THE nominations might be down in numbers but there is immense interest in Thursday’s time honoured Newmarket at Rockhampton.
Amazingly from an entry of 19 only five are locally trained, as the big city stables chase the $10,000 bonus on offer for the most successful trainer over the two days.
There were 24 nominated for the Rocky Cup on Saturday, with Sunshine Coast My Quilter the likely top weight in a bumper field, again highlighted by the number of visitors entered. They far outnumber the locals.
Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears holds the key to the Newmarket with the top weights Pillar of Creation and Chief Bro which will be ridden by James Orman. Robert Heathcote is bringing Jim Byrne north to ride Lauterbrunnen.
Prolific winning sprinter Executed is a certain runner with top jockey Adrian Coome to ride. After his brilliant win in the Lightning at Doomben two weeks ago, Executed saddled up in the Mackay Lightning last week as an easing favourite and finished a disappointing fifth.
With regular rider Nathan Day bound for a holiday in Mexico, a new rider will be sought for Outback Saga, one of the main local hopes. Besides Heathcote, other trainers include Liam Birchley (Desert General and Rock Royalty), Harold Norman (Lucky Tom), Daryl Hansen (Divine Service), John Dann (Anymore), Peter Hulbert (Mischievous Devil), Rex Lipp (Star Drop), Sears and regular Toby Edmonds (Righteous Miss).
This year’s special guest will be the former high profile trainer Peter Moody. He will be the club’s VIP to attend both days as well being guest speaker at the Calcutta on Friday.
The beleaguered Mackay turf club, which will lose its CEO on the eve of its carnival the next week, is also without a celebrity jockey this year. It has been the practice in recent years to host a jockey from the south but things turned sour this year for two reasons. The CEO pulled the pin and last year’s celebrity Noel Callow was recently disqualified in Mauritius and it ruled him out for a return visit for the Mackay Cup and Newmarket day on July 2.
Whlie Central Queenslanders will pour into Callaghan Park on Saturday for the cup, there will be a bumper crowd too at the other end of the state for the annual Laura Cup meeting. More like a turfed velodrome than a race course, visitors come from miles around, especially the cape.
And there are kids galore – unlike the cup days at the bigger tracks in Queensland where admittance is restricted to over 18s. It is a highly contentious Liquor Licensing ruling that should be changed for the future of racing, if not for reasons of downright common sense.
Yes, at Laura they come from miles to punt all day – and party all night and dancing under the stars till dawn. But be warned. The traffic coppers will be out in force if last year is any guide.
