Rockhampton Racing Review: Thursday, 8 January 2026

Bob calls the shots in year’s opener at Callaghan Park

Three-year-old gelding Be Bob Aloola provided trainer Stephen Rundle with the first Callaghan Park win of 2026 when the gelding broke through for its first race victory in the Great Northern Maiden Plate (1600m).

On a rain affected soft track the time wasn’t flash, but the win was strong with the Heroic Valour chestnut showing a ton of grit to get the result.

Ridden by Raul Silvera Olivera, Be Bob Aloola ($7.00) won by half a length, holding off Zousain Girl ($1.35f – Karl Zechner) with Ready Lightly ($14 – Julie Busuttin) two lengths away in third place.

Jim Rundle purchased the gelding at the 2024 Capricornia Yearling Sales for just $4,500.

From seven previous runs, Be Bob Aloola’s best result was a third-place last month at Callaghan Park.

Stable hand, Tahlia Mortimer, representing the trainer who was in NZ, said, “It wasn’t a surprise to see him win, he has been working well and he is very fit.”

Raul Silvera Olivera double

Former South American jockey Raul Silvera Olivera continues to make a name for himself in Rockhampton and started off the New Year with a winning double in the first two races at Callaghan Park.

The 2025 Rockhampton Cup winning rider was at his brilliant best to boot home the Jason Morgan-trained Doubting Eye to win the TAB Open Handicap (1050m). Blocked for a clear run halfway up the 600m straight, Silvera Olivera weaved a clear path to claim the highballing leader Early Fusion and win by a neck.

Starting as the $2.80 favourite, Doubting Eye proved a little too strong for a game Early Fusion ($2.90 – McKenzie Apel) with Obligated ($3.70 – Adam Sewell) in third place.

Apel was returning to race riding following an injury and almost had a fairytale result. The Ricky Vale trained gelding just peaked on its run before the post but showed plenty of courage to go close.

Hansen KO’s opposition with Wax On Wax Off

A wide barrier draw proved no issue for Sunshine Coast three-year-old Wax On Wax Off in the Sunday Session 18 January Maiden Plate (1050m).

The cleverly named son of Sensei travelled sweetly for jockey Cody Collis and raced clear of all chasers in the home straight to win as he liked. Trained by Darryl Hansen, Wax On Wax Off ($3.50) had almost a length and a half to spare on Lady Willpower (Ron Stewart – $2.10). The third placegetter was Shemakesmenervous ($11 – Chris McIver) who was doing its best work at the finish.

Hansen trains the galloper for a group of seasoned horse owners including Mackay vet, Dr. David Lemmon. The three-year-old had previously been in the money twice, with third placings on his home track at the Sunshine Coast, including getting into the minor money at his previous start, behind Jimmy’s Brother and Better Not Slip over 1000m at Corbould Park on Boxing Day. That win followed an easy official trial success, earlier in the month on the same track.

Collis told Hansen Wax On Wax Off had won the race on the home turn.

“He was travelling strong and I knew he was going to win that far out, it was never in doubt,” he said.

Wax On Wax Off was bought for $11,000 by Hansen at the 2024 March Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Given a great moniker, Wax On Wax Off is by the stallion Sensei, the name of a teacher of martial arts.  Hansen is likely to give the chestnut time to improve further, with a view of starting him in better races in the future.

Cody Collis wins on Outta Control

Cody “Chip” Collis brought up his second winner for the meeting when Outta Control won the North Tullamore Pastoral Company Class 3 (1600m).

Trained by Tim Cook, Outta Control scored its second race win. Lightly raced, the four-year-old by Dubious has only been to the post 12 times.

“Do I get 10/10 for that ride,” Collis quipped as he returned to the winners’ stall.

It was a good ride, bringing the $11 chance with a well timed run to hold off the $3.40 favourite Skilful Artist (Chris McIver) who got to the outside but seemed to just grind home. The winning margin was ¾ of a length. Southhaven ($6 – Ryan Wiggins) was close up in third place.

Taylor’s filly powers home to an easy win

Heart ‘N’ Power looked very impressive in breaking its duck with a convincing victory in the Airtech Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maiden (1300m).

