{"id":117149,"date":"2015-08-07T22:02:12","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T12:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=117149"},"modified":"2020-11-19T14:02:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T04:02:51","slug":"the-cup-kings-reign-at-nanango","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/08\/07\/the-cup-kings-reign-at-nanango\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cup Kings Reign At Nanango"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The picture that turned out to be an omen tip: Bradley and Lyall Appo caught up early in the day at Lee Park last Saturday; by close of business, the brothers’ Nanango Cup records stood at two victories each (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>August 7, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

The “horses for courses” motto applied with a human wist at Lee Park last Saturday. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The upshot is that punters seeking the winner of next year\u2019s Nanango Cup should firstly look out for the proven names of Appo and Baker.<\/p>\n

The 2015 XXXX Carrollee Hotel Nanango Cup was secured by Bradley Appo\u2019s mount Gaelstorm, a Bel Esprit mare prepared at Dalby by Gilbert Baker.<\/p>\n

Appo had previously saluted in the feature event on a grandson of Tails, namely the Jim Denman-trained Steamy.<\/p>\n

Bradley’s brother Lyall, with Kane\u2019s Crossing and Pedro\u2019s Amazing, and his nephew Beau, courtesy of Thunder Lane, are also listed on the Cup\u2019s honour roll.<\/p>\n

And Baker\u2019s there, too. He put his polish on Dandy Warhols and Anchor Bolt.<\/p>\n

Gaelstorm\u2019s triumph maintained the team\u2019s trophy-collecting spree.<\/p>\n

The side\u2019s 2015 credits include the Warra Cup, Allora Cup at Warwick, Goondiwindi Picnic Cup, Jandowae Cup and the Murilla Cup at Miles.<\/p>\n

In 2014, the trio savoured Cup at Warra, Jandowae and Chinchilla.<\/p>\n

Baker knows what it takes to win at Lee Park.<\/p>\n

In 2010-1 he won the trainer\u2019s title there and Anchor Bolt shared the Horse Of The Year honours with the Anthony Greaves-trained Muffet.<\/p>\n

Gilbert, a conditioner who times his charges\u2019 campaigns astutely, pulled the right rein when he introduced the sometimes-difficult Gaelstorm to Appo.<\/p>\n

The Toowoomba-based Child Protection Advisor has developed a wonderful understanding with the grand-daughter of End Sweep.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, their 19 tasks together have amassed ten wins and three placings.<\/p>\n

Appo\u2019s performance on the former Victorian that has scored a dozen times since coming north was straight out of a master\u2019s handbook.<\/p>\n

The mare relaxed splendidly, travelled smoothly behind the speed and picked up the tempo on cue.<\/p>\n

Favourite backers were smiling at the half-way mark and grinning expectantly as Gaelstorm had the leaders (and eventual placegetters) Billy Goat and Bingo Bobby well covered on the home turn.<\/p>\n

The winning margin, although only a neck, was convincing.<\/p>\n

Appo has found that the seven-times winner for the season just does what she feels is necessary to stay in front.<\/p>\n

The eight-year-old seems to know what is required.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Laura Cronan admires If In Doubt after the pin-up girl provided her with her initial training victory (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Laura Swapped Roles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There was joy all round after the Macdonalds Kingaroy QTIS Maiden (Division 1, 1200m). <\/strong><\/p>\n

When Bundaberg-based Laura Cronan was last at Nanango, she rode a double. That was 14 years go.<\/p>\n

On Saturday she chalked up her first success as a trainer with the Not A Single Doubt mare If In Doubt.<\/p>\n

Wondai jockey Jason Missen somehow weaved his way from a seemingly impossible rearward position to overpower the leaders over the concluding part.<\/p>\n

Jason finished second behind Gympie\u2019s Kelly Gates in the 2014-15 South East Queensland Country Racing Association Senior Jockeys\u2019 Premiership.<\/p>\n

That is a remarkable feat given his long lay-off, courtesy of a fractured knee incurred at Mt Perry in November.<\/p>\n

Billie-Rose Derbyshire (Overall Jockey and Desiree Gill Memorial Apprentice) and Barry Gill (Trainer) saw to it that Gympie claimed all three SEQCRA “human category” awards.<\/p>\n

The presentations are slotted in for the Bundaberg fixture on September 5.<\/p>\n

Missen made it a double for the first day of the new season when he brought Casa Ciello from worse than midfield to land the Betta Home Living Class B (1600m).<\/p>\n

The favourite Big Tommee set a breakneck pace and understandably weakened in the straight.<\/p>\n

Interestingly for the clock watchers, the Show A Heart mare\u2019s time was only 0.17 seconds slower than the open horses took to decide the Cup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mission accomplished: Jason Missen heads to the scales after Casa Ciello secured his Nanango double (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bitter And Sweet Times For Phillips<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Last Saturday, Hannah Phillips deservedly received the trophy for her Nanango Jockeys\u2019 Premiership.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She overcame a significant injury timeout to beat the seniors and her fellow juniors.<\/p>\n

Captain Clayton, the Horse Of The Year that is owned and trained by her father Barry, and Oakey trainer Patrick Sexton were the other section winners.<\/p>\n

Hannah\u2019s mounts earned $153,000 for the 2014-15 racing year.<\/p>\n

She registered 21 wins overall, with the 14 victories in the SEQCRA domain equating to second spot behind Derbyshire in both the overall and junior divisions.<\/p>\n

The good news is that Captain Clayton, with three wins at Nanango and one at Gayndah, is the SEQCRA Horse of the Year.<\/p>\n

On the downside, Phillips has copped her second suspension inside a month.<\/p>\n

On July 4, she pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge on Alofthym at Esk.<\/p>\n

Consequently, she was sidelined by stewards for one country meeting.<\/p>\n

Hannah again pleaded guilty when faced with the same charge involving the same horse last Saturday.<\/p>\n

She can ride at this weekend\u2019s Gladstone Cup program and is then off the scene until August 23.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bell Rings Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ricky Johnston-Bell, the Sunshine Coast apprentice that was transported to hospital after a barrier incident at Lee Park, has bounced back.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was good to see that both his rides at Beaudesert on Thursday filled third berth.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

TAB Troubles Now Fixed<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One final note this week: TAB troubles that prevented any TAB betting at last Saturday’s Nanango Cup meeting have been fixed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Nanango track normally has TAB facilities operating on course alongside the bookies.<\/p>\n

But last Saturday the TAB stopped operating just before racing got underway, and the screens stayed black all day.<\/p>\n

The Nanango Race Club has since been advised the blackout was caused by a lightning strike somewhere in the TAB network.<\/p>\n

Telstra has since rectified the problem and everything is now up and running again in readiness for the club’s next meeting on September 19.<\/p>\n