Image: Supplied.
The Quirindi Jockey Club were all set to host their annual Elders Killara Feedlot Cup meeting last Friday, upon inspection by local stewards, the track was found to have issues in the back straight.
A decision was made by Racing NSW on Friday afternoon to transfer the meeting to Tamworth on Monday 23rd February.
The day started superbly for local trainer Troy O’Neile, taking out the 2YO Showcase Handicap over 1000m with Tricia’s Rainbow, which was having its first start on the home track.
The pace was quick early and apprentice Leeshelle Small elected to restrain the filly to obtain cover mid field, then allowing the filly to balance up in the home straight before pressing the go button and finishing strongly on the line over Blocker who is trained by Sydney trainer Greg Hickman.
The second race was a class 1 Showcase Handicap over 1600m which saw the heavily supported Visualise ($1.80), trained by Tamworth trainer Jacob Perrett, winning convincingly by 4.5 lengths.
A patient ride by Jake Pracey-Holmes who positioned the 4YO gelding mid field in the early stages, then swinging the widest at the home turn to put away the rest of the field within 200m, the gelding was eased down over the line for a nice win.
Race five was a great front running ride by Mikayla Weir to pilot the favorite Nation Changing to win for Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman.
Weir sent the gelding to the front of the pack approaching the 1000m, so she wasn’t posted three wide. It was all over after that as the rest of the runners couldn’t run down Nation Changing. Mikayla Weir rode three winners on the day.
The Elders Killara Feedlot Quirindi Showcase Cup over the 1600m was the feature race of the day.
A capacity field of 14 took their place in the event, with Voracious, trained by Mack Griffith, winning the Cup, Voracious had also won the Inverell Cup and ran third in the Walcha Cup this year.
Voracious was ridden by apprentice Jacob Stiff, which is Jacob’s biggest win in his apprenticeship.
The 5YO gelding was slow into stride after the start, but Stiff didn’t panic and was able to find a position mid field, one off the rail, Stiff then allowed the gelding to stride forward rounding the home turn and was strong in his riding the get the gelding to cross the line first.
There were a number of owners on course to cheer on the win.
The Tamworth Jockey Club is on the quick back up and is racing on Monday 2nd March.