Ridden by Ron Stewart, the Clinton Taylor trained chestnut filly left its opponents standing in the run to the post winning by almost four lengths. Starting $2.15 favourite, Heart ‘N’ Power defeated Heroic Talent ($6.50 – Raul Silvera Olivera) with early leader Craiglea Oreo ($17 – Tasha Chambers) in third place. Formerly trained at Deagon, Heart ‘N’ Power was having its first run for Taylor after being unplaced at its previous five starts in Southeast Queensland. The daughter of Power and Classic Heart is a half-sister to Garnet Taylor’s two-time winner Classic Element.

“She will win again,” Stewart told Clinton Taylor while he was unsaddling the winner.

Chinny Boom’s sister doubles up for Taylor and Stewart

I’m A Condygirl is a filly going places and is capable of winning a big race this preparation according to trainer Clinton Taylor.

I’m A Condygirl, ridden by Ron Stewart, chimed in over the last 200m of the K N Civil Earthworks QTIS 3 & 4YO Handicap (1100m) and won like a nice racehorse.

It was the second win from four starts for the Sprit of Boom x Imanormemiss filly.

Taylor has bigger targets for the sister of his top galloper Chinny Boom including the QTIS 3YO Jewel in March.

I’m A Condygirl lost a shoe in running yet still drew away to beat the smart Saraqael ($3.30 – Warwick Satherley) by more than half a length with race leader Tara I Am ($17 – Tahlia Fenlon) third.

The trainer is adamant the filly wants a longer distance and is of the opinion that 1400m might be her ideal trip.

“She is still learning, that’s why I’ve kept the shades on her, for how long I don’t know,” he said.

Presocratics keeps his Rocky record perfect

A former Victorian, Presocratics has now raced twice in Rockhampton for two wins and the Bundaberg-trained horse looks to be promising.

Purchased by Pedro Petersen for $50,000, Presocratics found his new Queensland home with Gary Clem. Jason Taylor rode him to his first Rockhampton win in December and reckons he is staying on him for good.

“I’m sticking with him,” Taylor said. Taylor rode a perfect race on Presocratics to win the Wade Hunt IT Class 4 Handicap (1200m). Going forward from a wide alley, Presocratics found a nice spot behind the leader before Taylor decided to start his move 400m out.

“It was sooner than I wanted to go, but I had to as he was travelling so well,” Taylor said. The $1.70 race favourite won by almost half a length from Answering ($14 – Nikki Olzard) with the fast finisher Darling Clementine ($9.50 – Warwick Satherley) taking third place.

Clem said Presocratics is a nice horse that only does what he has to. “I will take him through the grades and hopefully there will be a nice race for him in the future,” he said.

Jason Taylor gets a race to race double

Longshots fought out the finish of the Regional Insurance Brokers BM55 Handicap (1200m) and it was jockey Jason Taylor who booted home the best of the roughies.

Taylor completed a race to race double riding the Denis Schultz trained King Of The Vibe.

The 5YO Gladstone galloper started at odds of $91 and its victory was its second at its 11^th start. King Of The Vibe finished second on the sand track at Gladstone last month and that gave Schultz some hope that he could win another race. But it was a surprise.

Taylor said he was able to cross over to lead quite easily.

“I got him in a good rhythm and he did the rest,” Taylor said.

The runner up was Luxor Prince at odds of $101. Ridden by Fiona Sandkuhl, the Tim Cook trained galloper was a length from the winner with Our Heart Throb ($8 – Cody Collis) completing the top three. The trifecta paid $17,000 on the TAB.

Krystle Johnston goes home with a winner

Sunshine Coast trainer Krystle Johnston closed the nine-race Rockhampton card with a winner. Johnston saddled Kareem, ridden by Paul Hamblin to win the Thomos Betta Home Living BM62 Handicap (1400m).

Slow away Kareem gave the field front runners a decent start but came with a swooping run to take the prize.

The 5YO by Hellbent is going well for Johnston’s team and also won at its previous start at Toowoomba on 27 December.

“That’s back-to-back wins and Paul rode him a treat,” Johnston said.

Kareem, who started at $15 has now won six races and he defeated Smashing Rosie (Maddie Mankalow) who won a protest to gain second place over Replace the Ace (Tahlia Fenlon).

• David Aldred CEO RJC