Rockhampton Racing Review: Tuesday 21 July, 2026.

Long time between drinks for I Am Voodoo

Six-year-old gelding I Am Voodoo posted his first victory in more than a year when he scored a surprise victory in the RJC Salute Rob Carr Handicap (1050m).

It’s been a 23-race drought for the Ray Dart-trained I Am Voodoo whose previous win was at the Gold Coast in June 2025. Since then, he has posted nine minor placings and put in a handy effort when fourth in a mid-week Eagle Farm BM 70 three starts back. He has now accumulated 10 wins and 21 minor placings from 63 starts.

Ridden by Amy Graham, who made a same-day return trip to Rocky from the Gold Coast for one ride on Rockhampton Cup Day, was rewarded for her dedication on her return to Rockhampton when I Am Voodoo saluted at odds of $10.10.

The galloper charged to the front inside the final 100 metres before almost being claimed by runner-up Lonergy (Warwick Satherley – $5.80) who finished fast along the rail. Cochrane (Tahlia Fenlon) finished third.

Deagon-based trainer, Dart bought I Am Voodoo from Toby Edmonds at an Inglis online auction in June 2024 for $12,000.

Birthday celebration win for John Stephens

Trainer John Stephens celebrated his 66^th birthday with Hou Long Gwai’s gallant victory in the RTCQ MB58 Handicap (1400m).

Stephens went close to training a double with another runner from his stable, General Wolffe narrowly beaten earlier in the day.

“I came here today thinking I could train a double and I almost did,” Stephens said. Hou Long Gwai (Tom Orr – $6.70) under a patient ride went to the line strongly to beat the fast finishing Scruffy (Courtney Bellamy) who just edged out Luxor Prince (Steph Tierney) for second place. It was the Hellbent gelding’s first Rockhampton win. To date, he has won two of 11 race starts. Hou Long Gwai was purchased at an Inglis online sale for just $4,750 last October. He has now won over $36,000.

Wolfgang scores a fighting win

Chinchilla-based trainer Rodney Hay didn’t take long to get into the winners’ circle after Lonergy’s narrow defeat.

Hay saddled Wolfgang, ridden by apprentice Chloe Lowe, to win the Brisbane Hotels Group BM65 Handicap (1200m). Wolfgang ($4.40) was headed in the run to the line by Sunshine Coast raider Darth Vader (Bella Youngberry) but fought back strongly to succeed. Underatted (Warwick Satherley) finished in third place.  “I told her to hold on to him to have the last shot, Chloe did that well,” Hay said. Wolfgang has been racing around southwestern Queensland tracks, closer to its home of late and the Callaghan Park win was the four-year-old’s second from its past four starts. At his only other Callaghan Park start, he ran fourth on One Syndications Newmarket Day.

Barcaldine trainer gets a Rocky victory

Barcaldine galloper Noble Intent posted a win for jockey Tahlia Fenlon in the Renew or Join as an RJC Member 0-55 Handicap (1050m).

The Toni Schofield-trained gelding started at $2.80 and scored by just over a length from two other Rockhampton visitors, the Sunshine Coast-trained Time to Cry (Georgina Cartwright – $7.00) with Gladstone’s Viking Sun (Nikki Olzard – $3.10) in third place. A $4,500 buy online last October, Noble Intent has now won twice in the last two months with its last win at Longreach in June. The son of Siyouni from the well credentialled mare Vanilla Sky has now raced twice at Callaghan Park for a win and a third place.

Maiden victory at eighth race start

Favourite backers got off to a flying start at Callaghan Park when the Sunshine Coast-trained Bonnie Bouquet won the 2 & 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m).

Trained by Stuart Kendrick and ridden by apprentice Steph Tierney, the $1.80 favourite defeated another Caloundra galloper Jungle Wonder (Georgie Cartwright – $8.00) by a length with Eagle Farm-trained runner All Banged Up (Bella Youngberry -$3.80) two lengths away in third place. A lightly raced three-year-old filly, Bonnie Bouquet was a $30,000 purchase by Kariba Racing as a yearling at the 2024 Gold Coast Magic Millions March Sale.

Before today she had been a little frustrating for her ownership group running minor placings in four of her first seven starts. A trip north and change of scenery paid dividends.

Maree and Nikki keep it in the family

Gracemere trainer Maree Skillington and her daughter, apprentice Nikki Olzard teamed to win the Caulfield Cup Tickets ON Sale Class 4 Handicap (1600m) with five-year-old mare Settat.

In a tight finish Settat ($5.00) scraped home narrowly to defeat General Wolffe (Warwick Satherley – $3.80) with Skilful Artist (Chris McIver – $4.40) a half-length away in third place.

It was Settat’s first Central Queensland win. The former Victorian raced in south-east Queensland on the Sunshine Coast for Stuart Kendrick Racing before heading north.

The victory took Settat’s earnings to around $100,000. The daughter of Almanzor and Sure Enough was a $220,000 yearling at the Karaka Book 1 Sale.

Navy Kiss sails to the line to win its maiden

Callaghan Park maiden race winner Navy Kiss is about six months off being a true racehorse, according to trainer Alisha Taylor.

Discussing three-year-old’s victory in the TAB QTIS Maiden Plate (1400m) on Tuesday at Callaghan Park, Taylor and jockey Ryan Wiggins agreed that the Merchant Navy gelding is still learning.

“I think he will be suited over a mile later, he just needs to settle,” Wiggins said.

“We got the first win today and that’s the main thing.”

Navy Kiss ($2.70) loped to the line to win by just over half a length from Deejaywip (Courtney Bellamy – $9.00) with Sailing Solo ( Sophie Wilcock – $71.00) two lengths away in third place. Having his second race start for Taylor and owners One Syndications, Navy Kiss took its overall race record to a win and three seconds from just six starts. The chestnut was previously heavily supported at Callaghan Park in a 1600m maiden on TAB Rockhampton Cup Day, but was run down by Ablesheeba in the last couple of bounds.

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