Princess on the run

By Rockhampton Jockey Club CEO Ian Mill

Welcome back readers,

Well now that I am on a bit of a winning streak with the tips make sure you keep in mind Princess Tenko at Doomben races today, that of course being Saturday, July 22.

You may recall me telling you about Princess Tenko being the horse to follow out of the club’s recent running on the TAB Rockhampton Newmarket Handicap (1300m).

She was awfully unlucky being caught wide as many as three horses out during the staging of the race.

How she found the intestinal fortitude to battle on so courageously and only be beaten less than a half-length by winner Roman Aureus amazed me and many others.

In my opinion that stamped Princess Tenko as a very special horse and opinion shared by her Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor.

After the Newmarket run, Clinton mentioned setting Princess Tenko for Townsville’s major sprint, the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap (1300m) up there on Saturday, August 12.

Anyhow, in the meantime Clinton discovered a very suitable race, a Benchmark 78 over 1350 metres at Doomben today.

Everything was going to plan, that is until the barrier draw was done last Wednesday morning (July 19).

Those barrier draws can make or break a horse’s race prospects and unfortunately on this occasion it resulted in the latter.

“The draw was a real dampener as I was fairly confident about her prospects before she came up with 19 barrier”, Clinton related to Tony McMahon.

Anyhow, the trainer explained that on second thoughts as there is a long straight run from the 1350 metres starting point at Doomben, Princess Tenko may get across and not be caught too wide.

Clinton Taylor went on to say that Princess Tenko had been training brilliantly since her Newmarket second and he could not have been happier with her.

She has the right man on top to try to overcome the horrendous barrier draw in jockey Jimmy Orman.

Orman has won on Princess Tenko previously when she was trained by Kelly Schweida in Brisbane.

Jimmy Orman has certainly been in the news of late as he is engaged in a tight duel with NSW jockey Aaron Bullock for the premiership title in the Australian Jockeys table for the 2022/23 season.

As well West Australian jockey William Pike is also right there in the running, by chiming in late.

It concludes on July 31.

I compiled this column on Thursday morning and on the Racing Australia website at 9.30am, Orman and Pike had recorded 186 winners with Bullock on 185.5.

Pike has really made a late charge, so it is going to be a great contest over the next nine days.

Orman is so keen to win the Australian title that he flew up to ride at our Rockhampton Jockey Club race meeting at Callaghan Park last Thursday before me writing this column.

One thing is for sure being that Jimmy Orman will be as keen as mustard for Princess Tenko to win this afternoon (22/7) at Doomben.

All she needs readers is some luck from the wide barrier and I believe if that falls into place you will be collecting. Good luck.

As well of course just noticed Roman Aureus, our RJC Newmarket winner also runs at Doomben in the eighth race, and it is a solid chance as well.

A couple of other horses with Rockhampton connections are also going around at Doomben.

Tom Button and Ryan Tyrell have Jemeldi which has many Rockhampton and CQ owners involved, running in the sixth race there the QTIS 3YO over 1050 metres.

No luck with the barrier draw there either as Jemeldi has drawn out at 11 stall.

Jemeldi was a close third at his last Brisbane start recently over 1200 metres and once again if he gets some luck during the race has to be a live chance.

I notice that Justin Stanley is also riding in that race and will be aboard Matilly which has brilliant form.

Justin more than likely would have had a very busy book of rides at today’s Mackay Cup races so the fact he has bypassed that suggests he is very keen on Matilly chances.

As well Justin will ride Thelwell for Sharyn Livingstone in the seventh race at Doomben and it looks an each-way chance to me as well.

That is the same race that another of our Rockhampton horses in the John “Wiggo” Wigginton Sidearm will be contesting.

Sidearm has won twice recently up this way and from the ideal inside barrier he will run a good race so is worth a tote ticket as well.

Gee, John Wigginton is going to have to spread himself around this Saturday (July 22) (hypothetically of course) as he is also represented by In Evidence at the Mackay Cup TAB races.

