Family teamwork knows no boundaries at Tennant

A FAMILY effort allowed grateful Mount Isa trainer Denise Ballard to win the $25,000 Tennant Creek Cup yesterday, with her gelding All Fives saluting by a nose.

Son Dan booted home the seven-year-old veteran after he hit the lead halfway in the 1600m feature race.

“I’m delighted. To win a good bush race like the Tennant Creek Cup, it’s high on the wish list,” Ballard said.

“It was a very close finish and not very good for the heart. I’m proud of my son. He really tries hard.”

Ballard’s husband Keith, recovering from a hit to the face after loading a horse into the barriers, also assists her on the training track and on race day.

“He helps me with everything. It’s a real family effort and I couldn’t do it without them,” Ballard said.

All Fives finished second in last year’s Tennant Creek Cup. He pulled up sore after that race and had an 11-month spell.

It was a great effort for him to beat the $2.30 favourite, Lisa Whittle’s Peressini.

“I wasn’t very confident – he only had three runs back from his long spell,” Ballard said.

Other winners from yesterday were Mark Nyhan’s Gamora Grab For Power, Leanne Gillett’s Tequila Red, Garry Lefoe Snr’s Du Bois and Tayarn Halter’s Hussars.

Jockey Wayne Kerford booted home three winners – Gamora, Tequila Red and Grab For Power.