Rocky Racing Review: Friday 20th June

SOUTHERNERS BUOYED FOR CARNIVAL SUCCESS AFTER WINNING TATT’S DOUBLE

A sixth Rockhampton Newmarket Handicap awaits Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen who completed a race-to-race double in yesterday’s $35,000 Tattersalls Sprint at Callaghan Park.

Hansen’s Demon Award won Friday’s feature Sprint (1200m), with the time-honoured Tattersalls Gold Cup (1600m) also going south, after being won by the Pat Webster-trained Skyforger.

Jockey Jai Williams told Hansen that his five-year-old gelding Demon Award ($5.50) was far too good for his opposition after carving out slick sectionals to run the distance in 1.08.32 on the upgraded Good 4 track. “They were never going to beat him with him running like he did today,” Williams said as he unsaddled the well-travelled galloper who is building an impressive resume with nine wins and 12 places from 33 starts.

Local galloper Kathy’s Beau ($5.50) tried his heart out for trainer Clinton Taylor and jockey Justin Stanley but couldn’t match Demon Award’s motor at the finish finishing 2.7 lengths from the winner with the $5 equal favourite Cherry Award (Sean Cormack) sprouting wings late to finish third.

During his career so far, Demon Award has proven to be versatile racing across Victoria and Queensland and on 15 different tracks including Flemington, Caulfield, Eagle Farm and Doomben.

Hansen brought Demon Award to Rocky on The Archer Day and ran a close third to Lost In Transit in The Fitzroy (1300m). The trainer said he narrowly missed that big prize but he will be back to win his favourite Central Queensland race, the One Syndications Newmarket Handicap (1300m) on July 4.

“I’ve won it five times, hopefully this will be six,” Hansen said.

Past Rockhampton Newmarket winners from Hansen’s stable have been: Onalar (2008), Perugin Thought (2011), Le Cap (2015) and Doctor Zous (2020 and 2022).

Dr Zous’ Newmarket triumph in the Newmarket, first run in 1918, was historic with the son of Zoustar joining Lady Bob (1921, 1922), Cabin Inn (1956, 1957), Reggie (1965, 1966), Kero (1978, 1980) and Our Boy Malachi (2013, 2014) as the only horses to win it twice.

WEBSTER RECKONS SKYFORGER IS A GENUINE ROCKHAMPTON CUP CANDIDATE

Toowoomba trainer Pat Webster has clocked up thousands of kilometres chasing suitable races for his tough five-year-old Skyforger and after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (1600m) he reckons Callaghan Park could be his perfect track.

“The long straight suits him, the track allows him to settle and come into the race on his own steam, the big straight is key,” Webster said.

Patiently ridden by Justin Huxtable, Skyforger rounded up his opponents late to forge clear on the line. Skyforger ($7.50) defeated a wall of locals with Ricky Vale’s Logan Street Lion (Ryan Wiggins -$9) finishing a half length second, Clinton Taylor’s Divine Purpose (Justin Stanley – $6.50) close in third and Vale’s Pippistrelle (Ron Stewart- $2.60) completing the top quartet.

Skyforger has shown a real liking for Callaghan Park. He finished fourth in the Amateur Cup (1600m) in May and brought his “A” game for his second tilt a a local feature, winning the Tatts Cup.

Originally trained by Anthony Freedman, Skyforger has been a great money-spinner for his current connections. In December 2022, Luke Berger Racing purchased the gelding online for $35,000. Berger put an ownership group together and Skyforger has found his mojo with Webster. Last November he won the Country Cups Challenge Final (1630m) at Doomben.

“We had to cover lots of miles to qualifying him for the Country Cups last year and he travels well, we will be back again in a couple of weeks so get me a box ready,” Webster said.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER

Looks aren’t everything, right? Just ask Toowoomba racehorse owner Kate Kropp who together with her husband Matt must be the thrifty specialists when it comes to selecting bargain yearlings. Last week they had a Group 1 runner at Doomben , Sweet Pretender, a $6,000 bargain at the MM Capricornia Yearlings Sales 2024. On Friday at Callaghan Park, they saddled up a $2,000 MM Capricornia Yearling Sale 2023 graduate, three-year-old old filly, Scruffy, for their son trainer William Kropp

Kate races Scruffy and when asked Matt was quick to explain why the filly was given the name. “She had no mane or tail when he was auctioned at the Capricornia Yearling Sales a couple of years ago, so we nicknamed her Scruffy, right away,” Kropp said. “The name stuck, and Kate Kropp registered her to race as “Scruffy”. The Duporth- Creditworthy filly broke through for her Maiden Handicap (1200m) victory at Callaghan Park.  Starting the $3.70 favourite after showing promise at Toowoomba, Gatton and Dalby in her previous races, Scruffy was ridden perfectly with a lot of patience by stable apprentice Kelsey Lenton to score a clear-cut victory. The filly defeated Rum Rumble (Ryan Wiggins -$4.40) and Dawn Embers (Warwick Satherley) who was well supported at $4.00.

