Rocky trainers score across the state.

It was another very successful weekend for Rockhampton-based trainers, with Alisha Taylor, Ricky Vale and Maree Skillington landing winners at Townsville and on the Sunshine Coast.

Saturday’s eight-race Townsville Cup and Cleveland Bay meeting saw an early Rocky race-to-race double, as Alisha Taylor’s Batemans Bay scored in Race 2, a 2000m Benchmark 65, getting up in the final stride.

After starting his career in Europe and winning his maiden at start two over the mile at Haydock, the now 7YO gelding was able to notch up his second career victory at Townsville on the weekend at start six for Taylor.

The son of New Bay finished second in three of his first five starts for Taylor and new connections, before finally breaking through for a second deserved win.

In the following event on the Townsville program, Ricky Vale’s Thee Creek scored a stylish victory a 1000m Benchmark 65 under Rockhampton rider Raul Silvera Olivera.

Formerly trained at Doomben by Peter & Will Hulbert, the 4YO gelding was able to notch up his third win at start 16, quickly repaying his new connections at just start three for Vale.

In the fifth race of the afternoon, the Townsville Guineas, talented John Dann-trained 4YO Illegal Justice scored another dominant victory. Following a demolition job at Callaghan Park on TAB Rockhampton Cup Day in the Capricornia Guineas, Illegal Justice has clean swept the Northern Guineas, winning the Whitsunday Guineas at Mackay and now the Townsville Guineas. He looks a real horse of the future.

There was more Rockhampton form proving too good on the big stage on Saturday, when Garnett Taylor’s Neverenoughlego saluted in style at Eagle Farm.

The ex-Victorian is unbeaten in Queensland, winning three races at Callaghan Park, including the time-honoured Ken Russell Memorial Classic on One Syndications Newmarket Day.

On Sunday, Rockhampton mother and daughter duo, trainer Maree Skillington and jockey Nikki Olzard, took last-start Rockhampton winner Settat to the Sunshine Coast for a 1600m Class 4 Handicap.

Olzard landed the 6YO gelding in the box seat, leader’s back, and drove through along the inside to score by the narrowest of margins, just like he did when winning the start prior at Rockhampton.

In what was Olzard’s first ride on the Sunshine Coast turf track and Skillington’s first runner at Caloundra, it’s sure to be a career highlight for the pair.

RJC Racing Liaison Officer, Nick Lloyd.