ERROL Sewell is one of the best known and longest serving trainers in Queensland, certainly the northern region. He has enjoyed success in all the big races, and for a long period he and his son (jockey Darin) were virtually unstoppable at Cluden. They simply ruled.
There have been some dry patches for the native of Charters Towers, especially since Party King went to pasture after putting together three Townsville Cups – a feat that is unlikely to be equalled.
But the tide has turned. They say you can’t keep a good man down and a big raw boned neddy named Mountain View is on the way to putting the Sewell stable back under lights.
He arrived from Sydney where had contested races like the 2014 AJC Derby (behind Criterion) and a close fourth in the Tulloch Stakes, just before our carnivals last year. He immediately drew the attention of the local racing folk with a couple of smart wins in restricted class company and has returned for the upcoming winter carnival in just the fettle his astute trainer would have hoped, and no doubt planned.
His first run against some smart sprinters last month was exceptional and last Thursday he overcame a lot of difficulties to win at Cluden and graduate to open company. He has now won four and placed second in his last six local starts. There is no doubt the strapping big bay who races in the familiar black and white hoops of the famous Ingham-based Sheehan family will be seeking riches in the feature cups in the coming weeks.
It is equally fitting that Frank Edwards, who has been at the forefront of northern riding ranks for many years, has reunited with the Sewell stable – at least for this particular star. It’s a case of two old stalwarts together and there should not be one in our midst who would begrudge them their new found fame and... fortune.
THE Townsville Turf Club is chasing Peter Moody to be its ambassador of the Cup carnival this year. Moods has already indicated an interest and the TTC hopes to finalise an agreement next week. That’s after the club has finalised important sponsorships for a few of the major races over the winter carnival that kicks off in July.
The NQ winter carnival had its dress rehearsal at Rockhampton last week when the Tattersall’s club staged its annual. The Kevin Hansen trained mare Outback Saga took the sprint in a highly impressive manner. It was her fifth win on end and had the Rocky Newmarket smothered all over here.
AND on Saturday the Mackay season kicks off with the Amateurs – once a big two-day fixture that drew crowd and horses from all over. Interest is in the WFA sprint in which local star Daph n’ Alf looks ideally placed under the scale but there is an enormous tip for Sporting Page, formerly trained by Paddy Donnollan and now in the astute hands of Russell Adair.
