3 minute read
Home town parochialism decrees that either Jamie McConachy’s Sunnycoast or Ricky Vale’s Track Tale are the pair to beat in Saturday’s rich Capricornia Yearling Sales Classic at Callaghan Park, Rockhampton.
Afterall, the pair are the only dual race winners in the 12-horse field which if Sunnycoast was to win being QTIS registered, would earn connections $99,500 plus a $20,000 Capricornia Yearling Sales voucher to be used at Sunday's CYS sale.
The Liam Goody-owned Track Tale, being a filly and non-QTIS, will earn $87,000 should she win plus of course the $20,000 spending voucher at the CYS for her lucky owners.
The pair clashed last start at Callaghan Pak on March 7 when on equal weights Sunnycoast ran out the victor over Track Tale by 1.75 lengths.
In the Classic, Track Tale meets the gelding Sunnycoast some 2kgs better at the weights but she had things go against her in that clash which is another plus for her corner.
As well, her winning rider Ryan Wiggins reunites, which is an added bonus.
Trainer Mcconachy is not fazed by the weight variance against Sunnycoast but rather points to his brilliant gate speed to position up well in the opening stanza of the race.
The clash of that pair alone makes for a great contest while McConachy concedes stable-mate Streaming Sun is a worthy contender as well.
Three other locals with admirable form are Clinton Taylor's Mackay winner I'm Bluey, Peter Fleming's triple place getter Divine Sienna as well as Kevin Miller's place getter Mount Margaret.
Townsville visitors, the leading trainer Georgina Holt and The Girl's Ready shared a last start win on their home soil at Cluden.
Holt is hopeful of bringing that form to Callaghan Park as well.
All major races have an element of intrigue and the CYS 2YO Classic, which incidentally is the richest race staged in Queensland on Saturday, is no different.
It has arrived in the form of travelling Gosford-based trainer Tony Newing and Skreatch to be ridden by the experienced and very much in-form Adrian Layt, who now calls Townsville home.
Skreatch has raced but once when 5.1 lengths fourth of eight at Grafton over 1006 metres in a 2YO Maiden on March 13 on his way north.
Newing trains the youngster for his owner group headed by Caloundra builder Greg Wilson of SJ Racing, who has 12 horses in his care.
The Holler gelding cost just $6000 when sold by KBL Thoroughbreds at last year's Rockhampton CYS with Newing and KBL lining up again on Sunday's for the yearling sales.
Trainer Newing, who admits he doesn't mind travelling the kilometres to find suitable races for his horses, was somewhat dismissive of Skreatch's Grafton debut effort.
"A few things went wrong leading up to the race with trials. He has made natural progression and you will see that on Saturday. He is the type of horse that can be placed good tactically in a race and can take up a spot," Newing said.
The very fact that Newing has travelled Skreatch some 1330km north from Gosford, with a race and trial along the way, has to indicate the youngster is worth the trip.
Newing, who fits the mould of a travelling trainer of times gone by, has not raced previously at Callaghan Park but he has enjoyed success in Queensland.
Over a training period stretching 17 years, Newing is best known as the mentor of Listed Race victor Timeless Prince with which he won 12 races accruing around $550,000 in stakes.
Newing's CV displays nine wins in Queensland chalked at Eagle Farm, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
While on form lines it may look a case of "Hope Springs Eternal" for Skreatch on Saturday it is not beyond comprehension that the cleverly named son of Holler could provide Newing with Queensland win number 10.
Remember the old-time racing adage "beware of the travelling horse".
