Rockhampton Jockey Club’s Racing Year in Review Part Two: Nov 2023 to Jan 2024.

We hope you enjoyed the first edition of the ‘RJC’s Racing Year in Review’ and now present Part Two: A snapshot of November 2023, through to January 2024, thanks to the RJC CEO David Aldred.

Part Three (Feb’24 to Apr’24) will be published on Monday 19 August.

November 2023

Berserker trainer Clinton Taylor trained the $35,000 TAB Breeders Plate double with his two-year-olds Valorous Performer and Astapor winning both the filly and colts divisions over the 1050m at Callaghan Park. Astapor made it three wins from three races at his next start at Doomben with Justin Stanley guiding him to a clear-cut victory in a 2YO Handicap (1110m).

December 2023

The festive season kicked off with Callaghan Park trainer Jared Wehlow and jockey Ash Butler taking the race day honors at the RJC Christmas Family Day race day with a winning double. Wehlow runners Rideau and Pepperdine went back-to-back in the last two races.

January 2024

The New Year saw Rockhampton’s dual Cup winner Master Jamie head to the Darling Downs. Boosting Rocky’s success story in the South, the Graeme Green trained Master Jamie finished a terrific third place in the 2024 King of the Mountain slot race at Toowoomba’s Clifford Park. It was a triumph for Green and Master Jamie with the galloper becoming the first full-time locally trained horse to win more than $1 million in prizemoney.

Two Rocky graduates kicked off the New Year at Eagle Farm with a five-star performance. Callaghan Park apprentice Tahlia Fenlon teamed with Capricornia Yearling Sale nominee Exotique Miss to win the Happy New Year Benchmark 65 Handicap (1500m) at Brisbane’s racing headquarters by a massive 10.1 lengths.

Trained by Michael Nolan Exotique Miss went through the Rocky sale ring in 2021 but failed to reach its reserve price.

Rockhampton racehorse Syndicators One Syndications made a faultless start to their new venture when 3YO filly Shadowen won at the Sunshine Coast. Trainer Nick Walsh and One Syndication pulled off a successful betting plunge with Shadowen scoring an impressive victory.