IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, questions how many Racing Queensland ‘officials’ will enjoy a junket to Cairns for the big Amateur meeting this weekend.
Butts also questions why SKY is keen to have a presence at the Cairns Amateurs but at this stage the word is they will be ignoring the Townsville Cup meeting a fortnight later when the new track is the star of the show.
Here is his column:
HOW MANY ‘OFFICIALS GUESTS’ FROM RQ WILL JUNKET AT CAIRNS AMATEURS?
THE corporate jets no longer take up all the available parking space at Cairns Airport as they did in the high flying days of Cairns Amateur week – during the boom years.
And many of the big name international sponsors are not as prevalent as in years past.
But Cairns Amateurs nevertheless remains a major racing carnival in the north, if not the biggest. A highly popular venue for partying ‘n’ punting, high fashion ‘n’ hi-jinx.
Cannon Park is a virtual Who’s Who of Queensland racing over the two days, and in spite of claims the industry is suffering a severe case of financial stress, we are told that the principal body – Racing Queensland – will be ‘officially represented’ by several staff who just ‘have’ to visit Cairns this weekend – irrespective of cost.
We hope the rumour is wrong but no doubt someone will be counting.
SKY IN CAIRNS PARTY MOOD BUT IGNORING THE TOWNSVILLE CUP?
IT seems that SKY is also in the party mood.
We hear popular and accomplished presenter Michael Maxworthy will head the team to provide live interviews from the Cairns Amateurs this weekend, which is great news.
But what isn’t so great is the news that SKY won’t be providing the same service for Townsville Cup day two weeks later.
It is not just Townsville Cup on that day – Cluden will host two other $100,000 races as well – the Parry NQ and the Cleveland Bay.
It is without question the biggest race day in provincial or country Queensland but – at time of going to press – SKY, our so-called national provider of all things racing, is ignoring it.
Unbelievable!
CLASH OF DATES SAW EMERGENCE OF PROMISING YOUNG APPRENTICE
WHOEVER made the decision to allocate dates for Birdsville and Mt Isa to race on the same day should be delivered a ‘show cause’. Obviously it was the same person who had the mistaken belief Prairie and Julia Creek wouldn’t be a clash last month.
But there are a couple of budding young Brisbane apprentices who aren’t complaining about last weekend’s clash with Birdsville.
Because of it (the clash) Mt Isa was left with insufficient jockeys (as most were in Birdsville) and an SOS went out after acceptances on Thursday to Shane Scriven, the apprentice master at RQ.
Three youngsters were soon on a plane heading for the Isa – and each rode a winner – in fact Jag Guthmann-Chester rode two.
But not only that!
Jag was having only his 10th race ride when he landed the second winner Flamingo Rose for Tanya Parry, which defeated the more fancied stablemate, Guswald.
He had his first day at the races just two weeks ago at Gympie and rode a winner. Next week he rode at Gatton, another winner, then on Saturday at Mt Isa a double. In 10 rides over three weeks young Jag (he is only16) has ridden four winners.
He weighs only 46 kilos and two years ago had never even patted a horse – let alone rode one.
Jag is apprenticed to Bruce Hill who describes him as ‘a great kid with the right attitude.’
“He turned up at the stables one day and said he wanted to be a jockey.
“I told him to finish school and then come back to see me.
“He did – and has made remarkable progress.”
Hill is the former master of Tegan Harrison and Mathew McGuren.
Young Jag has some boots to fill, but according to his master, he is ‘well on the way’.
SOME SAD LOSSES OF RACING LEGENDS – BOTH HORSE AND HUMAN
THE first week of spring brought much sadness to the racing community with the passing of legends, both horse and human.
At 87, the invincible Bart Cummings left us, and that devastating news was followed by the passing of Toowoomba race-broadcaster of great renown Pat O’Shea. And early last week north and western Queensland lost a great stalwart in Col Smith, who passed away after a long illness.
On Friday morning the recent Cairns Cup winner and likely favourite for this week’s Amateur Cup had to be euthanized after a bizarre track work incident at Atherton. Seafight, a prolific winner of almost $200,000 in stakes, simply stumbled during trackwork, dislodged his regular rider Ronnie Ryan and what happened next is an absolute tragedy. The reins apparently got caught on a gate post.
“The resultant damage was so severe there was no hope of saving him,” said distraught trainer Janel Ryan.
“We were planning a trip to Brisbane after the northern carnivals. He was going so well,” she said.
Janel said the horse had ‘come up’ better than ever this year after a campaign last year that she said was a little below par.
“We blamed the Hendra virus vaccination for that.
“He won the Cairns Amateur Cup two years ago – and last year just wasn’t the same.”
But he had won two of his three starts this year and was shaping up to regain the Amateur Crown on Saturday with his regular Cups jockey Robert Thompson.
COL Smith came to the coast after several years at Mt Isa and quickly established himself in Mackay as a trainer of sound judgement whose horses were always well respected by rival trainers.
He had tremendous stats – 43% win and 80% place last year – before ill-health forced him into retirement in February.
Smith had some very good gallopers over the years and in most recent times applied the polish to Weathervane which was placed in last year’s Townsville Cup.
NO MAJOR SURPRISES IN CAIRNS AMATEUR CUP NOMINATIONS
THERE were no major surprises when the Cairns Amateur Cup nominations were released on Monday underlining the dearth of good stayers in the region.
The surprise was, however, the number of horses nominated for the two day meeting. Most minor races on both days have attracted maximum fields.
The only danger now is the rain. As we all know the Cannon Park track it not conducive to a lot of moisture – a mere 15ml can cause a lot of damage to the temperamental turf.
But let's hope the forecast is wrong again.
The Burdekin Race Club pulled the right rein last week when electing to race this Sunday to avoid a clash with the Cairns Amateur Cup day.
And by all reports the Home Hill track is the best it’s been for years after considerable work has been carried out in recent weeks to ensure, not only safety, but a good racing surface.
And talking of that, there were good reports from jockeys who rode at Bowen last Saturday. The track was ‘much better’ was the comment of leading local rider, Graham Kliese.
And finally, the new Cluden track got the thumbs up from jockeys and officials after jump-outs were conducted last Friday. There was the odd ‘naysayer’ of course, but the consensus of those qualified to judge was all good.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
