Fine and dandy
AFTER a week of heavy rain and indecision over running the Innisfail Annuals, it is fitting that local owners lifted the 2017 Innisfail Cup.
Innisfail’s Pease Park track was given the final tick of approval by stewards early Saturday morning and by day’s end, it was a group of Innisfail connections who had the last laugh.
How Can I Help, from the stable of Atherton trainer Janel Ryan, finished a length ahead of the field in the $16,250 Cup over 2000m.
The heavy track was never a worry for Ryan as the sevenyear-old gelding won over heavy ground at Doomben earlier in his career.
How Can I Help landed in the Far North late last year and has put together eight encouraging runs with connections, with last names such as Lupano, Grima, Jones, Brownsey and Devereux keen on a tilt at the Innisfail feature.
“The boys from Innisfail own him and they wanted to run him,” Ryan said.
“He did his best on Saturday and got the money.
“They all grew up in Innisfail and they were thrilled.
“I am sure they had a big night to celebrate.”
Vaunting, who claimed the Gordonvale Cup last start, finished second to How Can I Help by just under a length.
“He has been a very unlucky horse,” Ryan said.
“He should have won a couple more races than he has this prep.
“Since we have had him, he has only been outside of the money twice from nine races.”
How Can I Help will now be set for the Cooktown Cup later this year.
Windmill Lane, for Atherton trainer Ricky Ludwig, made an outstanding return to the track in the $16,250 Johnstone River Handicap.
Windmill Lane won six straight races last preparation before a disappointing run in the Cleveland Bay returned to form with a two-length victory in the 1250m event.
Earlier in the day, Wanderson D’Avila was at his best as he booted home three of the first five winners of the day.