David Gilbert
MILLICENT racecourse was in the direct path of a tornado which ripped through the western side of Millicent in late December, causing a path of destruction in a narrow strip.
As a result, the racecourse which is used extensively as a training track these days, was in its path and has been forced to close.
Millicent Racing Club committeeman and life member Vince Bradley, who helps out with the maintenance of the track, said “the running rail is buckled over all the way around”.
“Trees have fallen over the outside running rail along the back straight and the track is closed for an indefinite period,” added MRC president John Payne.
“The matter is now in the hands of our insurance company and we expect an assessor to come out in the near future to inspect the damage.”
COLIN DID IT ALL
LIMESTONE Coast racing lost one of its biggest owners with the passing of Naracoorte’s Colin Richardson last month.
He died after a long illness at 89 years of age and his funeral service was held on December 22.
Richardson raced gallopers successfully over many decades with Naracoorte-based trainers Sue Murphy, Sue Jaensch and Barbara Marshman.
He had plenty of winners and was accustomed to winning plenty of country cups, especially with the Marshman trained Sly Rambler around 20 years ago.
However, being an owner was one of just a few bows in his string as he almost did it all in the racing game.
Richardson started out as a jockey, apprenticed to Doug Hall and won the South East apprentice’s title in 1950 with 37 wins for the season before increasing weight saw him switch to riding over the jumps, followed by a stint as a trainer..
He then turned to the administration side of racing and was secretary of the Naracoorte Racing Club for 10 years from 1969 before becoming a committeeman and stepping up to the presidency role in the mid 1990’s.
A quiet and reserved man, Colin was popular and approachable, mainly because of his vast knowledge of the racing industry and he always made you very welcome on Naracoorte race days.
OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
MINGBOOL trainer Jamie Opperman could not have wished for a better end to 2023.
A double on Bordertown Cup day on December 17 was quickly followed up with another double at Naracoorte last week.
These days, his veteran galloper Rohlon Drink does not win out of turn but he is somewhat of a track specialist at Naracoorte.
That was again the case last Friday when Rohlon Drunk landed some good wagers when successful in the 1200-metre BM 62 handicap at Naracoorte to register his sixth win there from 14 starts.
For winning apprentice, the four-kilogram claiming Victorian based Beau Treloar, it was his first ride in South Australia and his second career win, having had his debut success at Horsham almost a fortnight earlier.
Then Opperman combined with son/apprentice Jacob to be in the winner’s stall after Supreme Thunder (2.90-$3.70 fav.) produced the run of the day to win the 1430-metre BM 66 handicap.
In what was a handy field, Supreme Thunder stormed home from the rear of the field to make it two wins from four starts this preparation.
Jacob’s winning form continued the following day with a double at Morphettville which now has him in fourth spot on the metropolitan jockey’s premiership ladder, only three wins behind the leader Jake Toeroek.
Millicent trainer Jeremy Kenny has found the formula for success with the eight-year-old mare Snaptof, an all-the-way winner of the 1430-metre 0-54 handicap at Naracoorte.
Snaptof has discovered extra stamina in recent times and she broke her rivals’ hearts by leading up to five lengths at stages to give apprentice Alana Livesey a race-to-race double.
Surprisingly, only a small number of South East horses headed to the annual Nhill race meeting on Boxing Day.
Mount Gambier trainer Robert Schultz was glad he did after Two Kay Klick ($6) came from fourth last to win the 1150-metre BM 58 handicap at his third run this preparation.
“I’ll give him another couple of runs before a spell, and I am keen to run him over more ground,” a delighted Schultz said after being presented with the owner’s prize of a large gourmet hamper.
BACK IN THE WINNER’S LIST
FOR Jamie Opperman’s neighbour David Drury, it had been lean pickings as far as winners had been concerned at the Greenwald Paceway in 2023.
But the year ended on a high for the Mingbool harness trainer/driver with a double at the meeting on December 22, enabling him to surpass 300 career winners as a driver.
Maverick Star ($1.80 fav.) started the ball rolling with a narrow victory in race three after a two-horse war up the straight with Doctor Go Joh.
It was also heart in the mouth stuff for backers of stablemate The Notorious RBG ($1.30 fav.) who got up in the last few strides to take out the NR 40 pace.
The Notorious RBG ($2.10 fav.) then gave Drury a great start to 2024 when coming from mid field to win the NR 50 pace at Terang on Tuesday night.
However, at the last meeting here the honours went to the central Victorian pair of Zac Steenhuis (trainer) and Liam Older (driver) who combined to make it a winning treble for the night.
Their early Christmas presents came courtesy of Victory George ($1.45 fav.), Ourbeachbabe ($12) and Master Combatant ($2.50 fav.).
Jackie Barker had only the one winner for the night, but it was enough for the Hamilton-based driver to claim her first Greenwald Paceway premiership, pipping Mark Phillips (both 11 wins) by virtue of more second placings.
Barker brought Hez All Rock with a well-timed run from well back to win the NR 45 pace and give Drumborg trainer Rebecca East her 10th local winner of the year.
It was East’s first local premiership also, to complement previous titles won at Horsham and Stawell.
ANOTHER SMART YOUNGSTER
THE Alyce Finnis stable is developing the knack of producing successful two and three-year-old pacers.
Joining that group is the up-and-coming Gunna Rock, a two-year-old gelding who has burst on the scene with two wins and a second from just three starts.
After a debut second at Globe Derby in September, Gunna Rock had little trouble winning his maiden here on December 22.
The youngster was backed with confidence ($2-$1.80 fav.) and had a two-horse war with Goodwood before sprinting brilliantly from the top of the straight for a simple 14.5 metre victory.
Finnis then backed him up quickly at Victor Harbor five days later for an impressive win over 1660 metres.
Regular driver Jayson Finnis was in the sulky and Gunna Rock ($1.40 fav.) came from last at the bell to score running away by 8.5 metres.
Mount Schank trainer Graeme Howard took four runners to St Arnaud last week and came home with a winner in the float.
That was Grinning Reactor ($8.50) in the 2150-metre maiden pace, driven by son Brent, when the four year old wore down the odds on favourite Peppercorn Barry to score by half a neck.
COMING UP
Tuesday night, January 9: Mount Gambier harness racing at Greenwald Paceway; Thursday, January 11: Coonawarra Vigneron’s Cup meeting at Penola.
