Rocky’s No. 1 Dragon’s Snip blazes a trail across CQ.

Rockhampton’s 2023-24 Horse of the Year, Dragon’s Snip will shoot for his sixth straight victory in tomorrow’s Thangool Newmarket Handicap (1200m). The $15,000 Open Handicap is a qualifying race for the Country Stampede and Thangool local, apprentice jockey Jaimee-Lee Devine will have the plum mount on Dragon’s Snip who has drawn a wide barrier in the 12-horse field.

Raced by Greg and Elaine Sturgiss, Dragon’s Snip was the best-performed horse at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park last season, and since the start of the new season, he hasn’t stopped winning. Trainer Sileas “Mully” Green has started the four-year-old three times this season winning a Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) at Yeppoon on 3 August; the Benchmark 60 Handicap “Dingo Cup” (1200m) at Dingo on 24 August; and the Open Handicap (1100m) at Springsure on 31 August. Dragon’s Snip faces some tough opponents. Mackay galloper Tiger Legend trained by John Manzelmann will carry 63kg topweight and he has been racing well since winning the Battle of the Bush at Eagle Farm in June. The 6yo placed second in the Townsville Cleveland Bay and fourth in the Cairns Newmarket last month. Roma trainer Wayne Baker will start Menindee who won the Murilla Cup at Miles at his last start in February, while Rodney Hay looks to have his smart 2023 Rockhampton Cup runner-up Sunfall back in form with a recent placing at Surat, and he also has the well-performed Villaden engaged. Clinton Taylor’s Janean and Media Empire could be the best of the other Rocky gallopers. Janean won twice at Callaghan Park last December and is second up from a spell, opening her campaign with a fourth placing at Dingo while Media Empire, trained by Jason Morgan has had two sound runs since winning in Mackay last month.

The Sturgiss family is looking to qualify Dragon’s Snip, a Hidden Dragon – Rainbow Snip gelding that they bred, for the galloper’s biggest payday in the Country Stampede 1110m Final which carries $105,000 prizemoney. The Country Stampede, a race reserved for non-metropolitan winners, is scheduled to be raced at Doomben on Saturday 30 November, during the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.  Tomorrow’s Thangool race day features the $17,500 Eric & Val Knobbs Memorial Thangool Cup (1400m), a Class 3 Handicap. Rocky stables are represented by El Of A Senorita (Clinton Taylor), Replace The Ace (Tom Smith), and All Business (Alan Jones).   Racecourse General Admission tickets are available @ $25 per person.

RJC, CEO David Aldred.

Photo Credit: Caught in The Act Photography.