Cannonball ready to fire
Rivals in Clifford Park shoot-out
RACING: Game Toowoomba six-year-old Teeroys Tribute will be looking to maintain an edge over his Cannonball Series rivals when they meet again at Clifford Park tomorrow.
Ligthtly raced Teeroys Tribute continues his latest comeback to racing for trainer Eric Ropiha in the Sedl Agencies Cannonball Series Heat over 870 metres.
The Benchmark 75 Handicap is the latest qualifying race leading into the $30,000 Cannonball final over 800 metres at Kilcoy on December 1.
Teeroys Tribute has already secured a start in the final after resuming with a strong-finishing win two weeks ago for jockey Kenji Yoshida in the 860metre Burgess Park heat.
On that occasion he edged out Viceman and District who he meets again tomorrow in a similar field also containing two further Gatton rivals in Saipan and Bagger Chance.
Teeroys Tribute is a fivetime Clifford Park winner and is unbeaten in two runs over tomorrow’s course.
But top weight Saipan is sure to prove popular with punters on the strength of his booming track record of six wins from seven Clifford Park starts including three over the flying 870 metres.
Apprentice Carly FraterHill will claim 3kg aboard Saipan to bring him into the race with 59.5kg.
Charleville Cup win
ESCHIELE ($3.20) helped wind up Central Warrego Race Club’s racing year with a 51⁄4 length victory for trainer Les Baker and jockey Les Tilley in Tuesday’s Charleville Cup (1620m).
The club resumes racing on March 16.
Chinchilla race day
RACING returns to Chinchilla Race Club tomorrow when a five-event card starts at 1.35.
The club hosts its cup-day program on Saturday, December 15.
Roma Cup entries
NOMINATIONS close 11am Monday for next Saturday’s Roma Turf Club TAB program highlighted by the $50,000 Roma Cup/Country Cups Challenge (1640m).
Dual licences
AN UPDATED Queensland rule allowing trainers and jockeys to hold dual licences came into effect on Monday.
Queensland Jockeys Association president Glen Prentice said the industry welcomed the move.
“It provides Queensland jockeys with an important opportunity to properly plan a career pathway from jockey to trainer,” Prentice said.
“Career transitioning is never easy, but this initiative will certainly go a long way to assist in this important area.”