THE FORMER Townsville apprentice jockey Kelly Schweida has enjoyed some mighty highs in his long association with racing, particularly as a trainer, but none could compare with last Saturday.
Within half an hour the popular trainer and renowned prankster won the prized Tatt’s Tiara with Miss Cover Girl and then the Rockhampton Cup with Ruling Heart.
And guess where Kelly was?
Rocky, of course, giving credence to the adage that you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy!
Kelly really has had a roller coaster ride since he packed up his Wulguru stables about 20 years ago and headed south with little else but a good reputation, hope and mild confidence that he would make it in the big smoke.
Saturday’s win by the predominantly Townsville owned Miss Cover Girl was his second group one win. The other was Nova Star, who won the Tiara in 2007 – ironically also for Townsville-based owners.
And Miss Cover Girl’s thoroughly deserved win was the second Group 1 success for her sire Monashee Mountain. The other was Stradbroke winner La Montagna in 2006, coincidentally also raced in Townsville interests.
Miss Cover Girl was bred by Townsville Turf Club chairman Kevin O’Keefe and was passed in at the 2013 Magic Millions sale for $18,000 with a reserve of $20,000. She has amassed $805,000 in prize money and her value has soared now that she can boast the Group 1 ranking.
One website declares Schweida has a record 355 winners from 2559 starters (14 per cent strike rate) and 605 placings (38pc) with an amazing 48pc place rate in the past 12 months.
But things haven’t always been hunky dory.
There was a time in a mood of frustration he walked away from his Brisbane stable to try professional fishing in the gulf.
He soon found out however that he was really meant for the turf, not the surf, and was soon back to what he does best – training winners.
MACKAY – the club that has had six secretaries in three years – will host a” new look” Cups carnival on Saturday.
For the first time the Newmarket and Cup will be run on the same day and the other major break in tradition is that the cup will be run as last race.
“The Newmarket will be race six and the cup race eight so they will be the Daily Double on the bigger southern TABs,” said acting CEO Ryan Van De Velde.
Queensland’s U-bet always conducts the daily double on the last two races.
Van De Velde assures the expected 3000 punters that the beer won’t run out mid afternoon, as was the embarrassing case at the Rocky Cup day last week.
“In fact after the races punters can dance away until well into the night with the popular band Liquid Revival – a big hit at the recent Home Hill Grower’s Cup day,” Van De Velde said.
This week also saw the return (temporarily I am told) of former secretary manager Joe Hynes to the race day office desk. Joe, who ruled the roost when Mackay was one of the wealthiest clubs in the state, was sacked in controversial circumstances by former and MTC committee that is long gone.
ANOTHER to have a major change of guard is the Bowen Turf Club, with popular local Steve Daly replacing Cyril Vains as chairman. Local racing stalwarts have embraced the change and according to trainer Andrew Cameron “there is renewed confidence in local racing scene and a lot of exciting plans in place”.
ON a not so happy note, Innisfail trainer Steve Potiris has had a horror week losing three horses to travel sickness and colic.
Former Melbourne sprinter Bishop’s Castle, an expensive purchase from the Stephen Brown stable, arrived at Innisfail with travel sickness and did not recover in spite of intense veterinary treatment. Junee Boy, a prolific cups winner in the district including last month’s Burdekin Cup, died from a bout of colic as did the useful lower class stayer Frumboli.
THEN there was the case of the short favourite Craiglea Focus being scratched at the barrier before the second at Townsville on Sunday.
The horse was kicked by another runner and withdrawn by the vet.
Trainer Gary Farrell, though disappointed, has no qualms with the vet’s ruling. But he certainly has with Racing Queensland which requires him to pay nomination, acceptance and the $170 jockey fee.
Bit rude, don’t you think?