Rocky owners rewarded with Gold Coast win by local CYS Sale Graduate.

Rockhampton-owned gelding Rocky Reward lost its Maiden tag last Friday, winning impressively at the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Aquis Park. Aided by a perfect ride by Jim Orman, the Liam Birchley trained Rocky Reward won the TAB We’re On – Maiden Plate (1400m) by over two lengths. The race was the Rothesay gelding’s third race start. From the Real Saga mare Rich Reward, Rocky Reward was another astute buy by Birchley at the 2023 Capricornia Yearling Sales. Birchley spent just $15,000 to get the youngster and subsequently rounded up a group of locals to race him. Former RJC CEO, Ian Mill as well as Neil Crow, Pat O’Driscoll and RJC committeeman Rob Alexander as just some of the locals that share in Rocky Reward’s ownership.

All going to plan, Rocky Reward will contest the Rockhampton’s 3 & 4YO Classic for past yearling sale graduates at Callaghan Park in April.

TRACK TALE SHOOTS FOR METRO WIN

With a 50% winning strike rate Track Tale has proven to be a more than handy galloper for Rockhampton businessman Liam Goody and trainer Ricky Vale. The 4YO will be given a shot today at winning his first metropolitan race at Doomben in the fifth race, the 0MW (1100m). Track Tale is currently listed as the second favourite. The Whittington mare who was an $8,000 buy at the 2022 Capricornia Yearling Sales in Rockhampton has won nine races from 18 starts with all of its victories in Rockhampton or at other northern tracks. Including finishing runner-up in the 2023 Capricornia Yearling Sale 2YO Classic, Track Tale has also been placed on eight other occasions, meaning she has only missed finishing in a top three spot once.

Buoyed by a Callaghan Park win on New Year’s Eve, Goody and Vale made plans for a city assault. The mare who has already banked $208,000 prizemoney won the Red Lion Open Handicap by three lengths over Deep Blast and Media Empire. Vale has opted to reduce Track Tale’s 58.5kg, with a two kg claim for the talented apprentice Cody Collis.

TERRIFIC NOMINATIONS FOR CAPRICORNIA YEARLING SALE

114 quality yearlings will be catalogued for auction by Magic Millions at the RJC’s 2025 Capricornia Yearling Sales, Sunday 13 April.

Australia’s best value for money yearling sale will be held in the Robert Schwarten Pavillion at the Rockhampton Showgrounds.

All yearlings sold will be exclusively eligible to race in the 2026 2YO Classic which carries $168,000 in prize money and bonuses.

DEFENDING PREMIERS LEADING 2024-25 TITLES RACE

Trainer Clinton Taylor and Jockey Justin Stanley are clear leaders in the premierships at Callaghan Park.

Taylor has trained 20 winners at RJC meetings this season and Stanley has 28 wins beside his name after the first six months of racing. Kerrod Smyth and Nick Walsh are equal second on the trainers’ ladder with Sean Cormack the closest chaser to Stanley.

Taylor’s Hellish with five Rockhampton wins heads the Horse of The Year list.

LOCAL FAVOURITES BACK IN TOWN

Rockhampton favourites are back in town after having stints in the south last year.

Trainer Clinton Taylor produced Chinny Boom and Astapor at the Rockhampton jump outs last Friday. Both stars left Rockhampton last year in search of bigger prizes.

Together with another stablemate, Divine Purpose, Chinny Boom beat Astapor in the 500m three-runner jump out and Divine Purpose had an easy win in an Open 900m barrier trial and judging by her first up second on Thursday she won’t be long out of the winners’ list.

DON’T MISS A MINUTE OF ACTION AT CALLAGHAN PARK

• 14^th February – Valentine’s Race Day at Callaghan Park – Book Now!
• 25^th February – Callaghan Park Races
• 4^th March – Callaghan Park Races
• 15^th March – St Patrick’s Day Races at Callaghan Park – Book Now!

RJC CEO, David Aldred.