Rockhampton Carnival Review Day One: Thursday 9th July, 2026

Townsville star sprinter wins the One Syndications Newmarket

In a marvelous training triumph Townsville trainer, Les Gordy prepared Demon Award to win the $100,000 One Syndications Newmarket Handicap (1300m) and jockey Brandon Lerena scored his biggest race win since moving to Australia on Thursday.

Demon Award won his third race in a row but there has been 65 days between his last win and his Newmarket success.

Now the trainer has his sights set on the Northern Crowns Bonus which Demon Award can collect $250,000 if he wins the next two races Gordy has planned for him.

“I won’t be going to Mackay for the Newmarket, I will be taking him back home for the Cleveland Bay and if he can win that, I will take him to Cairns for the Newmarket there,” Gordy said.

Gordy thinks Demon Award is the horse to do it too.

“I have been being careful not to get to much weight on him, with the other sprints in mind,” Gordy said.

At odds of $8.00 Demon Award won the Newmarket in a blanket finish by a neck from the fast-finishing Red Hot Lizzie (Chris McIver $101) with the game Ouroboros (Boris Thorton – $2.45) about a neck away in third place. In a tight finish three lengths covered the first 10 runners home.

Gordy and Demon Award have got results the hard way.

“We haven’t had a training track in Townsville since March, and I have been giving this horse all of his work on the beach,” Gordy said

“He is a freak, an absolute freak!”

No stranger at winning at Carnival time in Rockhampton, Demon Award won last year’s Tatt’s Sprint for Darryl Hnsen before joining Gordy’s stable and he came back to Rocky in May to win the Fitzroy Handicap at the CQ Amateur meeting.

Well-travelled jockey Brandon Lerena has been making a good fist of riding in the Sunshine State since moving here two years ago. The multiple Group 1-winning South African spent five years riding in Sydney, before heading north. This season he has ridden close to 100 winners. “This is my most important win since I have moved here, I am really happy,” Lerena said.

Neverenoughlego continues to build impressive record

Trainer Garnett Taylor got stuck with a horse that he thought he was buying for a client, and after the galloper won its fourth race in a row he is happy he did.

The Sunshine Coast trainer has saddled Neverenoughlego for each of its wins, three in Rockhampton and one in Mackay. Neverenoughlogo won the $30,000 Rocky Mini Loads Ken Russell Memorial 3YO Maiden (1200m).

In a powerhouse display Neverrenoughlego (Leah Martyn – $2.60) scored by more than two lengths from Bonewood (Nikki Olzard – $7.00) with Triple Spirit (Georgie Cartwright – $26.00) three lengths away in third place. “I had a client to take this horse but he backed out and left him to me, I’m glad he did now,” Taylor said. Jockey, Martyn said Neverenoughlego continues to improve. “He just keeps getting better, he was green to start with, but he just seems to know what he is doing now,” she said. The RJC holds the Ken Russell Memorial in honour of the late great jockey, from Monto,  who began his career in Rockhampton before riding his way to the top. The multiple Group 1 winner died in a race fall at Rosehill in 1993.

Tass and Blonde both feature race winners

Tales of Tass trained by Clinton Taylor and Black Eyed Blonde trained by Kristie Clark-Peoples both won feature races at the first day of the Rocky Carnival.

Tales of Tass won the $32,000 Chas Jones Memorial 2YO Maiden (1200m) in easy fashion, while Black Eyed Blonde scored stylishly in the $50,000 TAB Belle of Capricornia (1400m).

“Boy she rides well,” Taylor said referring to Nikki Olzard, his stable apprentice. Olzard steered the $1.85 favourite to win the 2YO race by almost four lengths.

Bold Envoy (Les Tilley) and Balkan Melody (Jason Taylor) filled the minor placings.

Ashley Butler gave Black Eyed Blonde a perfect ride to win the $50,000 Fillies and Mares feature from Trapedo (Georgie Cartwright) and Spirit of Nurai (Brandon Lerena).

Other race winners were: Icy Miss for Matt Hoysted and Boris Thornton in the Maiden (1050m); Skilful Artist for Alan Jones and Warwick Satherley) in the 0-58 Handicap (1600m); Humble Hero for Darryl Johnston and Natalea Summers in the 0-58 (1300m); and King’s Duty with a last to first victory for Kerrod Smyth and Warwick Satherley in the BM65 (1100m).

Taylor leads Trainer Bonuses for Carnival time

Clinton Taylor is the leader in the race to win up to $25,000 in the RJC Trainers Bonus during the Club’s two-day Carnival. Taylor, who won the $25,000 Bonus two years ago is the front runner after day one with 8 pts.

Kristie Clark-Peoples is in second place on 6 points, with Ricky Vale and Matt Hoysted on 4 points.

Trainers have the chance to pocket up to $25,000 in bonuses during this week’s Cup Carnival. Points will be awarded on a 3-2-1 system for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd placegetters over the two race days during carnival. The trainer with the most points for the Newmarket and Cup Days will win $20,000 cash (if more than one trainer finishes with equal points, the prize will be equally divided). An addition $5,000 cash bonus will be paid to the leading local trainer.

• David Aldred (CEO – RJC)