Racing AROUND Rocky with Tony McMahon.

The Clinton Taylor and Justin Stanley juggernaut looks set to blaze away again at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park races tomorrow (Tuesday). At Eagle Farm last Saturday, the successful trainer-jockey combination teamed for an outstanding win with juvenile Astapor. That all-the-way win under 60kg from the outsider barrier at the 1200m set tongues wagging particularly so with the resilience and determination Astapor displayed when challenged in the straight. “He is tough that’s for sure. It was quite a feat,” Taylor said confirming that Astapor had come through the race well. It also went a long way in proving the judgement of his Chinchilla owner Rodney Hay in turning down a one million dollars offer for Astapor after an earlier Brisbane win last preparation. Over the last three weeks Clinton Taylor has prepared seven winners while Stanley has booted home eight. In the process Clinton became the first Callaghan Park trainer to fend off visiting mentors and win $25K as the leading trainer over the RJC Rockhampton Cup-Newmarket two days of racing. Stanley, based in Brisbane, has posted eight winners since July 1. Taylor 39 and Stanley 43 have shared 112 wins together and hold invincible leads in the current RJC trainers and jockeys’ premierships which they have won previously.

At the seven race RJC TAB card that commences at 1.05pm Tuesday, the pair will combine with five horses while Taylor’s other starter Little Pinker (Race 2 -TAB 9) will be ridden by Georgina Cartwright. The duo has paired up with Just Bingo (R 1 -TAB 4); Run Away Renee (R2 -TAB 10); Barry’s Lane (R 6 – TAB 1) and Hellish (R 7 – TAB 4). When asked which he liked the most of the six runners, Clinton had no hesitation in instantly nominating Hellish. “He is new to the stable, but I like him.” At the Callaghan Park barrier trial sessions last Tuesday Hellish looked impressive under Stanley winning a heat over 900 metres. Hellish ran fast time 54.66. He seems exceptionally well placed in Tuesday’s $21K Class 1 (1200m) in which he is handicapped on 59.5kg. Hellish, a Flemington place getter was formerly trained in Melbourne by Danny O’Brien. That stable always had a high opinion of him given that in February 2023 he was taken up to Sydney to contest the $2M Millennium (1100m) in which he was beaten less than two lengths when sixth of 16 behind Learning To Fly. A subsequent Echuca Maiden (1300m) winner, Hellish looks to have a future in Rockhampton. Could be down the track Hellish, a 3YO gelded son of Hellbent may clash with the Nick Walsh trained Hell which is also a 3YO son of Hellbent. Bloody Hell, imagine them both fighting out a finish. 

In other news from the Clinton Taylor stable, it’s top performer Chinny Boom is in pre-training at Beaudesert awaiting transportation to her new trainers, the Melbourne combination of Peter Moody and Catherine Coleman. Under the Clinton Taylor banner, the daughter of Spirit of Boom won nine of her 17 starts and $691,800 in stakes. Two starts back on June 1, Chinny Boom was at her brilliant best winning the LR Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) under Justin Stanley. As for Taylor’s Rocky Newmarket winner Honky Tonk Dancer, she goes to Mackay this Friday for the $75K Newmarket (1300m) which has attracted 23 entries.    

Popular Toowoomba based jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley 29, who has a huge following in Rockhampton where he is best known for winning three Rockhampton Cups was dislodged at Grafton races yesterday (Sunday). In what looked to be an innocuous accident, Tilley seemed to be tossed from his mount Office Jim, the favourite for the $35K Maclean Cup (1400m) as soon as the start was affected. The-head on video shows him going over the head of Office Jim and falling to the ground. He lays motionless for a few seconds and then gets to his feet. Clarence River Jockey Club CEO Michael Beattie told me Tilley was subsequently taken to Grafton Hospital for observation. After speaking to his partner Alex Pattis on Monday at about 1pm, I learnt more. “We have literally just gotten home. He is in a fair bit of back pain and will see a back specialist this week,” Alex said. Let’s hope the injury is not serious for Les as he is one of Queensland’s busiest jockeys and a wag with it. Earlier on Sunday he won a race at Grafton on Wee Kahuna. Consider his agenda in recent weeks. Working back from Grafton on Sunday, he rode a winner in Toowoomba the night before, 20/7. On Friday, July 19 he did likewise at Ipswich. How about the days preceding the Rocky Carnival on Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13 where Les won two races. He rode at Ipswich 11/7; Eagle Farm 10/7; Kilcoy 9/7; Toowoomba trials 8/7; while on Saturday July 6 he rode at the Sunshine Coast during the afternoon before race riding at Toowoomba that evening. You have to commend such commitment and dedication. Speedy recovery Les Tilley. 

Brisbane’s Justin Huxtable 24, who rides at Rockhampton tomorrow (Tuesday) has also been putting in the hard yards.  His Callaghan Park rides are Juke Box Jimmy (R 1 – TAB 1); Fraser’s Ridge (R 2 – TAB 4); Mia Ciento (R 6-TAB 6); Noble Heart (R 7 – TAB 5).  Yesterday, Sunday July 21 Huxtable won a race at the Sunshine Coast. The previous day he rode two city seconds at Eagle Farm. On Friday, July 19 a double at Ipswich. That was after the previous day, Thursday, July 18, Huxtable rode a winner in Cairns. What about this, 24 hours earlier he rode 2013km away at Grafton on Wednesday, July 17. These “Travelling Wilburys” jockeys never cease to amaze me, but their fitness levels are incredible. They deserve all they get as far as I am concerned. 

Congratulations to Bryan and Lorraine Hall of Graceville Thoroughbreds, Morinsh with the news their resident stallion Perash produced his first winner Valentino Prince at Newcastle last week. Also, Perash’s close relative Sure won two from two with an easy win at Caulfield to cap it off. The couple’s homebred Ziggi Rocks has been running some fine races in Darwin as well. The Halls are passionate thoroughbred breeders and Perash should produce winners galore for them.

Happy Horses everyone and good luck at Callaghan Park races tomorrow (Tuesday) – Tony McMahon.