A Round-up of Christmas at the Races: Saturday 7 December.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR TOM BOURKE

“All he needed was a good barrier,” Rockhampton trainer Tom Bourke said when Rubunkar, who is currently listed online for sale, returned to form to win the Datamars Livestock  BM62 Handicap (1050m) at Callaghan Park.

Justin Huxtable was able to give Rubunkar a perfect steer from barrier three and took the inside run to the post to win in a photo finish over the hot pot Gold Academy (Warwick Satherley). It was a tight finish with just a short-head separating the first two horses home. “That was close, I needed it and it is Christmas,” Bourke said. Rubunkar may find a new home in the coming weeks after winning four races from 26 starts for his current ownership group including Bourke.

According to Bourke he has more wins in him yet. The 5YO by Winning Rupert started a ‘Christmas Cheer’ odds of $14.00. Gold Academy who had won its previous four starts for trainer Glenda Bell was the $2.10 favourite and third placed Cobbo (Raul Silvera Olivera) was $21.00.

Rubunkar was a $50,000 yearling purchase and with today’s winning’s his prizemoney is now over $70,000.

BIKER GETS THE BICKIES FOR RUNDLE

Raul Silvera Olivera rode a perfectly judged race to win the Total Rural Supplies Locally Owned Maiden Plate (1400m) on the Stephen Rundle trained Biker.

The son of Prince of Dubai won his first race at his 12^th start. Prior to today his best result was a third place at Callaghan Park in July. “That’s terrific, I’m stoked,” Rundle said. Julieann Lancaster’s Hadmytime looked to have the race in its keeping inside the last 200m but Biker produced a good late dash to score by almost a length. The race’s favourite Little Town Flash finished third.  Jim Rundle purchased Biker at the Magic Millions In 2YO’s Training Sale in 2022 for $8,000. Jockey Silvera Olivera has consistently posted wins in Rockhampton since he returned from Uruguay a few months ago.

MONDAY CHOICE A SATURDAY FAVOURITE

Owner and breeder Fred Noffke had a welcome change of luck with Monday Choice who finally made it to the winner’s circle after a run of minor placings. The Kris Hansen-trained 4YO was having its fifth start and jockey Tash Chambers shouldered the mare into the clear to score an overdue win. Monday Choice was bottled up on the rails in the small field with nowhere to go approaching the 200m and Chambers elected to find a way out. Monday Choice was the $1.75 favourite and won the Zoetis Declomax V for Proven Results Maiden (1100m)  by almost a length from Garnett Taylor’s Dream Step with more than two lengths back to Latin Love trained by Rob Stenhouse. Monday Choice went through the Magic Millions Sale and brought $20,000 at auction in 2022. Her record now stands at five race starts for a win and four places.

SUNDARA AND BUTLER BIG WINNERS

Accomplished jockey Ash Bulter was in top form on the Sileas Green trained Sundara to track down the popular runner The Hairdresser and beat it in the Waratah Fencing First – It Lasts BM 55 Handicap (1200m). Raced by the Coome and Green families Sundara was another to break a run of minor placings and post a win.  Justin Stanley rode the perfect race on the Clint Taylor-trained favourite, The Hairdresser but the galloper was overrun in the concluding stages when Sundara came with a late rush. The margin was more than a length. Julieann Lancaster’s Spirited Smile finished third. A 6YO by Outreach Sundara has had 19 starts for three wins. Connections were delighted to get another win after the mare ran consecutive third placings at its previous three starts.

STEWIE HAD A FEELING SCRUB WOULD GET OFF THE CHAIN

Owner Stewie Nobbs had an inkling Saturday was going to be Scrub Chain’s day. The Tom-Smith trained galloper took its record to 2 wins from 7 race starts, winning the Coopers Exzolt for Cattle Ticks and Flies QTIS 3YO handicap (1200m). “The horse had run here previously before going for a break and looked sharp in a jump out the other day,” Nobbs said. Ridden by Jackson Murphy, Scrub Chain had a bit to spare on his opponents at the finish, beating Clinton Taylor’s Underrated (Justin Stanley) by close to a length with Jamie McConachy’s $3.00 favourite Dubious Love (Raul Silvera Olivera) a luckless third. Dubious Love found itself in a pocket in the straight and by the time Silvera Olivera got it to the outside, the winner was off and gone. He was beaten by just over 2 lengths. The 3YO by Jungle Cat cost Nobbs $8,000 at the Magic Millions March Sales in 2023.

• David Aldred RJC CEO.