Rocky Round Up: Friday 4th October, thanks to David Aldred. RJC CEO.

APPRENTICE JOHNSON RETURNS TO RACING A WINNER

Apprentice jockey Brooke Johnson returned to the winner’s circle on her first day back at the races at Callaghan Park on Friday.

Johnson, apprenticed to Clinton Taylor, has been nursing arm injuries for months and she scored an easy win on the talented Lamentum in the Class 1 Handicap (1050m).

At the post, she was 5-1/4 lengths in front of her nearest rival on the Kerrod Smyth-trained 3yo gelding. Lamentum has had five starts in Central Queensland and won twice. Smyth reckons he is a long way from getting to the bottom of Lamentum but recognizes that the horse hasn’t had a break for some months. Lamentum was in work in Sydney last February and only had a short break before resuming and racing in July. “When I got him he was well into a preparation and he has had the five runs for me,” he said. Lamentum started as the $1.55 favourite and defeated Miss De Boom (Justin Stanley) and Whittlesford (Adam Sewell).

PREMIER JOCKEY JUSTIN STANLEY SCORES A QUARTET OF WINS

While Brooke Johnson stepped back into the spotlight, it was the Taylor stable’s number one rider, Justin Stanley who had the best day out at Callaghan Park. Stanley rode four  winners, three of them for the boss. Stanley brought up a quartet of wins on Taylor’s newcomer Kathy’s Beau. Raced by a group of owners, many first-time racing participants, from Yeppoon whose kids play footy together for Cap Coast Brothers, Kathy’s Beau has now raced twice for Taylor since he purchased the Victorian online for $12,000. Kathy’s Beau won first-up at Mackay last month and was tough at Callaghan Park. The Turffottein 5yo had to work to find the lead, then withstood a big challenge from runner-up Bencoolen (Ryan Wiggins) to kick clear and win comfortably. The ownership group and their families put up a big cheer, watching their horse win from the Callaghan Park Raceview Deck. Stanley’s third winner Mighty Judd is a lightly raced galloper who seems to be improving with each start. “He’s still learning and once he works it all out he’ll be okay,” Taylor said. Mighty Judd won the BM55 Handicap (1600m) and Stanley thinks he may get over more ground. Street Glory who led the race for Ryan Wiggins looked to be holding off the challengers but Mighty Judd finished off the race a fraction better. El Of A Senorita, the winners stablemate ridden by Johnson ran third. Stanley’s first winner came up in the first race of the day. The Taylor stable quinellaed the race, the TAB Maiden Handicap with the well-backed favourite Magic Game working home the strongest late in the race to defeat its Fractional, ridden by Johnson. Soundly beaten at its first three race starts, the four-year-old chestnut mare by Rubick was heavily supported when betting opened and kept firming right up to start time. Longshot Toy Dandy, trained by Matt Kropp and ridden by Olivia Kendal put plenty of value into the trifecta, finishing third. Leading jockey Stanley scored a rare longshot win. Usually on favourites, Stanley got his second of four wins riding $24.00 chance What A Doozy for Sunshine Coast trainer Liam Birchley in the QTIC 3yo Handicap (1050m). What A Doozy was having its fourth race start and produced its best run to defeat last start Yeppoon winner Amberinger (Jackson Murphy) with Spitzberg (Mela Castle in third place.

DOUBTING EYE TOO GOOD FOR OPEN CLASS GALLOPERS

Smart four-year-old Doubting Eye could accompany his stablemate Media Empire to Brisbane later this year after winning the Great Northern Open Handicap (1200m).The pint-seized gelding was having its 18^th start and scored its sixth race win. Trainer Jason Morgan has done an amazing job with Doubting Eye who arrived in Rockhampton as a Maiden galloper and in just over a season has won his way into top company. Doubting Eye who was runner-up in the RJC Horse of The Year last year was ridden for the first time by 3kg claiming apprentice Amy Graham to win the Open in a photo finish that fooled many onlookers including racecaller Russell Leonard. Graham missed the start slightly then took off inside the 1000 metres to go up to the leader but was posted three wide. Doubting Eye cornered for the last 600 metres five deep and raced down the centre of the track. Letmeletgo (Justtin Huxtable) came through on the rails and momentarily headed Douting Eye and too many looked to have its nose in front on the line. But the pair were wide apart and the photo favoured the outside horse Doubting Eye. Dollar Dollar (Adam Sewell) ran third. Morgan is eyeing off the $105,000 Country Stampede in Brisbane for Media Empire, later next month and will likely look for a suitable non-metro winners race for Doubting Eye.

KRIS HANSEN CELEBRATES CALLAGHAN PARK WIN

Defrosted trained by Kris Hansen and ridden by Jackson Murphy scored the final win of the day in the BM 55 Handicap (1200m). The six-year-old mare came with a charging finish to defeat Bo Bo Beware (Justin Huxtable) and Nouvelle Star (Adam Sewell). “he was good odds but I liked his chances today,” Hansen said. The mare started at $11 but totes were betting double those odds when betting opened. Defrosted seems to appreciate racing on its home track with three Callaghan Park runs resulting in a win and a second place. Hansen rides a lot of trackwork and trains a small team of three at Callaghan Park.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.