NYE Callaghan Park Racing Round-up.

STEPHEN’S CELEBRATES A WINNING DOUBLE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

Peter and Madonna Boodle celebrated a winning double at Callaghan Park with their trainer John Stephens confidently tipping their horses would win at the New Years Eve races.

The Boodle’s own Graysong who won the Happy New Year from RJC BM 60 Handicap (1300m) and they shared in the ownership of General Wolffe with the Stephens family. General Wolffe won the BM68 Handicap (1500m).

“I told everyone I’d train a winning double today,” Stephens said after General Wolffe’s win. “I’ve got the first one and I will collect the second later.” The second one was Graysong. Handicapped with 63.5kg the in-form son of I Am Invincible carried 60.5kg with a 3kg claim for apprentice rider Amy Graham. Slow away, Graysong moved to midfield before the home turn and Graham timed her run perfectly to score by almost a length from Sundara (Ash Butler) and Jungle Beat (Justin Stanley). General Wolffe was also afforded a gem of a ride. Patiently ridden in the box seat by top apprentice Tahlia Fenlon, General Wolffe turned around his recent form to get back into the winner’s list, beating the fast finisher Noble Heart (Chelsea Baker) and Well Held (Justin Stanley). Odds of $14 were bet when markets opened for the race but with the weight of money General Wolffe’s price tumbled into $2.80 at post time. The Wolf Cry 6YO gelding won by just under half a length. 

BLUE BLOOD FLOWS THROUGH GLADSTONE MARE’S VEINS

When your mother’s relatives include Redoute’s Choice, Hurricane Sky, Umatilla, Manhattan Rain and Gathering you would reckon you may have a fair chance of winning a race or two.

It took 4YO My Pepperjack 10 tries to do it. Finally, the penny dropped at Callaghan Park with the mare finishing 2024 with a victory beside her name. And, the punters didn’t miss the end of year celebration, plunging the bookmakers who wound in her odds-on track and sportsbooks from $5.50 to a $2.80 starting price.

Trained in Gladstone by Denis Schultz, My Pepperjack was ridden perfectly by Amy Graham to win the TAB Maiden Handicap (1600m) from the race favourite, Ain’t Nobody (Tasha Chambers) with Fine And Rare (Georgina Cartwright) in third place. Graham waited patiently before taking the last shot at the leaders in the long Callaghan Park straight and My Pepperjack (More Than Ready – Sianna Star (by Fiorente) lapped up the mile. “She’ll definitely run further,” Graham told Schultz. But don’t go looking for My Pepperjack in the form guides too soon as Schultz intends to give her a well-earned break. “She will go to the paddock now and I will give her a chance to bulk up, I know she will be a stronger mare next preparation,” he said.

TRACK TALE LOOKS READY TO BE TESTED IN BRISBANE

“She’s the fastest thing I’ve ever ridden.” A smiling apprentice jockey McKenzie Apel said to owner Liam Goody after 4YOTrack Tale gave her opposition a galloping lesson to win Rocky’s  Red Lion Hotel Open Handicap (1050m).

Controlling the race from the front, Apel gave Track Tale a bit of a squeeze passing the 200m pole and the Ricky Vale-trained Whittington mare sped away. Clocking fast sectionals, Track Tale, the $1.70 favourite, won by almost three lengths from Deep Blast (Justin Stanley) who was tardy from the barriers, with Media Empire (Amy Graham) in third place. Track Tale was first up from an 18 week break and took her win strike to 50% with 9 wins from 18 starts. Her prizemoney has edged close to $200,000 not bad for a $6,500 buy from Rockhampton’s 2022 Capricornia Yearling Sale. “I almost didn’t buy her,” Goody said. “I looked at her and I liked her, but I didn’t go to the sale. Ricky was there and I asked him did he like anything,  and he said he liked the filly. We then agreed if we could get her for less than ten grand, I’d buy her.”  Track Tale has been good from the get go, winning her first two starts. She’s got a future too and connections are now considering campaigning Track Tale in Brisbane. “I think she is ready,” Goody said.

PUNTERS RIGHT ON THE MONEY

The big hits kept coming for bookies with the punters emptying the satchels early.

Catmiss showed promise to win her first race with the victory following a couple of second placings including one in Rockhampton earlier this year and one in Townsville this month.

Posted in betting as a New Year’s Eve Special in the day’s opener, the QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap (1200m), the short-priced $1.70 favourite worked like a ‘Tradie’ in the midday sun for her 1.23 length victory at her sixth race start. The win summed up the year for premier trainer Clinton Taylor and premier jockey Justin Stanley who have had a sensational 2024 in Central Queensland. “She isn’t going to set the world on fire but now that she has won, she may win a couple,” Taylor said. “Will she get further?” the trainer asked Stanley. “If she can learn to settle better, she will,” Stanley replied. Catmiss defeated Offango (Ash Butler) with Zelezny (McKenzie Apel) in third place. By former top sprinter Calyx who was unbeaten at two years and brilliant at three in the UK, from Animal Kingdom mare Ethereal Miss. Calyx shuttled to Australia for just two seasons and sired his first winner in Australia on Getafix at Randwick, 11 months ago.

RIDERLESS LIPPY PAST THE POST FIRST

Gettin’ Lippy dumped rider Adam Spinks at the start and crossed the line first in the BM60 Handicap (1050m) but the race honours went to Sunshine Coast galloper Bold And Smooth.

The Garnet Taylor-trained 5YO mare was ridden by Georgina Cartwright, who reported getting a buffering during the race. Getting Lippy got into the pack during the race pestering the other horses before running to the lead to bother Bold And Smooth. Three generations of the Taylor clan were at the winners’ stall to get in the race photo. Bold And Smooth was favoured to win and beat the well supported Cummin Spinner (Jackson Murphy) with Sweet Fantasy (Tasha Chambers) in third place.

The win was the Bold Attraction mare’s third from 13 starts.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.

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