Track is in great order (considering recent rain) for tomorrow’s 7 race program.

As I pen this column Wednesday afternoon it was a case of “racing going ahead as scheduled” in relation to the seven event TAB card at Callaghan Park racecourse tomorrow (Thursday). In fact it was much better news than expected given that the track had received approximately 96mm of rain on Tuesday.

RJC CEO David Aldred was glowing in his report. “We inspected the track with stewards earlier this morning around 9am and it was much better than what we had expected. It would have been rated a Heavy 8 but was better than that in some sections. Quite remarkable considering all the rain,” Aldred said. Capricornia Racing’s chief steward Tate Hudson was also very upbeat about the condition of the Callaghan Park turf track. “I walked the track with club (RJC) representatives and had no concerns with it whatsoever. I would have rated it a Heavy 10 (just after 9am).It was  very relieving to hear that they only received about 96mm there compared to other parts of Rockhampton where I believe over 150mm had fallen. So it was a very pleasant surprise to see the condition of the track. Look with no rain forecast overnight (Wednesday) and some wind predicted to pick-up I expect the track rating could improve to a Heavy 9 or 8 by race time Thursday. As I say we (stewards) have no concerns but if it were to rain heavily overnight our contingency plan is to inspect the track around 5am Thursday  but at this stage I don’t see that being necessary,” Hudson reassured. So that’s good news indeed. The first of the seven races there gets underway at 1.12pm with the last to jump at 4.52pm.

Rockhampton racing followers will be tuned in to Rosehill Gardens, Sydney on Saturday for the running of the sixth race at 2.30pm. That’s when Astapor, formerly with Clinton Taylor at Callaghan Park makes his Sydney debut for the Joseph Pride stable. To be ridden by the talented jockey Tyler Schiller, Astapor will think it is Christmas in regards to the weight aspect of just 54.5kg in the $200,000 Rosebud (1100m) after last start winning under 60kg at Eagle Farm. However, that’s the good news, the concerning news is that Astapor, the Rodney Hay owned winner on the 2023 Breeders 2YO Plate at Callaghan Park is opposed to an outstanding line-up. However, as they say “you have to be in it to win it” so good luck Astapor.

Clinton Taylor heads north for Saturday’s Cairns Newmarket meeting. There he will start Rocky Newmarket winner Honkytonk Diva in the Cairns Newmarket while stablemates Single Memo, Irresistible Force and El of a Senorita are also entered to run. Rockhampton’s Jamie McConachy trained Montenegro Man is also in the Newmarket line-up noms at Cairns. Stablemate, Acrophobic was also entered in the Cairns Newmarket but will start at Callaghan Park on Thursday instead where he is ideally placed.

Trainer Graeme Green has confirmed he has a very big opinion of Top Spy which gave her rivals a galloping lesson under 65kg at Mackay last Saturday. “It was just simply a brilliant win and the mare could not have been any more impressive. To win by lengths and lengths under that big weight was really something special,” Green said. The plans are for Top Spy to be given her chance in Brisbane in the very near future.

As per usual Rockhampton and CQ stakeholders had a field day at the Mackay Cup races last Saturday. Apart from Top Spy, Graeme Green also won with Patti Waggin which won’t start at the juicy winning odds of $19.00 when it next races. Clinton Taylor and Justin Stanley won the $75KMM Whitsunday QTIS Guineas (1560m) with Viennawaitforyou at $10.00.  Ricky Vale scored with a  very impressive addition from the James Cummings stable in Pipistrelle which won as it liked by four lengths. It’s worth keeping in mind that stable star Namazu also came from the Cummings yard. Jason Morgan, the tireless working master of Lazy Lodge Stables in Rockhampton won with Media Empire under Warwick Satherley at the odds of $10.00. By the way Satherley was announced as Gladstone Turf Club premier jockey for last season of 2023-24 at that clubs mega meeting last Saturday. Satherley claimed a Mackay double on Saturday when he made it three consecutive wins for the Glenda Bell trained Gold Academy owned in partnership by Rockhampton racing identity Tony Fenlon.

Sad to hear of the untimely passing today of Oaklands Stud’s highly successful stallion, Exosphere.  It was distressing news to learn that the Lonhro stallion had passed as a result of complications resulting from colic surgery. It is a massive blow for the Queensland breeding industry. Neville Stewart, the principal of Oaklands Stud, Toowoomba  and his sons are gutted by the occurrence as like all their animals, they treated Exosphere like a member of the family. Oaklands, has been staunch supporters of the Capricornia Yearling Sales for over three decades with many of their yearlings progressing to becoming over the subsequent years prolific and notable winners in CQ and beyond sold .Sincere condolences to the Stewart family and all concerned at Oaklands.

So disappointing for the Middlemount Race Club because of rain to lose its annual race meeting this Saturday. However, the community minded club has planned a massive phantom meeting with thousands of dollars in prizes for Fashions on the Field and other novelties including the famed Dashy Dash for the puppies. Bookmakers will also be in attendance. Top marks go to committeeman Paddy Flood as because of an acute jockey’s shortage he had arranged to personally fund the flights and accommodation for two SEQ jockeys to ride at the meeting.  Now that’s racing passion for you.

Happy Horses everyone and hope to see you at Callaghan Park races tomorrow. Tony McMahon.