Jockeys with Central Qld links to have busy few days

A trio of in-form jockeys with close ties to Rockhampton racing will ply their skills at three different centres over the next few days.

Namazu wins the $775,000 slot race The Archer in Rockhampton for jockey Ashley Butler and trainer Ricky Vale: Picture: Matt Harris - Caught in the Act Photography.

A trio of in-form jockeys with close ties to Rockhampton racing will ply their skills at three different centres over the next few days.

Two of the three jockeys, Rockhampton’s Ashley Butler and former local apprentice, the now Toowoomba-based Liv O’Donnell are both coming off highlights from their most recent day’s race riding.

Butler, 32, with 760 winners to his credit during his 17 years weight restricted career, which included winning the prestigious The Archer on Emerald Kingdom, heads off to Townsville for Saturday’s TAB meeting.

There, Butler categorised as a heavyweight jockey has four mounts and he will be looking to extend his consecutive sequence of four winners from as many rides at Mackay last Tuesday.

Liv O’Donnell, who completed her academic studies in Rockhampton where she commenced her racing career, also comes off a “last start” four winning rides.

This, Liv, 27, did at the RJC’s well attended races at Callaghan Park last Saturday where she was the punter’s pin-up girl.

Tomorrow (Saturday), O’Donnell rides in a far different environment at Longreach races with four engagements for Blackall-based trainer David Rewald.

Tahlia Fenlon leads all the way on Navyonthehighway to win at Doomben for trainers Chris and Corey Munce. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

Rocky’s own Tahlia Fenlon, 21, fresh from riding her 200th winner at Beaudesert last Monday, saddles-up at Eagle Farm in Brisbane tomorrow (Saturday) before backing-up at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Both Butler and O’Donnell will be in action at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park races on Tuesday with a number of rides on the six race TAB card which was reduced from an original seven race program.

This came about when the Open Handicap (1300M) was abandoned by Racing Queensland when only four horses accepted to race.

Two other races only attracted six acceptors which under Racing Queensland’s policy could have also been abandoned but fortunately for the Rockhampton Jockey Club this did not occur.

Had RQ not allowed the races to proceed, Tuesday’s race meeting most likely would have been abandoned.

When asked to comment this morning (Friday) on the situation, RJC chairman Rob Carr blamed Tuesday’s race loss and reduced fields in two of the races to “poor programming”.

King Pin Power lands the prize for Bronte Kent and jockey Ashley Butler on Saturday. Picture: Racing Queensland - Jim Law.

Carr went on to say that the close scheduling of race meeting dates at nearby centres such as Mackay was also a contributing factor as both race clubs were resourcing horses from a similar pool.

Australian Trainers Association’s Queensland CEO, Cameron Partington said Tuesday’s Rockhampton meeting was “so close to being lost” and he thanked Racing Queensland for allowing it to proceed.

A feature of the program will be the 2YO Handicap (1100m) which is a vital lead-up to the $168,000 Capricorn Yearling Sales Classic (1200m) on Saturday, April 12.

Locals Warwick Satherley’s dual winner Saraqael and Clinton Taylor’s winner Power Chic will clash in Tuesday’s lead-up.

At Eagle Farm on Saturday, the Ricky Vale trained Track Tale will run in the $85K F&M BM 78 (1200m) with three kilograms claiming apprentice Cobi Vitler to ride.

In Central Queensland racing goes to Springsure on Saturday for the St. Patrick’s Day Race Club’s 72nd such meeting.