Rockhampton Racing Review: Thursday 18th December, 2025.

Christmas comes early for punters at Callaghan Park

It was a day for favourites at Callaghan Park with the first four races going to short-priced runners on Thursday, much to delight of the punters looking for a little Christmas cheer.

Former Victorian scorches Callaghan Park with record win

There was no quicker winner than, former Victorian galloper Presocratics at Callaghan Park on Thursday.

Now trained in Bundaberg by Gary Clem, Presocratics was the $3.60 second favourite in the Belroma Park Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1050m).

The winner of one race in Victoria from nine starts before its Rockhampton debut. Presocratics was mighty impressive in beating Chinny Boom’s 1200m track record set three years ago. Raced by Pedro Petersen, Presocratics was ridden by Jason Taylor led just about all the way and sprinted away to win by 2.5 lengths. Determination ($11.00 – Warwick Satherley) ran second with Rum Rumble ($7.00 – Aiden Holt) in third place almost four lengths from the winner. The race favourite, the Clinton Taylor trained Panigale ($2.45 – Ash Butler) finished fourth. Presocratics who was formerly raced by Yulong Investments ran 58.33s for the 1050m.

Taylor’s brilliant mare Chinny Boom set the previous track record (58.59s) in October 2022.

Petersen purchased Presocratics (Written By – Shoreline) for $50,000 online in July. The galloper won its first race in Geelong in June.

Local 7yo galloper runs good time in 1835m Handicap

Shortly after Presocratics ran a 1200m track record, seven-year-old Callaghan Park trained gelding Cash Artist also ran a good time for the 1835m in the Carseldine Airconditioning BM 60 Handicap. The 1835m is rarely raced at Callaghan Park.

Trained by Darryl Johnson, Cash Artist clocked 1.52.13 for the distance to lower the previous best recorded by Preen Queen which was set 10 years ago. Ridden by Jackson Murphy, Cash Artist ($15.00) defeated Pride of Savabella ($3.50f – Georgina Cartwright) by a half length with General Wolffe ($6.00 – Sean Cormack) three lengths from the winner in third place. It was Cash Artist’s 44^th race start and his sixth race win. Jockey Murphy said he was worried about the tempo of the race but praised the winner’s effort.

Vale’s Track Tale gets a half a million shot at Gold Coast

Track Tale will head to the Gold Coast next month after a gallant win in the Magic Millions Country Cup Qualifier Open Handicap (1200m).

In a tough front running performance, Track Tale came off the canvas to win the sprint comfortably earning high praise from jockey Jai Williams. “She is very tough,” Williams said. “She felt beaten than came back, a super run.” The 12-time winner clocked 1.08.9 and carved out a couple of quick early sectionals. Starting at $6.50, the Ricky Vale trained mare scored by  a length from Letmeletgo (($16.00- Ash Butler) with Astra Star ($370 – Sean Cormack) closing for third place. The $1.30 race favourite Cherry Rose (Justin Huxtable) had a wide alley to overcome then raced outside the leader. With the pressure on at the finish she was the first to tire. Track Tale has now qualified for the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) at the Gold Coast on 17 January 2026.

The 5yo mare is raced by Liam Goody and the galloper was strapped by Liam’s niece Billie Prow. The strapper only got her license approved this week and trainer Vale surprised the youngster when he asked her to lead Track Tale into the enclosure for her uncle.

Barbie too hot for 2yo opponents

Locally bred Wasabi Barbie, a graduate of the 2025 Capricornia Yearling Sales, was a huge winner for Jesse Beak in the TAB QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate (1050m) at Callaghan Park on Thursday.

Just in time for Christmas, Wasabi Barbie posted its first win at its third start, after finishing second twice previously. Punters jumped out of trees to bet on the Rock Sturdy filly trained by Tom Smith, and it won the race as a good thing should.

Starting at $1.16, Wasabi Barbie, ridden by Tahlia Fenlon, led all the way from the inside barrier and finished almost 10 lengths in front of her nearest rival, the official winning margin was 9.78 lengths.

Outsider Tautara ($16.00 – Tom Orr) finished second with another space back to Big Barry ($15.00 – Sean Cormack) who finished ahead of the tiring debutante Balkan Melody who was best supported to beat the winner. The 2YO race was only added to the RJC program late last week and the race helped form a marvelous 10 -race card.

The owner and breeder, Beak said Wasabi Barbie will now go for a spell before her return to prepare for the 2026 $168,000 Capricornia Yearling Sale 2yo Classic at Callaghan Park in April.

