MARY COLLIER GETS JOCKEYS PRESIDENCY - BRAD BISHOP AND KEEPING PACE TALK MENANGLE SUNDAY - AND GREYHOUNDS QUEENSLAND NEED A STEWARD

QLD Jockeys’

Association

PO Box 14

Clayfield QLD 4011

p. 07 3351 6348

f. 07 3351 6348

m. 0401 666 745

 

 

 

 

The Queensland Jockeys’ Association (QJA) has announced the appointment of Ms Mary Collier as its President, effective immediately.

 

Ms Collier brings significant experience in racing administration to the role, having been a former Director and Chairman of the Brisbane Turf Club.

 

Ms Collier stated: “Queensland has a strong tradition of producing some of the best jockeys in the nation and the Queensland Jockeys’ Association is proud to represent and advance their interests.

 

I am delighted to accept this new challenge. I look forward to strengthening and modernising the association and working with all jockeys throughout

Queensland to improve their position, particularly in the areas of health, safety, education and financial planning.”

 

The QJA expresses its sincere thanks to outgoing President, Mr Richard Pratt, who resigned last week after serving in the role with distinction for more than a decade.

 

Mr Jason Taylor remains as Vice-President and Mrs Pam O’Neill continues in the roles of Treasurer/Secretary of the QJA.

 

Ms Collier will also become a Director of the Australian Jockeys’ Association, which holds its annual National Jockey Celebration Day this Saturday 6

March 2010.

 

“This day is a wonderful initiative that seeks to recognise the contribution that both former and current jockeys have made to the thoroughbred racing industry, to commemorate those jockeys who have lost their lives in riding accidents, and to raise funds for the National Jockeys Trust.

 

I encourage everyone who loves racing to support this initiative by purchasing some National Jockey Celebration Day merchandise at the Tattersall’s Race day at Eagle Farm on Saturday”, Ms Collier stated.

 

 

Further enquiries regarding this Media Release should be directed to Mary Collier on mobile phone 0403 506 073.

Starting the day off with the “Mini Trot Interdominion” which Queensland has two representatives in separate divisions giving both the opportunity to greet the judge. “Paleface Katie” will be driven by Ethan Manzelmann and “Junk Yard Dog” by Michaela Manzelmann.

 

The season’s award winning young driver Peter McMullen representing his state will line up at gate one on “Bluey Mahoney”.

 

We have four of the states top 3-year-olds competing for prizemoney of $100,000. Those four are:

1)   For A Reason (4) trained and driven by Luke McCarthy.

2)   Maywyn Jasper (7) trained by Shane Sanderson and driven by Natalie Rasmussen.

3)   Major Bronski (9) trained by Stuart Hunter and driven by Chris Alford.

4)   Inthelightofday (10) trained and driven by John McCarthy.

 

Be Good Johnny (8) trained and driven by John McCarthy and the Natalie Rasmussen trained and driven Western Cam (10), turned in impressive runs in the heats just missing a run in the final. A quinella wouldn’t surprise.

 

Washakie (1) trained and driven by John McCarthy.

Black’s A Fake (3) trained and driven by Natalie Rasmussen.

Atomic Ark (4) trained by Natalie Rasmussen and driven by Grant Dixon. 1 & 3 adds up to 4 could this be the trifecta numbers for omen punters?

 

Passion N Glory (10) trained by Phillip Mitchell and driven by Chris Petroff.

Ran second in the heats at Newcastle coming off a sequence of six straight winns.

 

A bit of trivia to share in that this is the richest ever group of best performed finalists competing in the Inter Dominion Championship, the 10 finalists include 5 millionaires with Blackie heading the list with close to $4million. Between them, they have won $14,827,297 - an average of almost $1.5 million each. The field comprises six horses from New Zealand, three from Queensland and one from Victoria.

 

Blackie’s quest for Inter Dominion history moved a step closer to reality with the ideal barrier draw of (3) and he could now vie for favouritism with Monkey King (5). Watch out for Washakie from gate (1) as he’s the big shortener in the betting. He will fire out of the gate and will play catch me if you can, so expect a very fast run race over the 2300 metres journey, possibly in record time.

 

Draw with current odds: TAB Sportsbet Washakie ($3.80) Our Awesome Ambro($18) Blacks A Fake ($3.20) Atomic Ark ($31) Monkey King ($2.30) Baileys Dream ($23) Changeover ($31) Bondy ($26) Mr Feelgood ($21) Smoken Up ($23).

 

You can bet the $3.20 will soon be snapped up for Blackie the sentimental horse and we hear that NSW have adopted him, as they don’t have a runner, so on Sunday afternoon, those not on track will be glued to their television screens cheering him on.

 

 Good luck to all.

You don’t have to go far to find someone who'll tell you Just Callme Cullen would have been a worthy participant in this year’s Watpac Inter Dominion in New South Wales.

