Nothdurft breaks drought
Currie scores another win
Trainer Ben Currie’s blazing run of winning form proved good news for Toowoomba apprentice Baylee Nothdurft who was able to shake off a frustrating run of Clifford Park outs on Saturday.
Nothdurft scored his first home-track victory since resuming from a lengthy suspension last month aboard $1.30 favourite One Golden Day for Currie in the Carlton Mid Class 4 Handicap (1300m).
One Golden Day packed far too many punches for her rivals on the way to a 23⁄4 length victory over Sonador Fire ($6).
I Am Bacchus ($21) was a further half neck back third.
Nothdurft had strung together a lengthy list of placings in his comeback and finally cracked it for his first win since scoring on Pure Luck at the Gold Coast in June when broke through on Amelia Jane for trainer Michael Nolan at Gatton on Friday.
Nothdurft’s turn around in fortunes continued on Saturday night when he completed a winning double following a late pick-up ride from fellow apprentice Adam Spinks.
Nothdurft filled the breach perfectly to steer Studly Rooster ($3.50 fav) to a narrow victory for Toowoomba trainer Jennifer Fraser in the Ubet Maiden Handicap, (1300m).
Studly Rooster clung on to see off a late challenge from Honest Natalie ($3.80) for a short-half head victory.
But the meeting finished on a sour note for Nothdurft who finished the night with a 16-day careless riding suspension for his ride on Desert Cowboy in the Class 2 Handicap.
Currie completed another multiple winning Clifford Park night when Mishani Electra broke through for a well-deserved win in the Hannas QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Handicap (1050m).
The $1.30 favourite ended a run of three second placings with a 41⁄4-length victory over Red Mako ($9) for jockey Mark Pegus.
Pegus also collected a winning double after
teaming with Toowoomba trainer Wayne Nugent to take out the Pryde’s Easifeed Maiden Plate (1625m) with Sheza Good Girl ($4.60.
Sheza Good Girl wore down race leader Wilma ($3.20) inside the final 50 metres to score by a long neck.
Earlier Oakey trainer Dale Murray produced one of the Clifford Park upsets of the season when Boiling ($81) finished strongly for jockey Bec Williams to overpower her Toowoomba Plastics Class 2 Handicap (1000m) rivals for a 13⁄4-length win.