{"id":197595,"date":"2017-12-11T14:25:33","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T04:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=197595"},"modified":"2020-08-10T12:05:44","modified_gmt":"2020-08-10T02:05:44","slug":"the-great-escapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/12\/11\/the-great-escapes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Escapes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Nanango Race Club life members Graham Knight and Reg McCallum enjoy a break from their duties at Lee Park’s Christmas Race Meeting (Photo : Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>December 11, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanango Race Club\u2019s Christmas meeting on December 3 turned up a series of close shaves and some remarkably good luck.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The good luck was that patrons were rewarded with a fine day out. Dire weather predictions had forecast heavy rainfall, but it failed to appear until well after the meeting finished.<\/p>\n

And the close shaves were three jockeys avoiding injury in separate incidents.<\/p>\n

In the opener, Gary Geran scrambled to safety when Anexpense misbehaved in the gates. The Oakey galloper was a late scratching.<\/p>\n

Soon after the start, Beau Appo was harmlessly dislodged from Tailgating when the All Bar One gelding swerved suddenly.<\/p>\n

The runaway was a cause for concern as he approached the tie-up stalls at great speed, but fortunately he was quickly recaptured before any damage was done.<\/p>\n

Appo had a luckless afternoon – none of his mounts gained a place, and Mon Clinton went on strike and simply failed to leave the barrier in the Heritage Bank Ratings 0-55 Handicap.<\/p>\n

Geran fared better, scoring comfortably on Anexpense\u2019s stablemate Squeemi with a tidy front running display in the Wild Horse-FM Yarraman BM 65 Handicap.<\/p>\n

The most worrying scrape, though, was felt by jockey Leeanne McCoy prior to the Band 0-55 event.<\/p>\n

Lucks In reared in the parade twice and, each time, almost landed back on top of the Downs rider.<\/p>\n

The Bradbury\u2019s Luck gelding was promptly withdrawn.<\/p>\n

By the way, folk who appreciate high quality horsemanship should chase down the online video clips that show the skilfulness of young Irish jockey Jack Kennedy.<\/p>\n

Somehow he recently managed to get back in the saddle after Robin Des Mana made a mistake at the fourth jump in a steeple at Clonmel. The pair went on to record an astonishing win.<\/p>\n

Kennedy had made a similar recovery on Bilko at Thurles in January but, on that occasion, victory was not the reward.<\/p>\n

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

From End To Beginning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There was a touch of irony surrounding the Soft 6 rating for the Nanango track at the club’s Christmas race meeting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is rare for the course to get an assessment in the damp range, so it was appropriate that Kay Nicholson – a former Nanango Shire Council water truck driver – owned Past Dark, the winner of the Nanango RSL-Pedersen Memorial QTIS Maiden (1000m).<\/p>\n

Glenn Richardson, who was Nicholson\u2019s Road Maintenance Supervisor at the time, prepared the four-year-old for her exciting breakthrough on debut.<\/p>\n

The Arlington mare did remarkably well, battling on defiantly for Taylor Williams even though a wide draw had forced her to cover ground.<\/p>\n

In the past, several retired horses that were part of Richardson\u2019s racing string have been given a second life by Nicholson, a Quarter Horse breeder at Kilkivan.<\/p>\n

For example, Manner Lassie acts as a nurse maid to her youngsters while Jill\u2019s Shadow is destined to take on barrel racing in the National Barrel Horse district that radiates out from Gunalda.<\/p>\n

Past Dark reverses that trend because she was bought to race as an unraced, broken-in commodity at age three.<\/p>\n

“She is more thick set when compared with the usual thoroughbred and looks more like a Quarter Horse,” said Nicholson, whose horses also share the property with Blonde D\u2019Aquitaine cattle.<\/p>\n

Kay has versatile, equine interests with campdrafting and clerk of the course work at Roma early this century among her other involvements.<\/p>\n

Past Dark\u2019s form was franked post-race.<\/p>\n

Last Friday, Showus Ya Diamonds bolted in with a Doomben Maiden, after finishing just two and a half lengths ahead of Dark Past\u2019s daughter in a Deagon trial on November 21.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Hannah English was well pleased after winning the John Dundas Automotive BM 50 at Nanango on Marlahn (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hannah English made it six successes at Lee Park for the half-season when she booted Marlahn home for Warwick trainer Garry Schwenke in the Dundas Automotive BM 50 (1600m).<\/strong><\/p>\n

That effort constitutes a two per meeting average.<\/p>\n

It is handy to have the runs on the board, as England found out in the Adelaide Test against Australia.<\/p>\n

The Nanango apprentice was in the thick of it in city class contests last week. She was beaten a nose at Ipswich on Match Day, and by the same margin on Noor Dropper at Doomben on Friday.<\/p>\n

It was a buzz and an experience for Hannah when she rode at Doomben on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Although she was unplaced on Steel Zip, Origin Jockey Challenge participants such as Jamie Kah, Clare Lindop, Michael Rodd, Dwayne Dunn and Craig Newitt donned silk on the day.<\/p>\n

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

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