Horses Tony McMahon
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At first glance at the jockeys list for Thursday’s Rockhampton Jockey Club eight race TAB meeting, one could be excused for misconstruing it as a metropolitan register.
Not so of course but the names of Robbie Fradd, Bobby El-lssa, Matthew McGillivray, Ryan Wiggins, and Brad Pengelly have all featured most prominently on metropolitan tracks.
That is not by any means dismissing the talents of Nathan Day, Ashley Butler, Chris Whiteley, Les Tilley and one of the most naturally gifted and talented as them all in Ric McMahon.
The latter had Brisbane racing at its throat not so many years back with numerous feature race wins during an association with top notch horses such as Better Than Ready.
Despite jumping from the outside gate and conceding considerable experience to her seven older rivals that had won more than $1.2 million in prizemoney, Aleysa’s Dream defeated them meritoriously.
Sport Tony McMahon
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What a cracker of a line-up of predominantly short course speedsters to contest the Rockhampton Cup Race Day July 10 Open Handicap, 1050 metres at Callaghan Park on Tuesday at 3.27pm.
Without question, the race has assembled the best field of open class flyers to race at Callaghan Park in donkeysâ years.
There are no donkeys among this group of 10 which between them have won 60 races and earned total prize money of $1,457,175.
The field is headed by 11 times winner, which included five wins over the short course, in the Jamie McConachy trained Gypsy Toff which will carry 57kg after apprentice Alisha Ross claims her 3kg allowance.
Trainer Kevin Hansen with Sweet Dolly, who has recently undergone surgery. Photo: Tony McMahon.
Horses Tony McMahon
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Rockhampton’s racing darling Sweet Dolly has arrived back at trainer Kevin Hansen’s North Rockhampton stables for a lengthy rehabilitation.
The winner of her only four races, including the $500K The Jewel at her last outing at the Gold Coast in mid-March, Sweet Dolly has undergone surgery on her near fore sesamoid.
Trainer Hansen, on the concern of track rider Shayla Evans, sought vet’s advice after Sweet Dolly did not feel right during training at Callaghan Park a fortnight ago.