IN LAST week’s Stable Talk the Gazette sent its condolences out to the Templeton family after the death of Alec ‘Jock’ Templeton following a long battle with cancer.
The Gazette suggested that Jock’s influence in racing in Gippsland and the surrounding regions would continue through his sons Cameron, Michael and Paul… but we forgot to mention Paul’s wife, Jock’s daughter-in-law Tracey.
Well, Paul and Tracey, who train from their home base at Moe, stole the show in the first two races at Bairnsdale on Friday, winning the 2000-metre maiden with Valjean, then backing that up with the four-length romp of Artie’s Son in the 1600-metre maiden just 35 minutes later.
You can bet Jock’s memory was being felt strongly by all connected with the family.
FORMER Pakenham now Mornington trainer Rick Harrison was oh-so-close to visiting the winners’ enclosure for the first time since Australia Day this year when Dayton went down narrowly at Bairnsdale on Friday.
The seven-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding had no luck, being slow into stride, then blocked for a run on the home turn, before being pipped on the line by the Robbie Griffiths trained Magic Curves in a $15,000 Benchmark 64 over 1200 metres.
This was Dayton’s first run back from a 23-week spell, so look for him to salute in similar class in the not-too-distant future.
ONE horse who just doesn’t know how to run a bad race this spring is Another Prelate, trained by Quinton Scott at Warrnambool, but a local favourite being part-owned by the iconic Bourke family of Pakenham.
In four runs since returning from a spell, the Lord Vain gelding has ran third at Caulfield, won at Moonee Valley, and ran third in the Seymour Cup before running an outstanding fourth in Saturday’s $150,000 Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) behind Gai Waterhouse’s French import Pornichet.
Just don’t expect to see Another Prelate running around on 29 November because, at 10 years old, he’s nearly old enough to be voting in the state election!
MIXED emotions for another former Pakenham trainer Colin Scott after the disappointing run of his stable star Speediness on Saturday was forgotten following the win of Giramondo at Geelong on Sunday.
Speediness either didn’t handle the track or was weighed down by the impost of 59 kilos, running sixth at $6 to Pornichet in the Sandown Stakes.
But Scott only had to wait 25 hours to right the wrong, with Giramondo and jockey Jackie Beriman scoring a tough win in the $15,000 RKO Birthday Bash Maiden Plate (1400m).
A three-year-old bay gelding by Globetrotter, Giramondo has made steady improvement at his first two runs and thoroughly deserves his victory at the pocket filling odds of $11.
OTHER performances of note this week came from Cameron Templeton’s Magnificent Show, which ran her third second-place from five starts when close up to A Private Party at Mornington on Thursday.
On the same program, Di Clover showed her stable is ready to fire, running second with Florence, and fourth with Indian Force, while Paul Kramer’s Geoffro Dean ran second at Yea on Saturday.
The lady who will forever own the title of being the last winning trainer at Pakenham’s old track on Racecourse Road, Amy Johnston, scored with her four-year-old Shamardal mare, Vincent’s Thirst, in the last race at Geelong on Sunday.
WHILE on the punt, Stabletalk would like to share page 7342 in this column’s book of hard-luck stories.
With all bets placed on Saturday leaving a measley $1 left in the account, we decided to pick a one out quaddie at Sandown just for an interest.
There was little excitement when the Darren Weir trained Zabisco ($12.30) burst through the pack to win leg one, and not even a twinge when Nick Hall and Petrology ($14.70) bolted away with the Sandown Guineas.
But, when Fast ‘n’ Rocking ($6.40) held off the favourite Generalife in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes… as you can understand… the palms became a bit sweaty as a dream was about to become a reality.
To the top-weight, She’s Clean, her trainer Chris Waller, jockey James Winks, and anyone else connected with the horse… eighth is not good enough and where’s my 27 grand?
PAKENHAM Racing Club (PRC) will not only have a new track when it makes the move to its new state-of-the-art facility at Tynong, but will have some fresh faces as well after the recent movement of some staff.
Popular Racing Manager Mark Graham has left the club and will be replaced in the new year, while Alanna Pomeroy has taken over the key role of Marketing Manager.
There are sure to be other jobs up for grabs over the coming months as the PRC starts the countdown to Race 1 on Thursday 26 March 2015.
YOU have to feel for Cranbourne horses on Saturday as their hopes of Sandown Guineas glory fell by the wayside… again.
Key Keys’ five-year-old gelding Like a Carousel was edged into second for consecutive years in the 3200m listed Sandown Cup – this time falling to Renew – while seven-year-old mare Epingle – out of the Michael Kent stables – was made the bridesmaid once more in the Zipping Classic as Au Revoir pipped it on the line.
Adding to the second-place Cranbourne woes, Colin Alderson started the card with Miss Gidget finishing… you guesssed it, second in the Santa’s Magical Kingdom Stakes.
SPEAKING of Zipping, it was fantastic to see the 13-year-old champion take to the mounting yard again… even if it was just to lead out the field for his own eponymous race.
The four-time Classic champion showed all the flair of a retired champion as he promenaded past an adoring crowd at Sandown Park.
JUST a reminder that membership packages have been released for the Pakenham Racing Club’s new track at Tynong, with the special inception offer of two racing seasons for the price of one sure to be appealing to the general public.
Members for the 2014/15 racing season (17 meetings programmed) also receive membership for the 2015/16 racing season (estimated at 40 meetings).
The membership packages available include Club Membership at $185, Senior’s Membership $110, Foundation Membership $400, Fast Work Membership $110 and Corporate Membership $600.
Contact the club for more details on the perfect Christmas present.
