By Casey OÇonnor
Apprenctice Landan Sykes started his race career with two second placings from two starts at the Warwick Turf Club’s ten race TAB meeting on Friday.
Jockeys and trainers reported that the tracked rated a soft five for the meeting raced well. Nominations for the big program were excellent.
It was a big day for 18-year-old apprentice Sykes who made his riding debut at Allman Park in front of family and friends.. Sykes had two rides during the meeting Good Grab in the second race and Lilli Lights Out in the third race. Both finished in second place.
Toowoomba trainer Mark Currie took training honours at the meeting leading in two winners. Currie’s first winner came in the second race, the Clyde BM 55 over the 800-metre sprint journey.
Five-year-old gelding Ex Lover was having his first start for the Currie stable after recently transferring from country Victoria. Well ridden by Toowoomba jockey Nick Keal the gelding started a $2.60 favourite and finished down the middle of the track in the straight to grab the leaders close to the post.
Currie also won the final race on the card, the Rex Baguley Maiden over 2000m. It was a great front-running ride from Toowoomba jockey Leanne Mc Coy who rated the well-tried mare Jenessa ($5) very well. Mccoy allowed the mare to go to the front when it appeared no one else wanted to lead. She put a three-length break on the field at the 800-metre mark and the mare led comfortably into the straight. At the 100-metre mark, Jenessa led by four lengths and those punters who had backed the mare were heading to collect. With the field struggling behind the leader, Jenessa went on to win eased down by two and a quarter lengths.
In the opening event, the QTIS Three Year Old Maiden over 800 experienced rider Robbie Fradd took the Ryan Tyrell and Tom Button Maximum Altitude straight to the lead from the jump and was never headed. The winner started at $6 and won by a length and a half.
The winner of the third race Boogielu made back-to-back wins on the Allman park track leading all the way in the Bessie Dingley Benchmark 55 (800m). Ridden by Lilli Barr for Tracey Wolfgram the winner was the popular pick with punters starting at $2,60 fav.
Jockey Jake Molloy sat patiently on He’s a Devil behind runaway leader Kiss the Lass in the next before making a race of it in the straight. The pair went stride for stride for about 100m before he’s A Devil under hard riding got the upper hand for Molloy and the $2.40 favourite was home.
The Desleigh Forster-trained Secret Cash started as a very short-priced favourite in the fifth.
The Gold Coast trained galloper was made to work hard in the straight only getting the better of the leader Well Branded inside the 200metres and would be one to watch when next it starts.
Bookmakers got a small reprieve when Royal Exit ($8) won the David Watt BM65 (1100m.)
Fish On was unwanted in the market in the seventh event. The $26 chance came from the rear of the field and swooped down the outside to reel in the leaders and went away to win by a half-length.
Past the post, there was a nasty fall with jockeys, Wanderson D’Avila and Michael Hellyer both taking a heavy tumble.
D’Avila sustained mild facial injuries in the incident and was taken to Warwick Base Hospital for observation and treatment. Hellyer was cleared of serious injury by ambulance officials but was stood down from his remaining engagements,
Georgina Wright got punters back in the game with a win on Toba the $4.40 favourite in the eighth event.
The second last event was also won by the favourite. Black Whitto gave claiming apprentice Jake Malloy a winning double when he saluted. Trained in Toowoomba by Lindsay Hatch the six-year-old wore down the leader in the straight to win by half a length on the line.
The Warwick Turf club do not race now until the big Boxing Day meeting on 26 December.
