Rockhampton Racing Preview: Thursday 29th January, 2026.

Callaghan Park back racing 7 days after the flood peak

It hasn’t taken long for racing operations to return to normal at Callaghan Park this week.

Just a week after the Fitzroy River flooding peaked at a touch over 7.25 m, the RJC is hosting a seven-race TAB card on Thursday on a good track.

RJC staff returned to work as soon as it was safe to do so and together with contractors quickly restored the track operations to normal.

Trainers began moving horses back into the barns last Sunday, just three days after the flood and horses were back on the training tracks, the following day.

“It was a great team effort to get everything back for racing,” acting track curator Rob Burnell said.

Burnell didn’t stop working, having a continual focus on the well-being of Callaghan Park during and after the flood. He even established a temporary irrigation system to make sure the racetrack was irrigated.

Fortunately, the flood was minor, and the river water didn’t reach the height of the course proper or the sand track. The day stalls, lower stable areas, back training track, front ticket box, jockey room and QRIC stewards’ room, together with access roads were impacted, by varying levels of water, during the flood.

Thursday’s seven races start at 1.18 pm with the feature Highgrove Bathrooms Open Handicap (1100m) at 4. 12 pm.

Ricky Vale has a strong hand to play in this race with three possible starters, Master Montaro, Early Fusion and Pipistrelle. Master Montaro has been asked to carry the 64kg topweight, but despite carrying 62kg and 63kg respectively to victory in Mackay October and November, he was game but found wanting under 64.5kg when fifth behind stablemate Track Tale at Callaghan Park last month. Stablemates Early Fusion to be ridden by leading apprentice Mackenzie Apel and Pipistrelle (Warwick Satherley) look better placed at the weights. Early Fusion was narrowly beaten by Doubting Eye at its most recent appearance. That was on the 8^th of January when a head separated the duo. Tom Smith Scrub Chain (Chris McIver) looks to be a horse on the way up and Master Showman from Stuart Kendrick’s Sunshine Coast stable will find this race easier than its recent SEQ assignment.

Vale’s Parade Ground has been allocated one of the highest handicap weights in recent memory at Callaghan Park. Parade Ground, a Rockhampton Capricorn Guineas winner in 2024 has 66.5kg topweight in the Rockhampton Engineering and Maintenance BM 65 Handicap (1300m). Parade Ground last raced on 6 December in the Class 6 Handicap at Callaghan Park. He was out of touch at the end of his last preparation. Apprentice Chloe Lowe has been engaged to reduce his impost by 3kg. Parade Ground is a strong galloper and can carry weight. He carried 60kg to victory at Callaghan Park in a Class 2 Handicap in March 2025.

Parade Ground’s stablemate Flying Animo (McKenzie Apel) and Warwick Satherley’s Saraqael bring the best local form to the race. Aaron Beck’s Next Legacy (Raul Silvera Olivera) is showing loads of promise, while three runners from the Sunshine Coast Bold Artic, Limero and Storm Force Ten all are in with chances.

Tom Smith looks to have a good chance of opening the day with a winner in the TAB QTIS 2YO Handicap (1100m). Barbarian King (Cody Collis) put in a pleasing run when third in Mackay at its only start and debutante Little Linda (Warwick Satherley) showed nice pace in a recent trial at Callaghan Park. The small but nicely put together filly by Prince Fawaz is a graduate of last year’s Capricornia Yearling Sale.

• David Aldred CEO – RJC