McIver scores four wins including a sentimental one

Jockey Chris McIver was quick to keep the celebrations going getting a race to race double in the Moltec Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Callaghan Park.

Riding the $2.70 favourite Innovader, McIver bided his time before reeling in the front running Moochi Starlight ($3.00 – Jai Williams) to win by a neck. Whenharry Metelsie ($19.00 – Tahlia Fenlon) was third almost three lengths from the winner.

Innovader, trained by Jamie McConachy, and made its debut earlier this month.

Owned by a syndicate headed by Clint Bloomfield, Innovader’s win was special. One of the owners, Byron Scotney recently passed away.

He was Innovader’s biggest fan, never missing a gallop or trial.

Bloomfield said his passion will live on through this Invader filly.

“Byron isn’t in the stands today, but this filly has him a guardian angel riding her all the way to the post,” Bloomfield said. McConachy selected the filly for the syndicate after his school friend John Dann, the breeder recommended he buy her.

Later in the day McIver completed a treble then a quartet of wins. His third winner was Red Beauty providing Tom Smith with a winning double in the Chess Electrics Class 3 Plate (1200m). It was Red Beauty’s third win from the mare’s last four race starts.

The four of the McIver four was El Fortress, who gave Jamie McConachy a winning double for the day. Four-year-old El Fortress was given a perfect ride by McIver and came with awelltime run to win the Merry Christmas from the RJC BM55 Handicap (1400m). It was the galloper’s second win from 14 race starts with its previous win in Mackay last month. He started at $7.50 and defeated Peaking Tom ($16.00- Aiden Holy) with He’s The One ($13.00 – Jason Taylor) in third place.

Tahlia Fenlon double with a Gardiner Quinella

Tahlia Fenlon was successful on the shorter-priced Darryl Gardiner runner in the BVH Civil BM 65 Handicap (1400m) to complete a winning riding double.

Bundaberg-based Gardiner saddled up two fancies in the race, Tizso Fab, well supported at $2.90 and Darling Clementine ($3.80 – Warwick Satherley). It was Tiszo Fab who had the better run in transit who got the prize by 2.5 lengths from its stablemate. Moktaffy ($9.00 – Gaby Semmens) finished third ahead of the $2.80 favourite Deferential (Maddie Mankelow).

Deferential was the first favourite to be beaten at the meeting. Tizso Fab has now won seven of 32 race starts and four of the gelding’s wins at Callaghan Park. The victory was Gardiner’s sixth in Rockhampton this season.

Late bloomer could make a Cup horse

Veteran trainer Alan Jones thinks that Skilful Artist might make a nice northern Cup horse one day.

The five-year-old gelding just keeps on getting better with racing and broke through for its first win in Thursday’s Great Northern Maiden Plate (1600m).

“He has a bit of scope about him, and I reckon he could be a Cups horse,” Jones said. “There’s a nice length about him and he is still learning.”

It was Skilful Artist’s ninth race start, and the win followed consecutive second placings in Mackay and Rockhampton.

Ridden by Chris McIver, Skilful Artist started the $1.50 favourite and produced a strong finishing sprint at the end of the metric mile to run past Yorokobi ($4.00 – Adam Sewell) who finished 2.5 lengths astern of the winner. Ready Lightly ($9.00 – Warwick Satherley) ran third beaten almost six lengths.  By Trapeze Artist from Berry Delicious, Skilful Artist, a Flemington Trial winner, was picked up for a bargain $600.00 by Jones at an Inglis online sale in September. His return so far is almost $28,000.00.

Chinny Boom’s sister notches her first win

Sean Cormack looked in trouble on short-priced favourite I’m A Condygirl halfway up the Callaghan Park straight in the Hilcher Signs Maiden (1200m).

He was caught up on the running rail behind a few in front and had to be patient before switching around their heels. He did that at the 200m pole and when he pressed the go button, I’m A Condygirl exploded away to score a decisive victory.

Well supported in betting at $1.70, the Clinton Taylor-trained I’m A Condygirl had more than two lengths to spare on her nearest rival at the finish.

Heroic Talent ($10.00 – Tahlia Fenlon) tried to keep I’m A Condygirl in a pocket but had to settle for second place with Shemakesmenervous ($4.00-Georgina Cartwright) about a length away in third place. It was the third race start for I’m A Condygirl which has promised plenty, but until Thursday, failed to deliver.

A full sister to Taylor’s topliner Chinny Boom, I’m A Condygirl was a $230,000 buy at the 2024 March Magic Millions sale.

• David Aldred CEO – RJC