Mbwali gives kitty an early boost for Rowe
View the online gallery of faces in the crowd at Saturday’s Innisfail meeting. www.cairnspost.com.au MOST are still trying to get over the Christmas and New Year period just gone.
But, for the Trevor Rowe racing stable, they have a head start on next year’s festivities.
The long-time Cairns racing family like to have a horse in their yard they own themselves, which they dub “the Christmas fund”, with the winnings going towards December 25 of that year.
The horse this year is fouryear-old mare Mbwali, who put some early cash in the Christmas kitty on Saturday afternoon at Innisfail in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (120Om).
Ridden by Masayuki Abe, the mare led from start to finish and survived a diving last 50m from stablemate Viva Las Vegas to get the money.
Those trackside at Innisfail could hardly pick between the Rowe runners, such was the tight photo finish, but for the Cannon Park trainer, he did not really mind which horse won, with both coming from his stable.
“The family like to have a horse racing when we can – we call it the Christmas fund,” a smiling Rowe said post-race.
“All the money gets pooled in and we do what we can come Christmas time.
“We lease it from Gary Adrian. (We) brought it up to Cairns (and) he retains a share in it.
“There was not much in the kitty for the Christmas just past, but I think she will win a couple more races if we place her right.
“She is an horse.”
The victory was the second for the mare at Innisfail, winning over the same trip in December.
While Viva Las Vegas did not get the bob of the head on Saturday, Rowe is more optimistic about his other fouryear-old mare going forward.
“When Viva Las Vegas gets out over ground, you will see the best of her,” Rowe said.
“I have a fair opinion of her.
“She came from last to get beaten by a whisker here.
“She was set to go to Boxing honest little Day 1500m and will be better over that sort of distance later on.”
In-form hoop Shane Pawsey produced a sparkling ride to get Viva Las Vegas within touching distance of a win, coming from the back of the field and sneaking up the inside of the track, to just miss by a nose.
After riding a double at Townsville on Thursday, the comeback jockey backed it up with two more winners on Saturday, which could have easily been a treble if Viva Las Vegas got her nose down first.
“Shane is riding very well at the minute – he could have easily won there, but the line came up too quick,” Rowe said. RACE 3 — BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP (1200M) Mbwali Trainer: Trevor Rowe Jockey: Masayuki Abe “She is an honest horse and obviously likes the track. I was not here the day she won here last year but I think she led all the way last time as well. She drew well today. She is coming along – I think she will win a couple more, but I do not think she will set the world on fire.”
— TREVOR ROWE
RACE 4 — OPEN HANDICAP (1200M)
Green Anchor Trainer: Janel Ryan Jockey: Shane Pawsey
“He is better suited to 1200m1400m. He is a hard horse to work. I thought he might have needed another run after today but I thought he would be hard to beat. If you put another jockey on him than Shane, they probably do not win – he really lifted him there in the last 50m.”
— STABLE REPRESENTATIVE RONNIE RYAN
RACE 5 — BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1500M)
Cousin Muscles Trainer: Stephen Potiris Jockey: Rachel Shred
“He was super. We have had an issue with the horse jumping out – he is not the best there. Rachel rode him to perfection; he jumped out good and the horse saw daylight and pulled out. He did it easy and simple in the end. It was good to see Rachel get a winner but sad to see Stephen Wilson get hurt because this was his ride.”
— STEPHEN POTIRIS