GET WELL TONIC FOR JAMIE McCONACHY

Trainer Jamie McConachy watched the three-year-old filly Hey Jealousy race to an impressive win in the 0-55 Handicap (1200m), from a hospital bed on Friday.

The Callaghan Park trainer has two bulging discs that may require surgery, and it was left to Jamie’s partner and Hey Jealousy’s part-owner Jess Ladbrook to saddle the filly for the race. McConachy’s pain would have disappeared a long way from home as Hey Jealousy looked never like being beaten. Starting at $4.60, Hey Jealousy (Jackson Murphy) cruised home by 2-1/2 lengths from a gallant Gilbert’s Gold (Brooke Johnson -$8.50) with Zelezny (Ron Stewart -$6.50) 2-1/2 lengths away in third place.

Murphy praised the Highland Reel filly after the race, predicting a bright future. “She will go right on with it now,” he said. But Ladbrook said she plans on giving Hey Jealousy a month off, as she is not in a hurry to rush her along.

BALLINA TRAINERS MAY EXTEND THEIR ROCKY STAY AFTER HAVING MORE SUCCESS

Ballina trainer Stephen Lee was at Callaghan Park this week enjoying sunshine and success. Stephen is lapping up the Rocky lifestyle, so much so, that he and his trainer son Jordan may extend the stay with their big team of horses, beyond the Rockhampton Cup carnival.

Jordan Lee saddled Yukanuma to win the Acton Stand Official Opening BM 60 Handicap (1802m) and Stephen was there to lead the six-year-old gelding into the winner’s enclosure.

“Everything is good here, the weather the facilities and the horses are happy, we may extend our stay,” Stephen Lee said. With a 3kg claim for apprentice rider Nikki Olzard Yukanuma ($5.50) darted clear down the Callaghan Park straight and safely held the challengers, winning by almost half a length from fast finisher Whatjeudoin (Kelsey Lenton -$2.90f) with Prepotent (Chris McIver -$26.00) in third place. Since venturing north Yukanuma has thrived with back-to-back wins in Mackay and Rockhampton.  “He is a wet track duffer,” Lee said. “Just about all of his wins have been on good tracks, which he is getting here.”

10/10 RIDE BY CHAMBERS GETS ASK ME MATE HOME

Assisted by a perfect rail hugging ride from Tasha Chambers, favourite Ask Me Mate stormed home to an impressive victory in the Neil Baulch Memorial QTIS 3YO (1400m).

With a huge cheer coming from an army of supporters in the stands, Chambers to a short cut home on the $2.30 favourite to snatch the race from Scrub Chain (Tahlia Fenlon – $8.00) with Propose (Kelsey Lenton -$31.00) in third place. Owner Col Bell was so confident that Ask Me Mate would win, that in the days leading into the race he told the Baulch family he needed a new clock. After the race Darryl Baulch presented Bell with a grandfather wall clock as the trophy. Trained by Kevin Hansen, Ask Me Mate has been a model of consistency of late and Friday’s win was his second this preparation.

CLUB CHAIRMAN AND HIS WIFE SHARE IN STAR WIN

RJC chairman Rob Carr and wife Leonie shared in the celebration of Sian Star’s victory in the RJC Honours the Acton Family BM 70 Handicap (1400m).

The win was the first leg of a double for Tatts Sprint winning trainer and jockey, Darryl Hansen and Jai Williams.

Sian Star never gave favourite backers any cause for concern, safely holding the Rocky Amateur Cup winner Executive Stress by almost a length.

In an all-southern finish, Sian Star ($3.60f) defeated Pat Webster’s Executive Stress (Tom Orr – $4.80) with the Stuart Kendrick trained Loose Unit (Cody Collis -$5.50) in third place.

The victory was Sian Star’s fifth from 25 starts. Sian Star is likely to return to Rocky for the 4-5 July Rocky Cup Carnival.

DAIMYO POSTS A VICTORY AFTER SUDDEN STABLE CHANGE

Trainer Tom Smith admitted he did not have to do a lot to prepare Daimyo for its win in the BM65 Handicap (1100m).

“He has been with me for four days, so I just gave him a pat, polished him up and sent him out there,” Smith said.

The Japanese-bred Daimyo is one of 10 horses that were transferred from disqualified trainer Nick Walsh’s stable this week to Smith.

“Nick’s done all the work to get him this far, but a win is a win, I will take it,” Smith said.

A six race winner Daimyo has been a great competitor since arriving in CQ. Providing apprentice Nikki Olzard with a double, Daimyo ($10.00) finished full of gusto to beat Canny Be Better (Ryan Wiggins -$10.00) and Devil Devil (Justin Stanley – $3.30).

• David Aldred CEO