 

Although six years of age, he has had just 31 starts for 13 wins, the latest of which was a track record-equalling success over the 2240 metres at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

 

But when this year’s Watpac Inter Dominion culminates at Menangle on Sunday, the son of Christian Cullen will be recovering from a run in his home state of Victoria.

 

The Rod Dyer-trained, Scott Dyer-driven improver will tackle the likes of Ohoka Nevada, Broadway Play and Ti Vogliobene in the $20,000 SEW-Eurodrive Free-For-All at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

 

“We weren’t overly disappointed that he didn’t get a run (in ID10) this year, but I’ve got no doubt that if he was there he would have held his end up well,” Scott Dyer said of the last horse balloted from this year’s Inter Dominion.

 

“If he’s still going as well as what he is now next year we’ll be there (in Christchurch) for sure.”

 

Last time out Just Callme Cullen overcame barrier 12 to round up his rivals for a 1:55.7 win at Tabcorp Park and the start before that posted a 1:56.8 win over 2150m at Bendigo.

 

They have been his only two starts since returning to the Dyers’ Romsey stable from an ill-fated Tasmanian trip where he only logged one minor placing from four starts.

 

“He didn’t go as well as we thought he would in Tasmania, but it was his first trip away and he’s a little bit sooky, so he might have just sooked up a little bit,” Dyer said.

 

“He’s glad to be home now, though, and his work’s been top class. It hasn’t surprised us at all how well he’s gone his past couple.”

 

Just Callme Cullen has barrier one on Friday night and while Dyer conceded he doesn’t have blistering early speed, you won’t hear him complaining about drawing the pole.

 

“He’s probably not blessed with huge gate speed, but he’s led a couple of times when he’s drawn one and two,” Dyer said.

 

“It looks like there’s a bit of speed there, but he doesn’t have to lead just because he’s got (barrier) one. It won’t be the end of the world if we do get crossed, but ideally I’d like to be in the first three or four.”

 

The SEW-Eurodrive FFA is the main event on a card that includes three $15,000 heats of the Rising Stars Pace, which culminates with a $25,000 final at Tabcorp Park on Friday night, March 12.

 

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This year’s Inter Dominion Trotting Championship won’t be decided on Sunday, but the crowd at Menangle for the pacing championship crescendo will get to see this year’s squaregaiting titleholder in action.

 

Nagambie trainer Chris Lang is taking Sundons Gift north for the $50,000 Group 1 Sunnyfield Trotters Mile – the trotters’ event on the 10-race card headlined by the Watpac Inter Dominion Pacing Final.

 

“It’s good that they’ll have both Inter Dominion champions there on the same day,” Lang said.

 

“It’s a bit of a shame they don’t run the trotters and pacers series concurrently, but it’s a great initiative by Harness Racing New South Wales to put this race on and we’ll be there giving it our best shot.”

 

Sundons Gift (barrier three) and fellow highly-rated Victorians Cillas Earl (six), Ronerail (seven) and Acacia Ridge (10) will tackle classy local mare Misscshells (one) in the 1609-metre event at 3.10pm.

 

It will be Sundons Gift’s first outing since effortlessly winning the SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Trotting Final on February 6, but Lang has kept the five-time Group 1 winner up to the mark with a couple of solid trials.

 

“He trialled on Monday night at Bendigo and he also trialled last Tuesday at Kilmore,” Lang reported.

 

“He met the fast-class pacers at Kilmore and he got out of the gate (well) again from a wider draw at Bendigo, so he seems very sharp, which he’ll need to be over the mile on Sunday.”

 

It will also be the Sundon eight-year-old’s first look at the Menangle 1400-metre circuit, a track Lang thinks will be right up his stable star’s alley.

 

“Not many horses are as brave as him and I think it’s going to be tough for others to sustain the sort of run that he’ll need to on that big track with a long straight,” Lang said.

 

Providing he comes through that race well, Sundons Gift will back up in the Maori’s Idol Memorial at Tabcorp Park next Friday night before crossing the Tasman for a crack at the prestigious Rowe Cup in Auckland on May 7.

Greyhounds Queensland

PO Box 250, Albion, Qld 4010

Tel (07) 3262 7800

Fax (07) 3262 7809 

 

 

Greyhounds Queensland has a vacancy for the position of Senior Steward - Investigations.

 

The successful applicant will be based at GQL Head Office at Albion Park.

 

The applicant will be required to provide support to the Chairman of Stewards, administer rules of racing, carry out investigations as required, direct, control, manage and officiate at race meetings and conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.

 

Essential to be able to work in a team environment, or autonomously when required.

 

 

For a position description contact Darren Beavis 3262 7800 or dbeavis@greyhoundsqueensland.com.au.

 

Written applications to be marked private and confidential and addressed to: Chairman of Stewards, Greyhounds Queensland, PO Box 250, Albion QLD 4010 or zbryson@greyhoundsqueensland.com.au no later than 4.30pm Friday 19 March 2010.