{"id":172890,"date":"2017-03-17T18:44:13","date_gmt":"2017-03-17T08:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=172890"},"modified":"2020-09-20T17:12:04","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T07:12:04","slug":"anxiety-joy-and-relief-at-esk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/03\/17\/anxiety-joy-and-relief-at-esk\/","title":{"rendered":"Anxiety, Joy And Relief At Esk"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
How it looked last Saturday: the riderless Striking Warrior, having sharply braked and turned right, races its rivals to the finishing post at Esk (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>March 17, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the Chateau Istana gelding began bucking just after barrier rise.<\/p>\n

The six times placed six-year-old struck and straddled the inside rail, before galloping riderless at speed across the infield golf course in the direction of the 200 metre pole.<\/p>\n

The fear was that Cossack Warrior\u2019s grandson would arrive there about the same time as the remaining five runners.<\/p>\n

But the prospect of the runaway jumping the rail and colliding with horses was averted when he decided to turn a full ninety degrees at the last second and come down the inside as if still in the race.<\/p>\n

Striking Warrior managed to avoid all the obstacles but did incur lacerations to the left foreleg and fetlock.<\/p>\n

English, who has partnered the horse in track work, was cleared by paramedics and finished her engagements.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Trainer Pat Duff and his temporary apprentice Emma Bell enjoy their Esk success with Lord Darius (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The passing of the potential danger was soon replaced by excitement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The race winner was the Pat Duff trained Lord Darius, a Duke of Marmalade four-year old with 16 unplaced efforts on his resume.<\/p>\n

It was the first career ride for Duff\u2019s temporary apprentice Emma Bell, a 28 year-old from Clermont who previously served as a Workplace Health and Safety Advisory Officer for several Central Queensland mines.<\/p>\n

Bell, who is indentured to her mother Jenny, had childhood ambitions to don silk, but her family\u2019s fears about the job\u2019s inherent dangers steered her towards safer ground.<\/p>\n

Emma was certainly bred for thoroughbred involvements.<\/p>\n

Her father Bill, grandmother Iris and aunts Julie and Glenda have all been jockeys, trainers or both.<\/p>\n

Emma joined Duff\u2019s stables so she could complete the mandatory 20 trials required for a ticket to ride.<\/p>\n

Duff\u2019s willingness to continue helping the rookies is a bonus for the industry.<\/p>\n

The veteran Deagon mentor, who supervised beginners such as Jim Byrne, Mick Pelling and, for a while, Mick Dittman, has been a quiet but masterful stalwart for the sport on several different levels.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Long-time jockey Debbie McMaster had good reason to be happy at Esk (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Debbie McMaster\u2019s enthusiasm for the thoroughbred game was emphasised by the continuous smiles she showed after saluting on the $16 rank outsider So Choosy in the Des Moore Memorial Class B (1200m).<\/strong><\/p>\n

McMaster gained an inside passage soon after swinging for home, and So Choosy dug deep in the run to the wire.<\/p>\n

The mare was bought by her Warwick trainer Michael Hemmings and his wife Naomi for stud purposes as her sire is Redoute\u2019s Choice.<\/p>\n

Her grand-dam So Keen (NZ) won the 1994 Group Two AJC Surround Stakes and three other black type events and she, in turn, produced the stakeswinning pair Cosmic Cube and Keeninsky.<\/p>\n

Although Debbie is based at Murphy\u2019s Creek near Tooowoomba, she enjoys the supportive task of regularly travelling to distant parts.<\/p>\n

Earlier this season, she stepped up to the mark at the likes of Blackall, Longreach, Jundah, Cunnamulla, Goondiwindi, Isisford and Mount Isa.<\/p>\n

The veteran hoop, who has a strong New Zealand racing heritage, is no stranger to the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

She landed a Nanango Cup on Fra Omega about two decades ago.<\/p>\n

Her mother Robynne Aitken was a member of the pioneering squad that completed in ladies-only contests around the country courses in the 1970s before equal opportunity was finally phased in.<\/p>\n

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

Best wishes to the South Burnett players who are rolling the dice this weekend – hopefully, there will be some profitable news to report next weekend!<\/p>\n