6) – Dale Smith
Time: 0:57.99
Margins: 2 lengths x 1/2 length

Race 2 – McDonalds Kingaroy QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Berakahquinn (5) – Dale Smith
2. Licensed and Ready (9) – Alisha Donald
3. Red Shiraz (10) – Nozi Tomizawa
Time: 1:10.03
Margins: 3/4 length x 2 lengths

Race 3 – Leon ‘Panda’ Green Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Kirella Shores (8) – Shania Willis
2. Chicka (7) – Nozi Tomizawa
3. Pressure and Time (3) – Nathan Thomas
Time: 1:09.86
Margins: 3 lengths x 3 3/4 lengths

Race 4 – National Jockeys Celebration J.A. Lee Memorial Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. Oakfield Comanche (5) – Hannah Phillips
2. Harryandthetiger (2) – Shannon Apthorpe
3. The Carpenter (7) – Olivia Webb
Time: 1:09.63
Margins: 3/4 length x 2 lengths

Race 5 – FTA Accountants Benchmark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Easy Come (8) – Shania Willis
2. Abb Roy (3) – Rob Thorburn
3. Kabalega (4) – Tamara Noble
Time: 1:10.48
Margins: Length x 2 1/4 lengths

Race 6 – Fitzroy Hotel Benchmark 45 Handicap (1200m)
1. Zabcan (5) – Paul Hamblin
2. Divenire (10) – Nathan Thomas
3. Craiglea Etna (3) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 1:10.97
Margins: Neck x 1/2 length

Race 7 – Fitzroy Hotel XXXX Cheers Nanango Cup Open Handicap (1600m)
1. Torbreck (3) – Nathan Fazackerley
2. Vivenzo (7) – Dale Smith
3. Cosmic Gossip (4) – Nathan Evans
Time: 1:34.59
Margins: Neck x 2 lengths

Race 8 – Heritage Bank Nanango Class B Handicap (1600m)
1. Canny Boy (7) – Shania Willis
2. Craiglea Karly (6) – Hannah Phillips
3. Light’s Vision (4) – Rob Thorburn
Time: 1:35.32
Margins: Short neck x 1 1/4 lengths