Nolan stable enjoys bumper night at track
RACING: A sparkling return to racing by talented Toowoomba three-year-old Devils Marbles spearheaded a bonanza night for the Michael Nolan stable at Clifford Park on Saturday.
Nolan and long-time Toowoomba racehorse owner Kim McCasker turned back the clock to their bumper partnership days when they teamed to win some of Australia’s top races to combine for a winning treble on the seven-race card.
Joining in the party was jockey Emma Ljung who steered Devils Marbles, Ubirr Rock and debutant Coup to victory for the trainer-owner combination.
Devils Marbles ($1.50) got the ball rolling with a comeback victory in the Audi Centre Toowoomba Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
The Easy Rocking gelding overcame a change of race plan to outclass his rivals with an all-the-way 41⁄4-length win over Bel Beau ($10) at his first outing since April.
Devils Marbles was a Doomben maiden winner and city placegetter last preparation and is now likely to be aimed at a suitable Brisbane target following his stylish comeback to racing as a gelding.
“We probably weren’t expecting him to lead. The plan was to have him racing in third or fourth spot,” Nolan said.
“But fresh tonight, Emma got him to jump and was able to cuddle him in front and then release him.
“He’s broken the class record as well.
“Kim’s got some good plans for him and that’s a nice start tonight. We want to win a Saturday QTIS race with him and we think he’s got the ability to do it.”
Ljung was left impressed with her first race ride aboard Devils Marbles.
“He’s exciting,” Ljung told Nolan and McCasker.
“Everything was so mature about him tonight.”
Ubirr Rock ($8.50) returned to the winner’s list when Ljung lifted him to a short-neck win over solid-finishing Captain Crumpet ($31) in the Vanderfield John Deere Class 2 Handicap (1625m).
Coup ($1.90) rounded out the stable treble when he justified his short-priced favouritism with a flashy 21⁄4-length win for Ljung in the Toowoomba Plastics QTIS Three-YearOld Maiden Plate (1100m).
The trek from Friday’s Taree meeting to Clifford Park proved a winning one for jockey Brooke Stower when she steered Molly’s Rocking to a rail-hugging win in the Happy 5th Birthday Ange Class 3 Plate (1100m) for trainer Mark Currie.
Molly’s Rocking arrived to down $2.15 favourite The Big House and Dreamscope ($9) in a tight photo-finish.
Stower is now based at Tamworth and is enjoying her roving success on New South Wales and southern Queensland tracks.
“Things are going well for me,” Stower said.
“I’m riding my share of winners and my manager Nathan Daniels is doing a great job keeping me busy.
“I’m loving it, and it’s always good to come back home and ride a winner.”