Racing Wrap Up from Callaghan Park: Thursday 30th January

FILLY SMASHES TRACK RECORD FOR 1100M AT CALLAGHAN PARK

Promising filly Better Than Words smashed a track record established nine years ago with a last to first triumph in Thursday’s QTIS 3YO Handicap (1100m) at Callaghan Park.

Ridden patiently by Olivia Kendal, Better Than Words let it all unfold in front of her early, then when produced to make a run, she rounded up her opposition quickly. The John Wigginton trained daughter of Better Than Ready scored by more than 3 lengths from stablemate Power Of Katie (Warwick Satherley) with Ask Me Mate (Ash Butler) close up in third place. Better Than Words who only has raced seven times clocked 61.89s for the sprint, eclipsing the previous best for the distance by more than a second (6 lengths), which was set by Legal Procedure on a Good 4 track in 2016.

Better Than Words was having its first start since September when she raced at Yeppoon. The filly won her Maiden race there. Raced by a group of locals including former jockey and trainer Vic Vagg, Better Than Words is from the unraced mare Spread the Word who is out of the multiple Group winner Only Words, and from the same family as Vandalised, the Jamie McConachy-trained winner of the 2014 Rockhampton Cup.

SIX IN A ROW FOR HELLISH

Just how good is Hellish is a huge question, but one thing is certain, he knows how to win. The Clinton Taylor trained four-year-old posted its sixth consecutive win at Callaghan Park on Thursday, with an off the canvas victory in the Open Handicap (1100m). Placed perfectly by Taylor since joining his stable last July Hellish has cruised through the grades. He had to fight for his latest win when joined by Just Super for a battle to the post. Justin Stanley kept enough in reserve to allow Hellish to deny Just Super (McKenzie Apel) by a neck. Hellish an online purchase by Taylor for a group of locals and the Hellbent gelding resumed for its first ever first up win. His 62.4s time was good as he clocked 32.70 for the last 600m. Having its 18^th start and its first since October, Hellish will benefit greatly by the run and ideally is better suited over distances longer than 1100m. Taylor will now pick the galloper’s races carefully and a Brisbane run could be on the cards in the near future.

ACROPHOBIC POSTS WEEK TO WEEK WINS

Acrophobic scored back-to-back, week to week, wins on Thursday, when pitted against just two opponents in the Class 6 Plate (1500m).

The victory earned the 7YO gelding a few weeks off. Trained by Jamie McConachy and ridden by Sean Cormack, Acrophobic proved superior to the Mackay trained Brasco (Adam Sewell) with General Wolffe (Tahlia Fenlon) in third place. The Dissident gelding has now won seven races. Ï think that earns him a break now,” McConachy said. Acrophoic was a short-priced $1.30 race favourite.

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL POPULAR WITH PUNTERS

Boyfriend Material scored his second Rockhampton win in three weeks taking out Thursday’s 0-55 Handicap (1400m).

Graduating from its Maiden Handicap win on 9 January, Boyfriend Material went toe to toe with well backed Acedrod to beat him in a tight finish. Ridden perfectly by Ash Butler, the Nick Walsh trained 4YO clocked a swift 1.21.77 for the distance.

Jackson Murphy rode the runner up with Seam Cormack on third placed Phantom Flight. Boyfriend Material a son of Toronado and the well-bred Spinning World mare The Girlfriend  was bought online last September for $5,500.

WELL BRED DREAM STEP BREAKS MAIDEN

Dream Step did it the hard way but showed what he was made of to win the Maiden Plate (1100m) at Callaghan Park.

A half-brother to 2015 Rockhampton Cup winner Victory Hotel, Dream Step has only raced three times. The four-year-old by Sidestep from the Clang mare Satin Dream, looks to have plenty of upside and is certain to be astutely placed by Sunshine Coast trainer Garnet Taylor. Raced by Mr. and Mrs. Brian Durrington, Dream Step, ridden by Georgina Cartwright was posted deep, but looked to have a little on its rivals. The favourite safely held Super Talon (Justin Stanley) and Sideshow Frankie. Victory Hotel (Hotel Grand – Satin Dream), who was also raced by the Durrington’s won 10 races from 22 starts.

SARAQAEL PUNISHES ITS RIVALS

Named after an archangel and messenger of God, Saraqael was untouchable on debut winning the TAB QTIS 2YO Handicap (1100m) in flying style.

Chased by the odds on favourite Honourbefore Glory, trainer/jockey Warwick Satherley simply shifted up gears and Saraqael did the rest. From the inside alley Saraqael was taken straight to the front and Satherley literally just improved his position. When the heat was on, the further the small field of four went the further Saraqael got ahead. Justin Stanley pulled Honourbefore Glory out to make his claim behind the leaders when the field straightened, but he was left flat-footed as Saraqael speared away to win by two lengths. Honourbefore Glory finished second ahead of Our Eagle Rock (Nikki Olzard)

An $8,000 buy at the Capricornia Yearling Sales last year, the son of Flying Artie and Beauty is raced by Janna Anderson and Satherley’s sister Susan. Connections now plan to give Saraqael, whose heavenly namesake’s work is that of a guardian enforcer,  a brief let up before getting him ready for the $150,000 + bonuses Capricornia Yearling Sale 2YO Classic at Callaghan Park in April. He just might be a force to reckon with in the big race too, with natural improvement and maturity.

ALLOUTATIME EXTENDS HER PICKET FENCE AND SILEAS GREEN GETS A DOUBLE

Unbeaten from four starts in Rockhampton, Alloutatime has connections excited about where they go to next.

A possible race at Eagle Farm in the near future is on the cards for the Sileas Green trained mare after she posted her third consecutive Callaghan Park win in the QTIS Class 3 Handicap (1100m). Running a quick time, Alloutatime was beautifully ridden by apprentice Nikki Olzard who won her second provincial race, with both wins on Alloutatime. Bred and part-owned by Gladstone Race Club’s Sharon Thomsen, Alloutatime has now won four of 8 races with each of her victories on the spacious Callaghan Park track. Eased down by Olzard, Alloutatime bolted in beating Sunshine Coast-trained Victory’s Ghost (Georgina Cartwright), a half-brother to earlier Dream Step, by 3.75 lengths. Diddly Squat (Justin Stanley ran third.

Sileas Green brought up a training double and Sean Cormack a riding double when longshot Srini broke a long run of outs to win the BM65 Handicap (1300m).

Srini was presented looking in perfect order, with a dappled coat, in the pre-race parade and ran accordingly giving the bookies some relief at odds of $25. Srini came down the centre of the track to defeat the favourite Divine Purpose (Justin Stanley) who ran into traffic taking inside runs in the straight after being well back early on. Divine Purpose who is back with Clint Taylor after a stint in Melbourne did well to go down by ¾ length. Sir Grace (Warwick Satherley) finished third.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.