Calanda adds to an impressive winter
BRISBANE jockey Jim Byrne and Sydney trainers Peter and Paul Snowden continued their successful winter association with Calanda in the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton yesterday.
The highlight of the campaign was Redzel’s Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 in May.
Calanda also went to Brisbane for the carnival but was unplaced in two starts in Group races before returning to Sydney where he won an 1100m race at Rosehill.
The three-year-old was sent out the $3.80 favourite in the Ramornie (1200m) and held off topweight The Monstar ($5.50) by a short head with another Snowdentrained horse, Flippant ($6), 1¼ lengths third.
“He is a talented horse. Brisbane didn’t go right for him,” Paul Snowden said. “It was a good win at Rosehill.
“Jim rode him well today. He poked through on the part of the track where everyone was trying to get off.
“Flippant is a tough mare and has bounced back off her Healy Stakes run.”
Flippant finished fifth in the Group 3 Healy Stakes on June 24 at Doomben.
Calanda, who now has five wins from 11 starts, will have a spell ahead of the spring.
“It’s a shame to tip him out because he is in such good order but we will look after him and see the benefits later on,” Snowden said.
It was the third Ramornie win for Peter Snowden who was head trainer for Darley when Pinwheel (2010) and Jerezana (2011) were successful.
Gold Coast trainers were among the winners at the NSW track yesterday.
Toby Edmonds won the Grafton Guineas (1600m) with Sneaky Glance, the $2.40 favourite, while Bruce Hill took out the 1000m Maiden Plate with $6.50 chance Dubawi Sniper.
SYDNEY trainer Adrian Bott never envisaged the Gold Coast-owned Supply And Demand would make it to a Grafton Cup this winter.
But the four-year-old has been a revelation this winter, winning his past three starts including the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 1.
With six wins from 16 starts he will bid to take his career earnings beyond $500,000 in today’s $160,000 Grafton Cup (2350m).
“It’s been quite amazing to witness his progression and see him develop as a racehorse,” said Bott, who cotrains the horse with Gai Waterhouse.
Supply And Demand carries the racing colours of the Gold Coast’s well-known Henderson family.
GOLD Coast trainer Marcus Wilson has been disqualified for 12 months on two cobalt-related charges from late last year.
At a resumed inquiry, Wilson was charged with two counts under AR 178 which covers bringing a horse to a racecourse with an illegal substance.
Wilson, who pleaded guilty to both charges, can seek an internal review or take the matter further to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.