{"id":152487,"date":"2016-07-22T16:44:27","date_gmt":"2016-07-22T06:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=152487"},"modified":"2020-10-09T13:23:43","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T03:23:43","slug":"english-makes-a-welcome-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/07\/22\/english-makes-a-welcome-return\/","title":{"rendered":"English Makes A Welcome Return"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An injured Hannah English had no reason to smile at Nanango last May; Alannah Badger was sitting beside her in the silks she would normally be wearing (Photo: Ros Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>July 22, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a two month, injury-induced absence, Hannah English is back in action at Gympie on Saturday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although a broken wrist incurred at Toowoomba on May 21 cost her a chance of securing an all-age Queensland country premiership title, the Nanango apprentice did marvellously well as a first-year rookie.<\/p>\n

Hannah has ridden 28 country winners so far this season, and currently shares second rung on the statewide country jockeys\u2019 ladder with Stephanie Lacy.<\/p>\n

The pair trail the runaway pacesetter Dan Ballard (43.5) while fellow junior Adam Spinks has also done well, with 26 notches to his credit.<\/p>\n

A neck-and-neck race for the honour of being the top 2015-16 Queensland country apprentice will ensue over the next two Saturdays prior to August 1.<\/p>\n

At Gympie, English rides Canid and Hidden Angel for her master Glenn Richardson and Te Kula Kaha for Hivesville\u2019s Peter Blackwell, while Spinks will be aboard Daunting Rose, Leaps And Bounds, Beaufort Gyre and Isis Spinner.<\/p>\n

Lacy\u2019s efforts at Lismore in New South Wales will not alter her score.<\/p>\n

When provincial successes are included, Hannah English has averaged a winner a week for the racing year.<\/p>\n

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Fingers are crossed that Eagle Farm will weather the current period of storm and stress as it gets its teething problems sorted (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Grass Is Not Greener … Yet<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The best tip for punters at the moment is that they should ignore the form emanating from Eagle Farm meetings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last Saturday saw the rating there downgraded from a soft 5 to heavy 9 in just over three hours with little rain.<\/p>\n

Even a very casual observer could not miss spotting the extra large divots being tossed up as the fields approached the home turn.<\/p>\n

Horses lose confidence when they strike variations in the nature of the galloping surface.<\/p>\n

It is, in a way, better if the course is consistently heavy throughout so that the runners get into a consistent type of footing. If a particular patch feels suddenly different, uncertainty develops and a safer, shorter stride can become an animal\u2019s preferred option.<\/p>\n

Next Wednesday the rail will be positioned 9 metres out.<\/p>\n

Some warmer and drier conditions have prevailed since the fixture there on July 6 drew 136 original nominations.<\/p>\n

Entries (not acceptances, as yet) for this coming Wednesday were down to 102, while 149 were lodged at the same stage for the Gold Coast\u2019s program last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

In short, the best case scenario for the newly laid circuit is that the current problems are initial teething troubles. And the worst scenario would be that key sections are longer term design and structural issues.<\/p>\n

Hopefully the weather gods have noted that Eagle Farm is scheduled to race on the first three Saturdays in August.<\/p>\n

It goes without saying that both the short and long term future of the venue will impact on city, provincial and country racing.<\/p>\n

This dilemma is elsewhere, too.<\/p>\n

In Victoria, Sandown and Ballarat have concerns while Randwick\u2019s Kensington course is to be utterly overhauled.<\/p>\n

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

Bits And Bridles<\/strong><\/h2>\n