Rockhampton Racing Review: Friday 28th November, 2025

Jockey wins the first race twice on the same program

It might be a first.
The same jockey riding the winner of the first race twice on the same race program.
Warwick Satherley did exactly that at Callaghan Park, Rockhampton on Friday at the Rockhampton Jockey Club’s resumed race day, which commenced on Thursday.
Lightning strikes prevented six of the eight races planned for Thursday afternoon from being run, with Racing Queensland rescheduling races not held to new timeslots on Friday.
The third race on Thursday’s program became the first race on Friday.
On Thursday, dual licensee Satherley rode and trained the first race winner, Saraqael, the winner of the TAB QTIS 2YO Handicap (1050m), then about 22 hours later rode the Glenda Bell-trained Silver Hammer, the first race winner on the Friday card.
Ironically, Satherley won both races in tight photo finishes, and his success was both times at the expense of the favourites.
Saraqael won its race by half a head, relegating the Clinton Taylor-trained duo Old Gold and short-priced favourite Senzora to the minor placings
Silver Hammer got the slim result in the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Class 3 (1050m). The victory was Silver Hammer’s third from 15 starts. Patiently ridden by Satherley, the grey gelding by Inference, started at $7.00 and wore down front runner Kai Mondo ($2.70F – Nikki Olzard) to win by half a head. Show Me Mercy ($5.50 – Ash Butler) was just over a length away in third place.
The Rockhampton Jockey Club was grateful to Racing Queensland and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission for allowing the six races not held on Thursday to be run on Friday.
The Club worked closely with RQ, QRIC, trainers, jockeys, and their respective associations to ensure the races were not lost.
There was plenty of work going on behind the scenes to ensure the races could be run.

Jockey Satherley gets an early double

Jockey Warwick Satherley notched an early double, steering Doubting Eye home to a convincing win in the Racing Hearts Equine Assisted Therapy Open Handicap (1100m). The five-year-old gelding trained by Jason Morgan, started $3.50 and proved too strong the $1.70 favourite Track Tale (Ash Butler) beating Ricky Vale trained mare by almost two lengths with Captain Fox ($20.00 – Nikki Olzard) in third place. Doubting Eye a gelding by Not A Single Doubt has won 8 of 33 race starts.

Sunshine Coast gelding stays on to win

Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick did the right thing by keeping his horses in Rocky for the extra day.

His seven-year-old Nightstick was booked to be on the truck home last night but when the meeting was rescheduled Kendrick’s staff stayed over. In another close finish, Nightstick (Chris McIver-$2.90) took out The Industry School Class 5 Handicap (1400m) and beat the $1.70 favourite Our Turn Now (Ryan Wiggins by a half head, with Moktaffy ($9.00 – Gabby Semmens) fading to third. It was the Toronado-Pitch Black gelding’s first success in almost a year with his previous on Boxing Day 2024 over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast.

McIver gets a double with a winner for Jones

“He is as honest as the day is long and he never puts in a bad run, well not lately anyway,” trainer Alan Jones said after winning the TAB Ratings Band 0 – 55 Handicap (1300m).

Losing his spot, mid-race, Santorini Summer rallied late under riding from jockey Chris McIver to score a strong win. Nine-year-old galloper Santorini Summer ($3.10) had over half a length to spare over Boom Crusher ($5.10-Ryan Wiggins) with a similar margin to Humble Hero ($10.00 – Natalea Summers) who loomed up to win the race 100m from the finish. The Eurozone chestnut had a run of minor placings in Rockhampton and Mackay races before striking its success. The win was his seventh from 74 starts but he also has an impressive 24 minor placings on his form card. His previous win was also in Rockhampton, that was on a heavy track 15 months ago. Santorini Summer was originally raced by Kavanagh Racing and commenced its career in Victoria before making its way north at the end of 2020.

Snake delay before Vale’s flier builds on its good record

After a short delay to allow RJC staff to remove a snake from the SKY camera tower at the 800 metres, the Go Bloodstock Australia Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100m) was run and won.

Flying Animo was slow to load in the starting gates but was first out of them with jockey Ash Butler steering the gelding to the lead. The $2.00 favorite was never headed and staved off its challengers led by Miss Mercy and Nobel Intent. Flying Animo had over a length to spare on Miss Mercy ($4.60 – Ryan Wiggins) with Noble Intent ($10.00 – Maddie Mankelow) three lengths back in third place. The Flying Artie four-year-old, raced by Liam Goody, has now won two of its four race starts which have been well spaced.

Jay Bee Ell in a photo

Jockey Tasha Chambers teamed with trainer Mark Barnham to win the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing BM 55 Handicap (1600m).

It was a tight result with Chambers’ mount, 5YO gelding Jay Be Ell getting the final bob in right on the line to beat the John Wigginton-trained Southaven (Tom Orr) in a photo finish. Run Freda Run (Chris McIver) finished third. It was the second career win for Jay bee Ell, after its maiden victory at Callaghan Park in July. Jay Bee Ell is a son of Group 2 winning Sharmadal stallion Ghibellines and has raced 17 times. Southhaven ($11.00) looked set to score when he hit the front but those behind him were chasing hard. Jay Bee Ell put in a dive right on the line to just nose out Southaven, with Run Freda Run ($5.00 – Chris McIver) closing fast to finish under a half length from the winner. General Wolffe (Raul Silvera Olivera) also ran on well to take fourth place, 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner. The disappointing run was turned in by the Sunshine Coast trained Fitzroy Street who had lots of supports to start the race favourite at $2.60. He was beaten before the 200m and only beat one runner home.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.