Nolan rewarded as Errol makes up for slow start
‘‘ PEOPLE KEPT ASKING ME WHY I WAS KEEPING HIM GOING. PAUL NOLAN
RACING: Seven days after delivering Toowoomba trainer Paul Nolan (Jnr) one of his most satisfying wins, six-yearold Errol proved it was no fluke when he repeated the dose at Clifford Park yesterday.
Errol ($8.50) added weight to his late-bloomer tag with a strong staying performance in the Furneys Benchmark 62 Handicap (2125m).
The Court Command gelding beat off a straight-long challenge from runner-up The Barracuda ($5) to score by 3⁄4 length for Brisbane jockey Ron Stewart.
Heat Shield ($10) was another 21⁄4 lengths back third while $1.60 race favourite Amthaal, who was having her second start in the space of three days, never threatened before winding up in fifth place.
It took Errol 17 starts to break through for his first race win last Friday at Ipswich but the patience and perseverance of Nolan has now been rewarded with back-to-back wins from the “emerging” stayer.
“It’s taken an eternity for him to come good,” Nolan said.
“People kept asking me why I was keeping him going.
“But he’s out of a Sea Road mare (Aquatic Drive) who could really stay.
“She won in town and ran fourth in a CEB Barnes Plate and to me he had the other two good attributes that might eventually help make a stayer of him.
“One — he is as sound as a bell and secondly he’s a good doer. He eats us out of house and home.
“He had 15 months out of racing and it’s taken me this long to get the fitness needed back into him.
“I’ve got to say his win at Ipswich last week when he finally broke through was one of the most satisfying racing moments I’ve had, and to see him back it up today is very pleasing.
“I think he’ll run 2400 metres easily if I can find suitable races for him.”
Stewart went on to notch a race-to-race double when Eagle Farm visitor Arazona ($5) proved too hot for her Trackside Photography Class 3 Handicap (1640m) opposition.
The Liam Birchley-trained mare led and raced away from her rivals on straightening to down On A High ($9) by 23⁄4 lengths in track record time.