Jockey Desiree Gill again dominated Gympie racing on Saturday, September 22 with a winning treble at the six event Gympie Times raceday. Desiree has now taken her tally of wins at the Gympie racecourse to five after just two Gympie meetings in the new racing season and is rapidly closing in on her last season’s premiership winning total of eight victories in Gympie.
Trainer Barry Gill shared in the success with another winning double when Savannah Gold ($2.40 fav) won the 850m Maiden and smart galloper, Unique Fuse ($2.75) made it four wins from four Gympie starts in the 1030m BM 70 in track record time. Nero’s Fire ($2.60) then completed the treble with a hard fought victory in the 1170m Gympie Times Open edging out Frenardi.
Caloundra apprentice, Ty Huxham was also in great form with a double on board Tradie’s Hope and Light in the Field. Promising apprentice, Luke Tarrant won his second trophy race in Gympie with a victory on Montreux Jazz in the St. Pats Sullivan Livestock Cup.
Nero’s Fire turned the tables on Frenardi in the 1170m Gympie Times Open when he won by a half neck after having been narrowly defeated by Frenardi over 1030m in August. The win capped off a great day for trainer John Johnston and Beaudesert owner Steve Field who had earlier combined to win the 850m maiden with Light in the Field.
In the race, Nero’s Fire had moved up to tackle $1.90 favourite Frenardi on the home turn and got his head in front with 200m left to run. In a stirring battle over the final 100m, Nero’s Fire clung to his lead to win by a half neck denying Frenardi his 10th Gympie win from 20 starts on the track.
The winner is by the Beautiful Crown stallion , Fired, who was unplaced in his only two races in maiden class at the Gold Coast and Caloundra with Nero’s Fire, being one of only a handful of starters by the sire.
Taimazov mare, Light in the Field ($2.10 fav) ended a frustrating run of nine Caloundra placings with a short neck win in the 1170m maiden for the Johnston, Field and Huxham combination.
In an all Caloundra finish, Light in the Field, scored narrowly from the Mick Mair trained Benji Bullet which is part owned by Wests Tigers NRL star, Benji Marshall. Contrabandit (Ian Coombes) was a distant third ahead of Geneva’sa Ollie (Raymond Hancock).
Unique Fuse ($2.75) completed a hat-trick of wins this preparation for owners Ted and Mrs Allen with an all the way win in the 1030m BM 70. Unbeaten in his four Gympie starts to date, the Chateau Istana four-year-old fought on strongly in the straight to easily hold off the challenge of $2.60 favourite, the Michael Lakey trained Master Fibba (Beau Appo) by two and three quarter lengths.
Bundaberg galloper, Twogundan (Raymond Hancock) was a further three quarter length back in third. Unique Fuse, who was a $50 000 MM QTIS 600 purchase by the Allens, set a new track record time of 1:1:05 for the only recently created 1030m starting point.
The win by Secret Savings five-year-old mare, Montreux Jazz was a reward for the time spent track work riding by apprentice, Luke Tarrant according to Caloundra trainer Mick Mair. He saddled up Montreux Jazz in the 1470m Class 2 in which she ran the $2.25 favourite following a recent Gympie placing and a third at Eagle Farm.
Montreux Jazz box seated early before dashing to the lead 300m out but then just stalled off a late charge by Lady Oscar (Kelly Gates) to win by a long head. Get Ditty With It (Desiree Gill) was third ahead of Macho Cat.
The winner is raced by Darrell Rogers and family of Redcliffe and was having her fifth start back from a spell of almost 18 months. The Rogers previously raced top sprinter, Swiss Ace who won the 2009 Oakleigh Plate for the Mair stable. Darrell Rogers purchased Swiss Ace at a Magic Millions weanling sale for $8500 before that Secret Savings horse went on to win almost $1 million in prizemoney. Montreux Jazz was a $6000 yearling purchase at the 2009 Magic Millions sales.
Seven-year-old Wurabinda gelding, Tradie’s Hope, who has been plagued by foot problems, won his second race at his 51st start when victorious in the 1030m Class B for Beaudesert trainer, Helen Van Hoeyen. In a tight finish, Tradie’s Hope ($3.50) ran down leader Crystal Mates (Lyle Appo) to score by a short head with the fast finishing Mirror Man (Billie Rose Derbyshire) an unlucky third three and three quarter lengths back.
Helen and husband Stephen, stood sire Wurabinda at their Beaudesert property until the stallions demise a couple of years ago. Helen currently has 8 in work at Beaudesert.
Jockey Lyle Appo was suspended for six meetings over an incident in Race 2 when his mount (Crystal Mates) shifted in causing interference to Tradie’s Hope and Inthanon.
Gympie races return on October 27 which will be the Gympie Cup meeting so make sure you get along.
Story courtesy Barry Fitzhenry
Photo by David Crossley
