IN his widely-read weekly column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on how the visitors stole the show at the Super Saturday of racing in Townsville when the Cup and Cleveland Bay highlighted the card.

Here is the Butts column which has become a popular feature on this web-site.

'HOW the West Was Won was a movie of epic proportions. Maybe it is time for a remake – How the West Keeps Winning.

And there’s no trouble with location – Cluden Park Racecourse in Townsville. For they came this year and conquered - handsomely.

Heart, after a superb ride by the Wanderson d’Vila, the shy little South American we told you about a few weeks ago, scored a brilliant win in the Cleveland Bay which will go down in history as one of the best.

The former Tony Noonan-trained sprinter had the last crack at the gallant favorite, Trusted Partner, which found the track just a little too hard for his fragile knees that have caused him and his trainer Gary Dickson considerable concern for months.

Sadly, it’s probably the last we will see of either horse.

Heart is already back in Mount Isa and is likely to head on to Birdsville, while Trusted Partner simply has to get away from the hard tracks.

The Townsville Cup wasn’t won by a westerner, but by a much-travelled southerner from NSW.

Tora Tora Tora, which has had quite a few stables in four states, came all the way from Dubbo to beat the Toowoomba-trained Yield Curve in another thriller.

Again, Roy Chillemi, who has won every major race in the area several times over, remains a Townsville Cup ‘maiden’. The heavily-backed favorite Common Objective let him down, as well as the myriad of punters who clambered to take the short odds on offer and were left with their tickets.

And they knew their fate a long way from home when the costly Redoute’s Choice gelding was toiling in the ruck as the big field wheeled around the final turn. Maybe next year!

Keith Ballard at his best

THE evergreen Keith Ballard, with 1500 winners in an exceptional riding career, hoisted the western flag early when he took the Maiden on Just Lush. He then booted home The Beast two races later.

The westerners were already on a roll.

Then along came Brawled, which landed some big wagers when he won the Class 1. Bookies bet big odds about him in that grade. He actually ran fifth in a Pago Pago Stakes two years ago!

And if that wasn’t enough, young trainer Jay Morris put the saddle on Heart and collected the Cleveland Bay. There were wild scenes in the mounting yard as owner Andrew Saunders (the ABC Radio manager in the copper city) led him back to some very excited stable followers.

And there was still more. Barcaldine trainer Todd Austin made the long trip from the west with King of the Kongo. And the former Brisbane galloper, ridden patiently by the former Townsville jock Kelvin Wharton, landed some big wagers in the last.

It was just a case of more icing on the cake. Visitors won seven of the eight races.

The only local winner was Julie Bell’s bargain buy, Jenelle, which won her second QTIS race in 10 days when she held off the unlucky Been Broke Before in an all-Townsville finish.

Vale, Peter Mitchell

THE racing fraternity was saddened with the passing of well-known ABC radio personality and racing and sporting commentator Peter Mitchell last week.

Peter had a big following on his Saturday morning sports program, and his reports at Cowboys’ home games.

He was always active in the community and was for years the Townsville Turf Club’s MC on big days.

His presence on the presentation rostrum on Saturday was sadly missed.

Prairie Cup day

ALL roads lead to Prairie in north-western Queensland next weekend for a meeting that earlier in the year was in grave doubt.

But a ‘relaxing’ of Queensland Racing’s compliance requirements relating to track safety and facilities will see the Prairie Cup run again.

And it promises to be a bottler, with horses from Charters Towers, Townsville and Mackay set to clash with stables from Julia Creek, Richmond and Hughenden.

Prairie is a quaint little town, with a pub and little else. It was once famous for its snags, and Prairie Cup day.

And, apparently, it was once the favored watering hole of Breaker Morant.

‘Crunch’ Day for Townsville Racing

FRIDAY is D-day for the Townsville Turf Club.

Senior representatives of the club will meet the big brass of Queensland Racing to decide their immediate and long-term future.

TTC claims it doesn’t know what might result.

“We have been asked to attend a meeting with Bob Bentley, and that’s all we know,” a spokesman said.

But you can bet it is all about a proposition for a joint venture between the club and QR, similar to what has already occurred in Rockhampton and Caloundra.

The likely response from TTC will be interesting.

There are some committee members totally opposed to any joint venture arrangement.

But it’s all to do with on-going finance, and that’s where QR might have the whip hand.

COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER

TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .