LATE RUN THRILLS CLIFTON CUP FANS
Toowoomba eightyear-old Mendelssohn delayed a possible career change after putting his best foot forward to deliver trainer Phyllis Kalinowski a sentimental Clifton feature victory on Saturday.
Mendelssohn upset his Benchmark 60 Handicap rivals with a last-gasp win for jockey Rebecca Goldsbury in the Pacific Seeds/Pursehouse Rural Clifton Cup (1580m).
He arrived in a blanket finish to beat top weight and race leader Haradify ($6.50) by a short head.
Sultry Testa ($21) finished strongly out wide to be a nose away third.
Mendelssohn’s win proved to be a welcome return to form after his well-beaten previous Clifford Park effort for Kalinowksi who’s immediate thoughts were with her late friend and colleague Jim Bannon who recently passed away.
“I’m sure Jim was up there giving him a push for us,” Kalinowski said.
“The horse put in a bad run last start at Toowoomba where he has a thing about it and he might have been off to pony club if he didn’t show us something like his best today.
“He’s a lovely horse and it’s a real big thrill to win this race. I used to live at Clifton.”
Toowoomba trainer Paul Nolan (Jnr) ended a long Clifton absence on a happy note when he produced True Colours ($2.60 fav) for a popular first-up victory.
True Colours led throughout for jockey Kenji Yoshida to down Hey Doll ($4) by a halflength in the Ray Bunch Machinery QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m) at her first start since April.
The Jet Spur mare was Nolan’s first Clifton runner for seven years and continued Yoshida’s winning end to the week after he also notched a winning Burgess Park double on Friday.
“She’s been a lot of hard work,” Nolan said.
“She’s had knee chips and it takes a lot to get them going again from that.
“We’ve been getting her ready for 14 weeks and then we missed a run with her in Toowoomba.
“She was also entered at Gatton yesterday but we kept her for this race.
“I’d just like to thank Racing Queensland for splitting this maiden race today and the Clifton club for putting on such a great race day.”
The Raff Group QTIS Maiden Plate (second division) was won by $1.70 favourite Pincess Kandis (Pietro Romeo) for Dalby trainer David Reynolds.