{"id":233745,"date":"2019-04-24T17:40:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T07:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=233745"},"modified":"2020-07-21T12:58:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T02:58:14","slug":"bunny-pulls-rabbit-from-hat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/04\/24\/bunny-pulls-rabbit-from-hat\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Bunny’ Pulls Rabbit From Hat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hannah English, in the omen silks, and Brian “Bunny” Laherty in pre-race talks at Nanango last Saturday (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>April 24, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brian Laherty conjured up an impressive victory on Saturday that delighted both serious and omen punters at Nanango’s Lee Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Machu Picchu ($2.10), the daughter of Manu Peru he races with his son Darren, won comfortably in the McDonalds Kingaroy BM 65 Handicap (1200m).<\/p>\n

The effort of the Nanango trainer, with the longstanding nickname of \u201cBunny\u201d, was aided by a finely tuned front-running ride by Hannah English.<\/p>\n

Bookmakers no doubt rue taking risks with the six-year-old.<\/p>\n

The form guide showed that the bay\u2019s only run since a last placing at Caloundra on Boxing Day had yielded a “fourth of eight” result at Gympie on April 6.<\/p>\n

However, further back in despatches, Machu Picchu had performed very honourably from a wide gate at Doomben in a winter carnival standard $75,000 Class 6 at set-weights in June.<\/p>\n

Machu Picchu ($201, Hannah English) was beaten less than four lengths amid much stronger than rural opposition.<\/p>\n

Furthermore there were a number of creditable displays along the way in provincial grade.<\/p>\n

Several of the casual punting fraternity backed Machu Picchu simply because her silks were adorned with a distinctive black rabbit.<\/p>\n

Those betting moves left bookies with even more egg on their faces.<\/p>\n

English knows Machu Picchu very well – they are regular trackwork partners and have joined forces in 17 races.<\/p>\n

The team is backing up in the Kingaroy RSL BM 65 Handicap (850m) on Anzac Day at Wondai over a decidedly shorter trip with a two kilogram penalty.<\/p>\n

After that outing, Machun Picchu will have registered four of the five required non-TAB starts to be eligible to compete in a 2019 Battle Of The Bush Qualifier.<\/p>\n

* * * <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Up and coming apprentice Brooke Mackie, on Cyclone Kaycee, enjoyed chalking up her ninth career victory (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gatton Is A Goal For Brooke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although rookie jockeys are likely to express a range of career ambitions during their formative days, the likes of Toowoomba junior Brooke Mackie have understandably individualised targets.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brooke scored for her master Tony Sears on Cyclone Kaycee in the Pursers Buses QTIS Maiden Plate at Nanango on Easter Saturday.<\/p>\n

The 17 year-old is looking forward to landing her first victory at Gatton, the provincial course where her grandfather Jeff Sharman is a clerk of the course.<\/p>\n

It will be especially significant because he and his wife Shaune have been the staunchest of supporters in Brooke\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Mackie\u2019s immediate task is to work towards the next level on the licensing ladder.<\/p>\n

The thrill of having Jeff escort her to the winner\u2019s circle at the Lockyer Valley course will be palpable.<\/p>\n

Sharman worked for the Doug Bougoure stable in Brisbane during the era of the grand galloper Strawberry Road.<\/p>\n

The family\u2019s prime equine background lies in the campdrafting world.<\/p>\n

Brooke reckons she was on the back of a horse when she was one year old and had a desire to be jockey probably before she began attending primary school.<\/p>\n

* * * <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Hannah English and Clouds at the gate after their 2018 Wondai Cup triumph (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Will Clouds Have Silver Linings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Thursday\u2019s Wondai Diggers\u2019 Club Cup BM 55 Handicap (1465m), the finale for the South Burnett Race Club\u2019s major day, will be extremely fascinating.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clouds, the reigning Wondai Cup titleholder, was handicapped to carry a crushing impost of 68.5 kilograms.<\/p>\n

That weight – 10.11 in the old money – is what Bernborough humped successfully in the 1946 Doomben Cup.<\/p>\n

That incredible achievement came a week after the star, with 66 kilograms (10.5) had brilliantly won the \u00a310,000 T.M. Ahern Memorial, the rich sprint that was effectively the inaugural Doomben 10,000.<\/p>\n

Trainer Lindsay Anderson, by engaging Toowoomba claiming apprentice Joshua Morrow, has provided the grey with a four kilogram relief.<\/p>\n

Morrow has netted five third placings from his 20 opportunities to date.<\/p>\n

Success here would be like finding gold for the beginner who has travelled to far flung venues such as Charleville and Thangool in search of his initial triumph.<\/p>\n

Clouds, which has a 4:3-1-0 history over the distance at Wondai, has already scored toting 66 kilograms.<\/p>\n

The occasion was at Bundaberg last November with Jason Hoopert aboard in a Benchmark 60 affair over 1380 metres.<\/p>\n

Morrow\u2019s other task is to use his allowance to land the money in the Deb Frecklington MP QTIS BM 60 (1100m) with Canid.<\/p>\n

The Benchmark template allocation for the bay is 63 kilograms but the reduction of four kilograms will be very handy.<\/p>\n

A collection of reasons, including a shortage of jockeys that accommodated the required handicaps, led to trainer Glenn Richardson abandoning his Easter mission to Gladstone with Bel Seleva, Canid, The Amateur and Senko Sidra.<\/p>\n

In addition to Clouds, Canid and Machu Picchu, there is a wealth of local interest with South Burnett trainers Scott Pedron, Kym Afford, Kaylene Hamilton, Kaye Hill, Tom Moloney, Kristen Wenck and Jason Livingstone all set to saddle up runners.<\/p>\n

Gympie trainer Cherie Vick is aiming at a double challenge with Lil Ruby Red.<\/p>\n

Longhorn\u2019s daughter has a one-from-one record at the track and was a minor placegetter over the metric half mile at Lee Park on Saturday.<\/p>\n

At present, with Robert Faehr as pilot, the predominantly black mare is slotted to take on Machu Picchu at 2:00pm and back up against Canid at 3:55pm.<\/p>\n

If the rollup at Nanango on Saturday is any guide, Wondai is in for a very bouyant day.<\/p>\n

The morning\u2019s Anzac Day service and the afternoon at the races make for an ideal commemoration.<\/p>\n

See you at the track!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n