Well, it wasn’t to be for Fan Girl on Saturday.
She just got caught cluttered up on the fence and couldn’t get a run in. I won’t take it away from the great run by Zaaki and Think It over though. A thrilling finish. Nash Rawiller rode Think it Over like a hand in a glove and managed to literally push the horse over the line to a great win.
What a race the Group1 Makybe Diva Stakes saw Mr Brightside steamroll through the 1600m. With nine wins of 13 starts at the mile, he just seemed to do it on his ear with Craig Williams along for the ride. The punters were happy as they were piled on.
Alligator Blood came in a good second. Francesco Guardi did not go unnoticed making great ground down the straight.
In the Kingston Town Stakes, Just Fine was just fine! Trained by the Waterhouse/Bott camp the horse romped it in. There were no favours from his stable mate Knights Order. It was a very impressive win.
Was great to see Zac Lloyd have a convincing win on the Chris Waller trained Tiz Invincible after what was a bit of a bad day’s racing for the young man.
Old tugger’s favourite Peter Moody started the weekend well with filly Time Of My Life breaking her maiden on debut Friday in Geelong. As a half sister to Winx the stable there is of course a bit of a buzz as they look towards the Scarborough Stakes.
Congratulations to Barry Baldwin reaching a milestone during the week, just a few years shy of the Old Tugger. Barry’s training career has seen him in Roma, Toowoomba, Brisbane and Macau. Based on track at Eagle Farm these days and still training. The larrickinism may have slowed just a little but the twinkle is still there. Happy 80th birthday.
David Fowler talked up a horse when at the Bernborough lunch in Brisbane on Friday. So, keep an eye on, Show Me Mercy. He thinks it’s the next big thing in racing.
One for the books, leviathan horse owner John Manzelmann had eight of the nine starters at Yepoon last week and still didn’t win the race. That honour went to Sidearm. Manzelmann righted the defeat in the next race where he had six of the seven starters, his neddy beat his only non-runner by a lip. Good old John’s support made the day viable.
James McDonald is back in the saddle on Giga Kick. Craig Williams given the boot after connections unhappy with his last ride on the horse. So, James, who is returning from a broken foot will be riding in the Everest. What a race this will be.
Paddy and Mick were at the pub looking out the window at the traffic. “I brought the mother in law a Jaguar for her birthday,” Mick said. “Gees Paddy I thought you didn’t like her.”
“I don’t and neither does the Jaguar. He has bitten her twice!”
