After Blackbutt trainer Wayne Farrington legged Hannah English on to the favourite Striking Warrior for the API Maiden Plate (1200m) at Esk last Saturday, the gelding paraded and warmed-up without a problem before his first run since last July.
It was just one of those days at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park course on Thursday.
Jumps jockeys are used to covering plenty of ground – but Paul Hamblin, the former Darling Downs horseman now based in Melbourne, doesn’t find any hurdle when it comes to his work travels.
On Friday, February 10 Hannah English booted home Sequoia Miss for the James Curtain stable at Rockhampton. And the next day she chalked up a treble at Miles.
Given the recent focus on elite level racing with Sydney’s The Everest project, it is refreshing to note Eidsvold Race Club’s outlook.
At a time when many Australian country race clubs would appreciate some reinvigoration, Racing New South Wales and the Australian Turf Club have triggered an avalanche of comment about their bold new project.
There’s no local racing for a little while yet, so this Saturday will see South Burnett units heading up to Thangool and down to Warwick.
The South East Country District racing agenda for this year kicks off at Kilcoy on Thursday.
My first story for the new year concerns a very positive boost for an arm of the South Burnett’s racing industry.
The efforts of Nug’s Pocket and Ascot Bound at Esk last Saturday were a positive sign for young Wondai trainer Kristen Wenck.
The name Contessa Diamantina di Roma is well connected with western Queensland place names – she was the wife of Sir George Bowen, this state’s first governor.
Picnic In the Park, the Lunchtime gelding that put together 21 straight victories in 1984-85, was honoured at last Sunday’s Nanango Race Club meeting.
Despite all the counter attractions, acceptances for Sunday’s card at Lee Park are very pleasing.
The tried and true bush experiences for rookie riders traditionally stand them in good stead when they progress to the provincial level.
The saying goes that it’s a long road that has no turning. Thankfully, Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson went around the right corner last Saturday.
Saturday’s Mount Perry meeting wrapped up the program for the “once-a-year” race clubs for 2016, but the sequence will kick off again on January 7 at Bell.
The Age newspaper has suggested that Olympic athlete Usain Bolt was paid $500,000 to attend Thursday’s Oaks meeting in Melbourne.
Nanango apprentice Hannah English spent most of last Saturday afternoon under observation at Gympie hospital.
The training honours for last weekend’s Wondai Cup day were taken out by Lindsay Anderson
Pat Duff, the conditioner who picked up last year’s Roy and Glenis Radunz Wondai Cup with Fasta Than Light, aims to make it two in row on Saturday.
