{"id":131688,"date":"2016-01-15T14:28:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-15T04:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=131688"},"modified":"2020-10-30T09:00:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T23:00:34","slug":"english-and-phillips-power-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/01\/15\/english-and-phillips-power-on\/","title":{"rendered":"English And Phillips Power On"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Hannah Phillips and Hannah English both had Happy New Year smiles at Bell (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>January 15, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanango apprentice Hannah English has rocketed to the top of the state\u2019s all-age, all-district country riding premiership. And fellow apprentice Hannah Phillips isn’t very far behind her.<\/strong><\/p>\n

English’s 105 mounts taken from August 1, 2015 to January 15, 2016 have generated a 24-11-11 scoreline, a 23% winning strike rate and $148,075 in prizemoney.<\/p>\n

Stephanie Lacy (88: 20-13-6, 22.7%, $134,375) and the North West\u2019s Dan Ballard (75:19-19-9, 25%, $145,275) are the nearest chasers.<\/p>\n

English, who picked up a double at Gatton on January 3 and a treble at Taroom on Boxing Day, is in demand with six bookings at Toowoomba on Friday night, six at Dalby on Saturday and three at Ballina on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Hannah Phillips, meanwhile, currently sits in tenth spot on the ladder with a 12-12-15 tally from 85 partnerships that accrued more than $102,000 in stakes.<\/p>\n

The Lee Park based junior had the pleasure of landing a provincial winner on Ollie Runs Riot at Warwick on Boxing Day.<\/p>\n

She will be overjoyed if she can kick home her best pal Captain Clayton at Dalby\u2019s TAB program this weekend.<\/p>\n

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

Light Enters As Curtain Opens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kumbia trainer James Curtain has had an encouraging start to 2016 with two of his three runners to date earning prizemoney. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The stable\u2019s promising maiden colt The Equine Bolt (10\/1), having his first outing since his handy debut effort at Ipswich last May, filled third berth at Toowoomba last Saturday, while Lady Wivenhoe came from a long way back to claim the runner-up cheque at Bell in Class B grade over 1300 metres.<\/p>\n

The duo were both handled by Hannah Phillips.<\/p>\n

Although I Am McLovin missed a place a Doomben on January 6, the gelding impressed with a fast finishing second at his previous half mile assignment at Ipswich on December 19.<\/p>\n

The Murtajill four-year-old is a Dalby engagement for Phillips this weekend.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Andrew and Adam Spinks savour the moment at Bell (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bell Had Wide Appeal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On January 2, a buoyant crowd was on hand for the annual New Year fixture conducted at Bell, the village on the Bunya Highway between Dalby and Kingaroy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cross-section of ages in attendance underlined the role country racing plays across the generations.<\/p>\n

The intimate nature of rural racing gives children close contact with horses, action and the general phases of a race day.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile older folk can enjoy the socialising, betting and sporting aspects of the game.<\/p>\n

The roll-up at Bell again suggested that country venues punch well above their weight.<\/p>\n

Many small places draw numbers at a higher percentage per capita than their city counterparts can average.<\/p>\n

Jockey Andrew Spinks was on hand to witness his son Adam\u2019s third career victory, that came courtesy of a splendid effort on the Redoute\u2019s Choice gelding Smooth Talker.<\/p>\n

Toowoomba trainer Donald “Duck” Baker pulled the right rein in engaging the four kilo claimer for the $8 chance that had been allotted 64.5 in the Landmark-Carrick Aland Accountants Handicap BM 65 (1200m).<\/p>\n

Adam did well to overcome gate 10 and looked good in securing a head margin over Spice of Life (Gina Mitchell) and Our Clarky (Montanna Savva).<\/p>\n

The 21 year old, whose previous wins were at Mackay and Atherton, has a 40% place percentage from around 52 rides to date.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s lead up education to race-riding included extensive stints in the dressage arena.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, his father Andrew must have been inspired – the next day at Gatton, he landed a double and two seconds.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A section of the “all-ages” crowd that flocked to Bell’s New Year race meeting on January 2 (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The triumph by Leila’s Call in the Warwick Credit Union-Agrifoods Australia Maiden Plate (1000m) had the touch of a fairy tale. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Before she started for Oakey trainer Bradley Hudson, the Sequalo mare suffered injuries that needed around 250 stitches when she had a violent reaction to a penicillin injection.<\/p>\n

The grand-daughter of Celestial Dancer went berserk, bolted and was virtually scalped as she ran amok, crashing through obstacles that included timber fencing and a chicken coop.<\/p>\n

The now five-year-old had shown plenty of promise and was only three weeks away from an eagerly awaited debut when that disaster struck.<\/p>\n

She eventually raced some eight months after her purchase.<\/p>\n

Aspects of the trauma have taken a toll and the original talent is yet to fully return.<\/p>\n

But the persistence of the mare and her connections has now been rewarded.<\/p>\n

In the drive to the post, Hannah Phillips brought Leila’s Call down the outside to claim Halpin (Melody O\u2019Brien) and Hudson’s other candidate Everingham (Adam Spinks).<\/p>\n

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

Diary Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It is very quiet on the non-TAB front at present, but Kilcoy\u2019s annual Australia Day fixture should prove popular on Tuesday, January 26.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After this, Warwick races will run on January 30; Bundaberg will kick off on February 6; Nanango will do likewise on Valentine\u2019s Day eve (February 13); and Eidsvold\u2019s Cup day is set down for February 20.<\/p>\n

Best wishes for the happiest, healthiest and luckiest of years!<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n