Horses Tony McMahon
Premium Content
Subscriber only The Rockhampton Jockey Club is cementing its future as a major training centre in Queensland with the construction of two new blocks of stable barns at Callaghan Park racecourse. Each barn will contain 20 stables while two equine motorised walkers will be placed in close proximity for the exercising of horses occupying them. RJC CEO Tony Fenlon said work on the construction of the barns would commence forthwith. Funding of in the vicinity of $900,000 was provided by Racing Queensland. It is a case of accepting the funding for their construction as we look to consolidate the club s status as a major racing player and training centre in Queensland, Fenlon said.
Change of fortune for Rocky racing star Marway, pictured with jockey Brad Pengelly on board, after a win at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park. Photo: Caught in the Act Photography CQ
Horses Tony McMahon
Premium Content
Subscriber only
What a difference a few days can make as in a complete turnaround, the luck of the draw has gone in Marway’s favour for his engagement at Randwick in Sydney on Wednesday.
Only late last week, Marway’s managing owner Greg Sturgiss expressed his disappointment after the Rockhampton star drew barrier 14 for his planned start at Canterbury Park last Friday night.
“He will be scratched and we will wait for next Wednesday at Randwick and hope he draws a good barrier,” Sturgiss said.
Australia Day Races at Warwick Farm
Horses Tony McMahon
Premium Content
Subscriber only
Parochial Rockhampton racing followers will have to wait until next Wednesday for Marway’s much-awaited next Sydney start after he was scratched from his engagement at Canterbury Park on Friday night.
Marway, the 2019 Rockhampton Jockey Club Horse of the Year, was to run in a heat of the Sprint Challenge but because of drawing barrier 14 he was scratched from the race.
Instead, Marway is likely to start on the Randwick Kensington track next Wednesday.
Randwick trainer Mark Newnham has nominated Marway for the $50K BM 72 Handicap (1000m) and the sprinter has been handicapped on 60.5kg.
Jockey Matthew McGillivray, owner-trainer Mary Hassam and Phill Gattenby with Daunting Queen.
Horses Tony McMahon
Premium Content
The rapport that coexists between horse and rider has been documented down through time.
It was on display at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park racecourse last Friday when a little bay
thoroughbred mare and her sprightly trainer greeted each other in the winners’ stall.
There was the six-year-old mare Daunting Queen a model of consistency and her 72-year-old trainer Mary Hassam basking, albeit humbly in the sense of achievement a race win evokes.
Mary, of slender build and looking as fit as a fiddle would have fooled me if she divulged being 10 years younger.