Readers, I am very keen on In Evidence’s winning prospects, but you will have to get in early.

As I say, early bird readers of my column reap the benefits as In Evidence is engaged in the first Mackay race at 12.29pm.

I reckon this horse has a big future and it was only condition that beat it when a good second at Callaghan Park a few weeks ago when resuming from a spell.

As usual a sizeable fleet of Callaghan Park horses will be heading to Mackay where our trainers have outstanding winning records.

A total of 37 from Rockhampton are listed among the 88 acceptors for the Mackay Cup program.

Never one for math’s, I got the old calculator going and determined this figure comprised 42.045 percent of the starters at Mackay.

It has been around that figure or even more at times for the Mackay meetings this season.

As I have been telling you over the last 12 months or so readers, back Rockhampton trained starters at Mackay and you’ll be close to the winning mark.

The hardest part is there are so many to choose from.

Ricky Vale trained Namazu is topweight in The Mackay Cup and has outstanding winning prospects.

His win under 61kg at Mackay just over a week ago over 1800 metres was a joy to watch.

The young rider McKenzie Apel indentured to Ricky Vale allowed Namazu to run along in front and at one stage he led the field in the 1800 metres race by as much as 10 lengths.

It was McKenzie’s first winning ride from just four race rides.

Anyhow, Namazu is the class horse in the Mackay Cup and should win again.

Enough of tipping as my column is starting to read like an extract from the old Sportsman newspaper which was a specialist racing form guide and tipping guide.

Those were the days pre-televised live racing where punters were armed with transistor radios to their ears.

In this era, transistor radios have been replaced by mobile phones.

Got me thinking.

I wonder how many mobile phones are in use in Australia?

According to my research, it is estimated that almost 21 million Smart or mobile phones are in use in this country.

I delved further and found that the current population is 26,393,536 while another site says 26,452,601.

Anyhow whatever, it indicates that not too many Aussies are without mobile phones, or could it be that some folks have more than one?

Bet (there I go again) you didn’t expect to read that in my CQ Today column, did you?

Over at Callaghan Park, as you can imagine, we have been very busy on and off the track.

We have the new equine treadmill machine in operation.

Trainers have been given instructions on how to use the machine and our administration officer Heidi Butler has been guiding them through the ropes of a morning this week.

This has been implemented to ensure that trainers understand how to use this valuable machine correctly.

It will be an invaluable tool for trainers to work with.

Also, the club has been able to finally source an overseas track work rider in Prinish Goordin.

Trainer Jamie McConachy has been assisting Prinish of a morning at Callaghan Park trackwork after his arrival earlier this week.

Welcome to Rockhampton Prinish.

Upsetting to hear that one of our Callaghan Park trainers in John Poots was seriously injured in an accident while riding a horse on his property about 10 days ago.

John underwent multiple surgery in Brisbane to remove pressure on his brain.

The good news is that there has been improvement in his condition.

Each year around this time I am asked if I could list the dates of the Northern Racing Carnivals.

Happy to oblige.

First things first though, the RJC race meetings coming up at Callaghan Park are on Thursday, August 3 and 17 and Tuesday, August 29.

Mackay concludes today with the running of its Cup.

Then up to Townsville for the Lightning and Magic Millions Guineas Day on Sunday, August 6.

Back to Cluden racecourse Townsville on Saturday, August 12 for the $150,000 Townsville Cup (2000m) and the $100,000 Cleveland Bay (1300m) with many Rockhampton horses going there.

Then you and the horses trek further north to Cairns for the $75,000 Newmarket (1400m) races on Saturday, August 19.

A week later the Cairns Jockey Club runs the $150,000 Cairns Cup (2100m) and the MM Guineas.

We stay on at Cairns for the massive Cairns Amateur Club Race Day on Saturday, September 9 for the $100,000 Cup and $75,000 Amateur Sprint.

After that I would suggest we will all need a spell.

Yours in Racing Ian Mill.

Remember readers gamble responsibly especially if you are following my tips.