Third time a charm for Annihilation in cup
Third time proved lucky for the connections of Brisbane gelding Annihilation when he arrived with a flashing finish to snatch a late victory in Saturday’s Pacific Seeds/Pursehouse Rural Clifton Cup (1580m).
Annihilation ($3 fav) overcame some worrying moments for his supporters in running to down Our Clarky ($7) by a head for jockey Vishan Venkaya.
Felix ($8) was 21⁄2 lengths back third.
Today was the third Clifton Cup tilt for Deagon trainer Kathy Stabe and the owners of Annihilation with the six-year-old’s break-through win sparking excited winner’s stall celebrations.
“We’ve been here for the cup twice before with Artistic Choice and we decided to come back today Annihilation” Stabe said.
“We bought him early on from Melbourne and this is only the second time we’ve taken him to a country race.
“He’s been racing in some tougher company and he appreciated this drop in class today.
“It was a massive run and that’s his sixth win for us.
“We like coming up here to Clifton.
“It’s a great day and we like to support these country clubs who race just one day a year.”
The five-race card got off to a tardy start when racing was delayed after the opening event to allow for adjustments to the starting stalls but it went on to produce a number of highlight wins.
Former Clifton apprentice and much-travelled jockey Paul Hamblin made a successful return to home soil with his win on Ol’ Brown Eyes ($3.60) for Toowoomba trainer Troy Pascoe in the PB Agrifood Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m).
Ol’ Brown Eyes, who was also an acceptor at Doomben on Saturday, arrived in the final bounds to down Squeemi ($8) by a nose.
Jockey Cecily Eaton continued her positive return to the saddle from a broken femur to land her 301st career win on Rahdane ($3.20 fav) in the Ray Bunch Machinery QTIS Maiden (1100m).
The Rahdane ride proved a lucky pick-up for Eaton from apprentice Michael Schrapel, who had to travel back to Clifford Park, when he swooped on Pop ‘N’Zac ($5) near home to score by a head for Gatton trainer Brenton Andrew.
“I was at the crossroads at bit after spending six month’s out with the broken femur,” Eaton said. “But I’m enjoying getting back into it now and it’s nice to be able to bring up the 300 milestone.”
Clifton Jockey Club president George Cross praised the efforts of the club’s volunteers in preparing for another boom Clifton race day.
“I think I trained my first winner here back in 1962 and this is the best I’ve ever seen the track,” Cross said. “And the feedback we’re getting from people is we’ve got one of the biggest crowds today we’ve had here.”