Callaghan Park Racing Preview: Tuesday 13 May.

CUP-WINNING COAST TRAINER RETURNS TO ROCKHAMPTON ON TUESDAY

Country Cup-winning trainer Krystle Johnston will return to Callaghan Park on Tuesday where she will pair up with jockey Gabrielle Semmens.

The 2kg claimer is booked to ride three of her team.

Sunshine Coast-based trainer, Johnston has her recent Country Cup winner Craiglea La Vie engaged in the Wade Hunt IT BM58 Handicap (1600m); Merlomann (BM55 – 1200m) and Villandry (Maiden Handicap -1100m). 2kg claimer Semmens has been booked to ride the trio.

Home-bred 5YO mare Craiglea La Vie has found a new lease on life this year.

The injury plagued galloper has found form winning at Gayndah in February, before a career best victory in the Magic Millions Country Cup (1600m) at Callaghan Park on 11 April. At the mare’s only subsequent run, she finished runner up in a BM55 (1400m) at Dalby. The bigger Rockhampton track and the suitable 1600m are bound to be right up Craiglea La Vie’s alley.

Craiglea La Vie, a grey is by Johnston’s stallion Citiwyse (by More Than Ready) from Ferocity (by Lion Hunter). The galloper strikes a good line up in this race. Matt Kropp’s Whatjeudoin’ is close to another win and the 1600m is right up his alley, mother daughter combo Maree Skillington and Nikki Olzard team with last start winner I Say Boom and Ricky Vale’s former Melbourne galloper Jupitus looks close to posting it’s first Queensland win after finishing second to Our Turn Now over 1560m in Mackay last start.

Toowoomba’s Uncle Bud also looks like a strong hope in this race for Stephen Kirkwood.

Maiden 3YO Villandry is an interesting runner for the Johnston stable. The former Victorian by Epaulette has been placed twice in good maiden company in Victoria at Bendigo and Ballarat and was placed in an official Sunshine Coast barrier trial but well beaten on a heavy track late in April. Merlomann’s races have been well spaced.

The 5YO gelding’s last win was in December at Chinchilla, His most recent runs have been at Thangool.

BRICKIE KIRKWOOD BACK AT CALLAGHAN PARK WITH A TRIO OF STARTERS

Toowoomba bricklayer and horse trainer Stephen Kirkwood is also back at Callaghan Park on Tuesday and will team with successful jockey Justin Huxtable to race three of his team. Kirkwood has been training in his second stint for the past decade and hopes to add another win or two to his Rockhampton record. With a stable of around 10 in work, Kirkwood leads a busy life as a sub-contractor running his bricklaying business on the Darling Downs. “My wife, Catherine, helps me around the stable a lot and I’d be lost without her,” Kirkwood said. A son-in-law of long-time Toowoomba trainer Ron Macrae, Kirkwood ventured to Rocky during last month’s Capricornia Yearling Sale weekend and collected a victory. His three starters on Tuesday will be Affinity Flyer, Alfa Dundee and Uncle Bud.

A son of Falvelon, Uncle Bud looks his best hope. He is from the family-owned mare Amber Rae and will line up in the Wade Hunt IT BM58 Handicap (1600m). He has managed to win three races in his career so far and was third to The Brill Building at his last start at Callaghan Park over 1200m.

Five-year-old mare Affinty Flyer could be close to another win. She ran second at Warwick, beaten by under a half-length in a BM62 (1200m) earlier this month.

Alfa Dundee is a well-bred four start Maiden by Dundeel from a blueblood Lohnro mare and at his most recent start he was fifth at Gatton on 19 January in the Lockyer Produce Maiden Hcp over 1600 metres.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

There’s been some descriptive and unusual names for horses over the years, but this one tops the list of being just plain harsh.

Yes I’m Ugly was certainly short-changed when names were handed out, but in a boost to his self-esteem he has demonstrated glimpses of ability in the galloping talent department.

The gelding will be one of a half dozen horses on the truck travelling from Toowoomba to Rockhampton on Tuesday for trainers Matt and Will Kropp.

Will is going to saddle the bay in the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1100m) with the stable’s apprentice jockey Kelsey Lenton to ride.

The young trainer said his galloper’s name was probably “a bit unfair.”

“He isn’t an ugly horse at all, just a tough looking horse really,” he said. “His owner had the name ‘I’m No Oil Painting’ picked out as his first choice and when he didn’t get that he went with Yes I’m Ugly.”

Yes I’m Ugly has managed to win a race and place a couple of times already.

His first and only win was last 4 October at Tara. On that occasion, Yes I’m Ugly was ridden by Brendon Newport and took out the $10,000 3YO+ Maiden, defeating Bronze Memory.

He has also been placed twice at Toowoomba this campaign.

Yes I’m Ugly will start from barrier three in the small six-horse field with race favourite, Power of Katie, a winner on The Archer Day, drawn at gate 1.

Mark Moore purchased the son of Jukebox – and Exceedingly Good mare, Speedy, at an online auction 12 months ago for $4,250.

FORMER RODEO RIDER KELSEY LENTON TO RIDE FIVE FOR THE KROPPS

Although she doesn’t come from a thoroughbred racing background, apprentice jockey Kelsey Lenton is making a good fist at the game.

The 3kg claiming rider was once a barrel racer and rodeo rider which took her around Australia and overseas to the United States. The strong influence from barrel racing and rodeo gives Lenton a massive competitive streak.

After starting a job as a stable hand at age 17 in North Queensland, she eventually became apprenticed to Townsville trainer Georgie Holt and began riding in 2022.

She also spent a brief period riding for Scone-based trainer Brett Cavanough in Western Queensland as well Jane Clement at Armidale in Northern NSW. Among her wins for Cavanough was a Betoota Cup aboard Fusaichi Family last year.

Lenton joined Kropp’s Toowoomba stable just before Christmas.

She has five rides for the Kropp’s on Tuesday seven race Callaghan Park card.

As well as Yes I’m Ugly, Lenton rides Sunshine Sally (3YO Maiden 1400m), Connewarre (BM65 1400m), Let’s Dance Jandy (BM55 Handicap 1200) and Whatjeudoin’ (BM58 1600m).

 By David Aldred

CEO – RJC