Rocky Racing Roundup: Friday 8 November.

LOTS OF LOVE FOR THE LADY IN THE BREEDERS PLATE

“The pressure’s off now”, they were the first words from premier trainer Clinton Taylor as he walked to the winner’s stall, after winning the TAB Breeders Plate (1050m) at Callaghan Park on Friday.

Short-priced favourite Don’tdoubtthelady scored a comfortable one length victory, but there were a few anxious moments before the filly chased down the leaders in the straight. Ridden perfectly in the box seat by Justin Stanley, Don’tdoubtthelady came around the leaders at the 400m mark and wore down the frontrunners to draw clear approaching the winning post. The Dubious 2YO filly won the QTIS race by a length from Toowoomba galloper Tinkerbella (Hannah Richardson) who was best backed to beat the favourite with the other Taylor trained runner Bolla Bolla Babe (Cejay Graham) in third place, 3-1/4 lengths behind her stablemate. John Manzelmann trained youngsters Nosey Ned and Tarong finished fourth and fifth. Bred by Condamine grazier Laird Morgan, Don’tdoubtthelady was a $40,000 buy at the March Magic Millions Sale earlier this year. She is by Dubious from the Toronado mare Teeka. Morgan remained in the ownership after the sale and he was on track at Callaghan Park to collect the silver plate trophy. “There’s a great bunch of owners in the horse, some who I have only met for the first time today,” Morgan said. “I think we have ourselves a very nice filly.”

DUBIOUS DOUBLE

Dubious also sired the winner of the QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap (1050m). A huge cheer went up from the Race View Deck at the track when the Jamie McConachy-trained Dubious Love saluted with Sean Cormack in the saddle.

Having just its second race start Dubious Love looked a nice filly in the making drawing clear from runner up Tossit and Mimmy’s Secret at the finish. Raced by a big group of owners, some of them first timers in racing Dubious Love is a graduate of the 2023 March Magic Millions Sale. “Its so great having  everyone here to cheer our filly home,” managing owner Clint Bloomfield said. “We have had a long process, buying her as a yearling, then getting her to the track for one race as a two-year-old, before her return today, but its all worth it for everyone when she wins.”

By Dubious out of Duchess Dashalot, Dubious Love looks to have a bright future.

VALE AND APEL GET A CALLAGHAN PARK DOUBLE

Lightly raced 4YO Early Fusion swept down the middle of the track to win the Class Three Plate (1200m). Ridden by McKenzie Apel, the Ricky Vale trained Early Fusion came with a wet sail to overhaul the leaders in the last 50m of the sprint. In a good finish to the race Devil Devil momentarily looked the winner before Graysong and Growl chimed in but Early Fusion coming from the back had them all covered. A Headwater – Pfeiffer (Storm Cat) gelding Early Fusion had previously scored wins in Mackay, Townsville and Yeppoon, but until this race had not been able to win in Rockhampton.  Originally purchased by Anthony Cummings for $50,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Sales, Early Fusion was picked up by Vale for just $13,000 online in May. The strong looking, nicely marked bay, started its career in Sydney where its best result was a fourth place at Warwick Farm. Vale and Apel backed up 35 mins later to win the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1400m).

Vale’s promising mare Pipistrelle, who was placed at Eagle Farm and scored in Mackay during September completed back to back wins. The Ribchester mare has a great record of 13 starts for five wins and four placings. Toowoomba galloper I Promise You led and kicked on strongly in the run to the line and for a moment looked likely to hold off Pipistrelle, ridden by McKenzie Apel. But the early effort told close to the post. Magic Game ran on well to take second just in advance of I Promise You.

OPEN HANDICAP ENDS TRAGICALLY

Trainer Clinton Taylor found it difficult to go into the first-place stall after Janean was posted the winner of the RJC Members Open Handicap. Janean was all set to finish in second place behind the John Manzelmann-trained Tiger Legend before tragedy struck. Tiger Legend broke down three strides before the finish and stumbled over the line, snapping a foreleg. Janean (Justin Stanley) went on to take the victory.

“It doesn’t feel right winning like this,” Taylor said.

Stampe ran second almost a length from Janean with Tiger Legend gaining third place.

Jockey Ashley Butler dismounted Tiger Legend shortly after the line and the vet was with the horse quickly. Unfortunately, Tiger Legend, the winner of 10 races who has raced this season at Townsville, Thangool, Cairns and Innisfail prior to racing  at Callaghan Park, had to be humanely euthanized. The winner of 10 races, Tiger Legend scored its biggest win in the Battle of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm in June. He subsequently placed fourth in the Rockhampton Newmarket and second in the Townsville Cleveland Bay.

CLOSE FINISH TO DAY’S OPENING RACE

The day’s racing started with a thrilling three-way finish to the Maiden Handicap (1300m). Three horses hit the line with less than a head separating them. The judge, Steve Bryant took a while to decide the result which saw the Jared Wehlow trained Shekinah, the first leg of a winning double for jockey Sean Cormack, defeat One Percent (Ryan Wiggins), a debutant who started a heavily backed favourite, by a short head with Jessica Kuhn’s Peking Tom (Warwick Satherley) a nose away in third place. One Percent led to the last stride when Shekinah wore him down and put his nose in front right on the line. Peking Tom got very close to the first two, taking ground off both horses in the run to the line.

SATHERLEY BACK IN ROCKY WINNER’S LIST

Warwick Satherley carried over his winning form from Yeppoon last week when he booted home Call Me Marilyn to a convincing victory in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1050m). Satherley, refreshed from a European holiday drove the Mick Evans-trained Call Me Marilyn clear to beat its former stablemate Pretty Slick (McKenzie Apel) by 1-1/2 lengths with Noble Heart (Liv O’Donnell) flashing into third place two lengths from the winner.

O’Donnell was successful in the race prior, the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1811m)  for trainer Kerrod Smyth. O’Donnell steered Murrajong Road to victory, narrowly over Chasing Jackley (McKenzie Apel) with Street Glory (Ryan Wiggins close up in third place.

RJC CEO, David Aldred