Rocky Cup stays local with heartwarming victory.

Less than two years ago Raul Silvera Olivera couldn’t speak a word of English, had never ridden in Australia and was quite unaware of the challenge he was about to undertake.

The accomplished Uruguayan jockey, who made his initial move to Rockhampton on a temporary work visa in August 2023, was celebrated as the winner of the $150,000 TAB Rockhampton Cup (1600m) on Saturday.

With a rousing cheer from his peers, his new riding mates, the popular rider was championed as he carried his Cup trophy back to the jockey room at Callaghan Park.

It was the most important win for the international jockey since he has moved to Rockhampton.

He achieved it on Logan Street Lion, a gelding, rising eight years old, trained locally by Ricky Vale, who registered his second win in Rockhampton’s premier Winter Carnival race.

Vale won his first Cup five years ago with Absolut Artie.

Logan Street Lion ($19.00) was in ninth place approaching the home turn and Silvera Olivera brought the galloper with a well-timed run to get the victory in the final few strides reversing his previous result in the Tattersall’s Cup.

Logan Street Lion defeated Pat Webster’s Rockhampton Tatt’s Cup winner Skyforger (Les Tilley – $16.00) by a half-length, with a similar margin back to the fast finisher, the John Dann-trained, Quothquan (Sean Comack – $8.00), who came from second last on the home bend.

Kipling’s Journey and last year’s winner Hype, who came from last on the home turn, were right on the placed horses’ heels.

The $3.00 race favourite Harbourmaster never really got into the race, finishing tenth.

A marvellous record breaking win for the locals – and what stories they have to tell

The back stories about the winning jockey and horse are both captivating.

Both have overcome setbacks and struggles to rise to the top on the day that mattered and both are worthy winners of CQ’s biggest winner carnival race.

The winner of several major races in South America, Silvera Olivera is here on his third visa and wants to stay permanently in Australia.

Last year he had to leave the country after his visa expired, and it was only his determination, the help of friends, local race officials and legal assistance, that has kept him in the local riding ranks.

“They wanted to send me home, now I am the Rockhampton Cup winner,” he said with the wide smile that has become his trademark at the racetrack.

“I thank everyone so much.”

Silvera Olivera said that two-time Rockhampton Cup-winning jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley was the first to congratulate him. “He gave me a fist pump and a hug after we pulled up, and he said, Raul, you deserve this so much and that meant a lot to me, too, you know,” he said.

Looking back at The Acton Stand, behind the winner’s circle, I could see his good friend and confidant, Bryan Hall, almost in tears as he watched Raul unsaddle Logan Street Lion. His fiancée Antonella was beaming, so proud of what her partner had just achieved.

“They are the people that matter,” Silvera Olivera said as he greeted them.

Vale said he was a doubter, right up until Raul won. “I tipped this horse to anyone who wanted to listen, but I had a doubt as to whether I had made the right decision to engage Raul for this horse,” Vale said. “He is a very good rider, but I thought he was too quiet a rider for this horse, I didn’t know whether he would suit him, he has definitely proved me wrong.”

The trainer revealed that he was also not originally a fan of buying the horse.

But very good Vale stable client Pav Cheimardinov, who raced 2024 The Archer winner Namazu, wanted to buy him. Cheimardinov paid $55,000 for the Tavistock – Napa Sky gelding, selecting him at an Inglis online sale in March this year.

“His judgement was spot on,” Vale said.

Cheimardinov was on the winner’s podium to receive the Gold Cup.

Logan Street Lion has had four runs in Rockhampton for two seconds and his Rocky Cup win. Earlier in his career Logan Street Lion raced with success in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Smith’s Scrub Chain scores MM Guineas triumph

Local three-year-old Scrub Chain gave another group of locals plenty to cheer for when the gelding won the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas 3YO (1500m).

The Jungle Cat gelding, trained by 24-year-old Tom Smith, took its win record to five from 13 races and boosted its earnings to over $150,000. Raced by Stu Nobbs and John Howard, Scrubb Chain was ridden by the “princess” of Callaghan Park Tahlia Fenlon.

Apprentice, Fenlon, is indentured to Chris and Corey Munce at Eagle Farm but was back home in Rocky for the Cup Day. Her grandmother, mum, dad and brother were all there for the race.

Scrub Chain was given a peach of a ride by Fenlon who never had the galloper further back than fifth place. Rounding up the leaders, she steered Scrub Chain ($5.50) to win by more than a length from the Desleigh Forster-trained I’m Heroic (Paul Hamblin – $10.00) with a length and a half back to the Kevin Hansen-trained Asked Me Mate (Tash Chambers – $3.10). The early leaders faded to finish well behind the placed horses.

Scrub Chain was a $8,000 bargain for Nobbs and Howard at the Gold Coast Magic Millions March Sale in 2023.

Mark Currie wins the bonus with horse numbers and constant success

Mark Currie hit the ground running at Callaghan on Day One of the Rockhampton Cup Carnival and kept the winners mill churning on Day Two.

The Toowoomba stable collected the $20,000 TAB Trainer’s Bonus as the most successful stable. He went into Rocky Cup Day as a joint leader with Pat Webster and finished the meeting 3 points in front. Currie had three winners and a second and finished the day of the Carnival on 19 points, with Webster getting a winner, two seconds and a third for 16 points.

Ricky Vale with his Cup winner and a third place during the Carnival dominated by southern trainers, was the leading local trainer with 5 points and collected a $5,000 Trainer’s Bonus.

• David Aldred CEO