Ric Mcintosh makes a winning call in Rocky to take out the 2YO Classic

An ambitious plan hatched more than twelve months ago by Victorian race caller Ric McIntosh came to fruition on Saturday when Kerzner stunned a big crowd at Callaghan Park to win the $168,000 TAB Capricornia Yearling Sales 2YO Classic (1200m).

McIntosh, trainer Liam Birchley, jockey Aiden Holt and Kerzner pulled off a mission impossible to win the race at odds of $201.00 – the longest priced feature race winner in Rockhampton’s long history.

It was only the second time around Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park for both Kerzner and Townsville-based jockey Aiden Holt, but the way the race unfolded you would have thought they had been doing it forever.

Kerzner, a rank outsider in the grand final for last year’s Sale graduates, drew barrier one, and Holt piloted him around mid-race trouble, having to change course just slightly, before overhauling the previously unbeaten race favourite Saraqael ($2.35) by ¾ of a length.

The unlucky Sweet Pretender (Olivia Kendal – $4.40), the runner up in the Pat O’Shea Stakes at Toowoomba at its only other start, was amazingly just over a length away in third place, after the filly’s jockey lost her irons at a vital stage nearing the finish of the race. Fancied locals Power Chic and Hi Frank appeared to cop the worst of the mid race interference with jockeys Justin Stanley and Ash Butler both having hard luck stories.

Bred by Warren McLaughlan, Kerzner was one of six horses bought at the 2024 Rockhampton Classic Yearling Sale by McIntosh to syndicate. Five of those horses ended up in Birchley’s stable and in a tremendous result he presented two of the yearlings in the 2YO Classic field, including the winner.

Ross Smith who stood with McIntosh in the Robert Schwarten Pavillion at the Sale last year was at Callaghan Park on Saturday to collect the trophy for the ownership group and he was surprised at the gelding’s odds.

“He showed promise in his gallops in Bendigo and Liam has done an excellent job with him in Queensland,” Smith said. “He performed a miracle, caring for him and getting him ready to race here just three weeks after the horse had surgery.”

Birchley selected Holt to ride the galloper who was only gelded a few weeks ago after its disappointing only start as a colt.

“He was cut the very next day, and he hasn’t looked back,” Birchley said.

Since arriving at Callaghan Park from the Sunshine Coast Kerzner has been trained on the RJC’s treadmill. “It’s been a combination of everything, he had trained well at Bendigo before Ric sent him up to me, but didn’t have his mind on the job as a colt, the treadmill certainly has helped his fitness, and what a great ride by Aiden,” Birchley said.

Holt, the husband of trainer Georgie Holt who saddled two unplaced runners in the race said he is pleased to deliver a result for the family.

“My wife has been shopping at the Capricornia Sale for some time without getting the winner, so I’m glad I have been able to do that,” the talented jockey said.

Holt who was once indentured to Birchley at the end of his apprenticeship, revealed it only the second time he has ridden in a race a Callaghan Park. The top northern rider now boasts impressive local statistics.

“The inside barrier helped, and I was lucky to navigate through the middle of the race and the horse did the rest,” Holt said.

Kerzner is by Sun City from Halle McOllywill, a Mossman mare McLaughlan purchased in 2009. McIntosh paid $18,000 for Kerzner, 12 months ago.

The 2YO Classic favourite Saraqael, the top local hope, stuck on well and looked very likely to win in the home straight. In the end it was probably only the wide barrier and the extra work he had to do early that beat him.

Rubber Bullets, having its first race start broke down mid-race and disorganised some of the field. Jai Williams was dislodged and Rubber Bullets failed to finish the race.

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR TRACK TALE IN CAPRICORNIA CLASSIC

The Ricky Vale-trained Track Tale has started in the Capricornia Classic three times since graduating from the Rockhampton Sale and this year the mare finally cracked it for a win.

She was runner up in the 2YO Classic two years ago and again in the 3YO Classic last year, but on Saturday in the $118,000 CUB Capricornia Yearling Sale 3 & 4YO Classic (1300m) at Callaghan Park she powered home strongly to make the race her own. Ridden perfectly by apprentice rider McKenzie Apel Track Tale started the $4.00 favourite and had over a length and a half to spare over the runner-up Rocky Rioch (Adam Sewell) with Rocky Reward (Justin Stanley) in third place. Sunnycoast set a good pace which played into Apel’s hands and Track Tale chimed in with a big finishing burst inside the final 200m. “That is my biggest ever race win,” Apel who has only been riding for 18 months beamed.

Vale had given Track Tale all of its lead up runs for the Classic in tougher fields in Brisbane and the mare performed well at Eagle Farm and Doomben, without winning.

The 3&4YO Classic was the ever-consistent Track Tale’s 10^th from 22 starts. Track Tale (Whittington -Tracktorque) was an $8,000 purchase by owner Liam Goody at the 2022 Capricornia Yearling Sales.

Goody’s Rocky Mini Loads is a major annual sponsor at Callaghan Park and his business is a contributor to the success of the Capricornia Yearling Sales.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.