And so we have reached the end of yet another year. They keep spinning faster that those before I am sure!
Well, local racing remains strong with Goondiwindi and Warwick both hosting regular strong meetings. The weather in 2023 was pretty kind to us. I’m looking forward to the day when the Gundy club can hold a $100k Tallwood Cup like the recent Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai. We still need more money for bush racing in Queensland
Queensland racing overall is strong , with well stocked winning stables in SEQ across the board. Eagle Farm, the Gold and Sunny Coasts and Toowoomba are all playing their part with many city winners. Tony Gollan and Jimmy Orman remain as the standout trainer and jockey in Brisbane. Some new training names like Adam Campton and Ryan Tyrell are making their mark in the big smoke. While the apprentice jockey ranks have never been stronger. Watch out for Tyler Leslight now that he has moved to Brisbane. He can ride. Lastly, we farewelled well known Queensland trainer Barry Baldwin who retired on 30 November.
I reckon the Queensland Winter Carnival was the strongest in a very long time, with Think About It and Without a Fight in the big Sydney and Melbourne feature wins.
Down south the Maher-Eustace bandwagon rolled on. How many Group Ones did they win across Australia in 2023?
Adrian Botts’ arrival as co-trainer at the Waterhouse stable has seen that outfit challenging Chris Waller in Sydney and Gail has a new lease on life. Annabel Neasham and James Cummings had good years, but were down on their 2022 stellar results. Chris Waller is still king despite the departure of Nature Strip. J Mac has no peer in the Sydney jockey ranks.
In Melbourne the young Lindsay Park Hayes training trio were flying. Ditto Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr were in the thick of it. Peter Moody is still a master horseman and I’m sure will train for a few years longer since he was joined by Katherine Coleman as co- trainer. Bussutin and Young are in the top bracket of trainers, and good to see Danny O’Brien back on top, following his horrendous Cobalt farce tribulations a few years back.
To my mind Melbourne has the strongest jockey room in Australia. When you have Lane, Oliver, Shinn, Dee, Kah and Williams with their saddles hanging on the wall it’s great racing. We farewelled the GOAT from race riding during the Spring Carnival.
Well the Freedman brothers in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and their sons were another highlight of the year. That mob can all train.
I thought the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals were tremendous and very well promoted and attended. Although I am having to master the skill of channel surfing to cover both states. I’m hopeful that next year the southerners can sort out their differences for the betterment of overall racing.
Happy New Year to my Ridges readers and I hope you had a Merry Christmas too.
Did Santa restock your betting bikkie tin?
