Scoring the win of a lifetime
Rockhampton’s Ken McCaffery is sitting in the box seat to score the win of a lifetime if Think About It, the super horse he part-owns takes out the world’s richest thoroughbred race on
turf, the $20 Million The Everest at Royal Randwick today.
The running of the 1200-metre Everest is an important milestone in history as it is the first $20 Million horse race in Australia after prizemoney was increased by $5 Million from $15
Million last year.
Think About It has won 10 of its 11 race starts including eight on the bounce and over $3.4 Million.
The five year old So You Think gelding’s victories include the Group one Stradbroke Handicap and the Group one Kingsford Smith Cup last winter in Brisbane.
According to his Sydney trainer Joe Pride Think About It has had the perfect preparation for the big race in which his Warwick Farm stable is also represented by last year’s runner-up
Private Eye.
Pride and jockey Sam Clipperton are brimming with confidence after Think About It’s first-up victory in the Group two Premiere Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago and the lightly raced galloper appears to be getting stronger weekly.
Think About It and the Peter Moody-trained I Wish I Win, the winner of the Group one T J Smith Stakes are the two popular elects in the betting.
I Wish I Win has drawn barrier one.
McCaffrey, a Life Member of the RJC and a past RJC Committeeman is a founder of Australian Livestock Marketing Rockhampton and he has been linked to the Rockhampton
Jockey Club for decades.
McCaffrey oversaw Rocky’s first Central Queensland Thoroughbred Yearling Sale, managing the inaugural sales event under the Elders AML banner on 10 April 1983.
McCaffery can’t believe his luck in is impending retirement.
“I’m finally in the ownership of a really good horse and I am enjoying the ride, I won’t be missing a thing and plan to see him race wherever he goes,” McCaffery told me recently.
Think About It has drawn Barrier five and will be ridden by Sam Clipperton with I Wish I Win (Luke Nolen) to run from Barrier one.
Accomplished South American jockey Raul Silvera has ridden his first Australian winner and as if it was scripted, it happened at CQ’s racing headquarters, Callaghan Park last Sunday.
Silvera had four rides and almost rode a double, winning the BM Handicap on the Jamie McConachy-trained Antagoniser.
He was beaten just centimetres riding the Michael Evans-trained Thunder Knob, who finished runner-up to the Graeme Green-trained Desert Moon in the 0-55 Handicap.
The 32-year-old Uruguayan is a highly experienced and very successful Group race-winning rider who has been in the saddle since he was 14.
Commencing as a professional jockey 12 years ago, Silvera rode in 2470 races overseas- winning 264 of them before making the move to Rockhampton this season.
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission licensed Silvera to ride in races here in September.
Weighing in at just 53kg, Silvera has been a welcome addition to the CQ jockey ranks having recent mounts in Mackay, Yeppoon as well as Rockhampton and he is in high demand each morning to ride horses trackwork at Callaghan Park.
Rocky’s Tash Chambers finished last season on a high winning the Gladstone Jockey Premiership.
Today she joins several other local jockeys and trainers at Emerald.
Chambers has a full book of mounts on the five-race program including last start Gladstone winner Svindal for Gladstone trainer Ian Prizeman in the Country Cups Challenge Qualifier (1850m).
Callaghan Park jockeys Warwick Satherley, and Dale Evans and apprentices Nikki Olzard and McKenzie Apel also have rides at the meeting with local Rocky trainers Tom Smith, Nick
Walsh, Peter Fleming, Graeme Green, Clinton Taylor, Ricky Vale, and Kristie Clark-Peoples all starting horses there.
Callaghan Park is set for a bumper Caulfield Cup race day, next Saturday, 21 October.
All function areas have been in great demand with bookings with reserve bookings almost at capacity.
Limited tickets are still available online for the Garden Party, however the Good Tides Good Times Paddock enclosure is sold out.
Guests can log into callaghanpark.com.au or 07 4937 4000 for more details.
The event will see the official opening of the new function room, office extensions, and the race view deck.
General Admission to Caulfield Cup Day at Callaghan is available online or at the gate.
Book online to Save $5 on the $25 general admission fee.
Saturday 25 November will herald the RJC’s glamour event of the year, the 2023 Gala Ball at Callaghan Park.
The evening is a great celebration for the RJC Gold Club Members and all guests.
Dance the night away with a three-course dinner, beers, wines, sparkling and spirits.
Great value for RJC Members with tickets at $200pp.
Non-Members $250pp. Contact the RJC administration office for bookings: callaghanpark.com.au or 07 4937 4000
2024 RJC Membership renewals and New Memberships are now open. Memberships for the Calendar year make great Christmas presents and gifts. Single Memberships -$150 and Full Membership (2 badges) – $200.
