By TERRY BUTTS of the NQ REGISTER

PETER MOODY, Townsville’s special guest over the Cup carnival, had a swipe at officialdom during an entertaining speech at last Friday’s Calcutta.

Moody was not a wrap for the current administration – and the way racing is going in Queensland – and he is certainly not alone there.

He gave special mention to the recent appointment of a new senior steward which set the tongues wagging.

My spies tell me Racing Minister Grace Grace would have been somewhat relieved when Moods ended his address delivered to an enthralled audience.

They responded with sustained applause in obvious agreement with his comments on what little RQ and Government is doing for regional racing.

It was Moody’s first visit to Townsville but, like everywhere else he has been – from Mascot to Royal Ascot – he certainly made an impression.

Hopefully, Grace Grace this time will heed his advice – delivered freely – and solely for the sake of Queensland.

 

MCGILLIVRAY RIDING WINNERS WHILE AWAITING APPEAL OUTCOME

WE still wait with interest the QCAT date for the appeal of jockey Mathew McGillivray for the 10-day suspension incurred at Townsville on June 20.

He is the jockey of the moment in Brisbane and said yesterday he had no idea when the appeal with be heard but he is not concerned so long as he keeps riding winners.e- but he is not concered so long as he keeps cridingf winners

 

ROCKHAMPTON HORSES DOMINATED THE TOWNSVILLE CARNIVAL

ROCKHAMPTON horses continued their onslaught at the Townsville carnival last Saturday taking both the coveted Cleveland Bay and the Townsville Cup in a day of total domination.

Favourite Chivadahli , under a perfect ride  by the redoubtable Bobby El-Issa, edged out another Rocky-trained galloper Legal Procedure (unlucky) in a thrilling finish to a somewhat farcically-run Cup and Chris Whiteley on Heartbreak Harry landed the Cleveland Bay by an eyelash over the heavily-backed Drumbeat’s Choice trained by former  Rocky trainer Tom Bourke, now domiciled at Caloundra. The result was an enormous thrill for Tommy Button whose dad Tony won the Cleveland Bay 17 years ago to the day with Yallah Stinger.

Tommy, a former top apprentice, had a stint in the Army after a short and successful riding career but stepped into the big shoes of his father a few years ago at Callaghan Park and has been an instant success. Saturday’s Cleveland Bay would rank among his greatest triumphs.

IT was a big day. The story of the Cup can be summed up by the fact that the overall time was slower than a BM65 over the same distance – yet the Cup’s final 600m was run 2.3secs faster.

Another ex-Rocky trainer Garnet Taylor and his star apprentice Corey Bayliss kicked off the day with a double in the first two races, including the BM65 winner Bold and Groovy which was in fact first emergency for the Cup.

Locals Oosthuizen and Septimo kept the local flag flying thanks to masterly rides by evergreen Nathan Day who has returned from injury in sparkling form.