By Casey O'Connor
There was excellent support for Saturday’s Warwick Turf Club meeting from owners, trainers and jockeys from across Southern Queensland. Unfortunately for organisers there was not the same level of support from local racegoers with disappointing crowd numbers. The members area however proved very popular with patrons as the temperature soared.
Over the eight race card, 95 runners faced the starter with the Allman Park track turned out in fine condition for the Warwick Rugby League , annual race day.
Training and riding honours belonged to Matt Kropp and Isabella Rabjones. The pair’s affinity for Warwick continued with a back-to-back races double while Rabjones grabbed a treble .
They combined to win the third race, the Carey Brothers Abattoir Benchmark 70 handicap with four-year-old mare Cold Hard Facts . Starting favourite the mare put the writing on the wall at her last on New Year’s Eve with a win in a Class Three at Ipswich over the 1350m distance.
Rabjones was happy to take a sit before making her move as the field swept towards the home straight. Locally trained Grandioso looked to have pinched a winning break in the straight but under hard riding from Rabjones, the Matt Kropp galloper got the upper hand on the line to clinch a narrow win.
Delaney’s Girl from the Kropp stable was the well supported favourite in the next the 1200m Alexia Fraser QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden handicap.
Rabjones showed patience on the filly who was having only her fourth race start and her first run since November. She took a sit back in the field, off the pace and moved nicely into the race coming to the home turn. When the field straightened Delaney’s Girl shot to the lead going on to win by a half-length from stable mate Chosen Distance (who may not be far from a win) and Sharni Award.
There was a drama in the opening race when top weight Jaqen H’Ghar, who drew the inside alley, bucked shortly after the start throwing jockey Nathan Fazackerley. Noriyuki Masuda had his hands full when his mount Hyperion Angel drawn in the two barrier followed suit and also bucked. Masuda also suffered quite a heavy fall. Apprentice Nathan Fazackerley was taken to hospital following the incident while Noriyuki Masuda was quickly to his feet and appeared to suffer no injury. Stewards advised trainers Wayne Nugent (Jaqen H’Ghar) and Scott Baker (Hyperion Angel) both horses must trialled before they race again.
The race, the 21st Annual Warwick Golf Classic was won by short-priced favourite Pennyworth ($1.95) from the Toowoomba stable of Rex Lipp and Nicholas Hahn.
The second event was won by the Sunshine Coast trained Mr Vista, making it a worthwhile trip for connections. Starting at $12, apprentice Montana Philpot found the quickest way home on the Show a Heart gelding cornering nicely and securing the inside running in the straight and won by more than two lengths ahead of second placed Construction master ($19) and early leader Publican’s Purse ($18).
Ego Dancer ($7.50) won the next, the 1500m Warwick Freight Lines Benchmark 55 and was well ridden by apprentice Zac Lloyd. Following the pattern of earlier racing, Lloyd had his mount back in the field in the early stages and improved his position before the turn skipping away in the straight. Under hard riding the Toowoomba galloper held off a late charge from favourite Got the Lot ($4.80) and Super Rocker ($7).
Isabella Rabjones had bookmakers cheering when she made it a winning treble guiding the locally owned and bred Golden Treasure ($19) to a win for Charleville trainer Shane Iverson. Iverson said after the win it was very pleasing as Golden Treasure is the only galloper he has in work at the moment.
Things did not go to plan for the Matt Kropp trained favourite Yamumza in the seventh event, the Green Building Ranbuild Warwick handicap over 1100m. Sent out a short priced favourite at $2.10, the last start winner finished towards the tail of the field after suffering midrace interference.
Zac Lloyd had no such problems on the winner Gold Coast galloper Lord Markel ($6) giving the young apprentice a race day double.
The eight-race programme wrapped up with a win for the connections of Chinchilla galloper Not Liable ($12) who was well ridden by apprentice Jasmine Cornish.
The Warwick Turf Club have meetings scheduled for Thursday 3 February and Saturday 26 March.
