Defending champ’s Hype train derailed in Rockhampton Cup

Central Queensland warhorse Master Jamie has been denied a fairytale third straight Rockhampton Cup after a pair of polocrosse players combined to win the Beef Capital feature on Saturday.

Trainer Aiden Nunn and jockey Teagan Voorham combine to win the Rockhampton Cup with Hype. Picture: Caught In The Act Photography CQ.

Central Queensland warhorse Master Jamie has been denied a fairytale third straight Rockhampton Cup after a pair of polocrosse players combined to win the Beef Capital feature on Saturday.

Trainer Aiden Nunn and jockey Teagan Voorham produced a perfectly timed run with Hype to win the $150,000 feature, ahead of a wall of horses after Master Jamie was gallant in second following an on-speed performance.

Tasmanian trainer Nunn bases himself in southeast Queensland in the winter months where he follows the polo circuit and called up the South Australian jockey to ride his horse in a surprise move.

Trainer Aiden Nunn (left) and jockey Teagan Voorham (right) celebrate Hype's Rockhampton Cup victory. Picture: Caught In The Act Photography CQ

By Saturday it proved to be a masterstroke as Voorham handled the infamously long Rockhampton straight with ease aboard the $15 chance.

“I rode Polocrosse with Aiden in Tasmania and I got the text on Wednesday morning on the way to Mount Gambier asking if I was interested in the ride,’’ Voorham said.

"He just loves getting on the float and going for a drive."

An ex-Lloyd Williams import trained by a professional polo player will tackle the Rockhampton Cup on Saturday.https://t.co/e8LePabjSt

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 10, 2024

• Bungled start drives punters to Liquor at Doomben

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Guess who’s back 

Melbourne Cup winner Michael Rodd showed he was still one of the class riders in Brisbane, producing one of his best performances in the saddle since returning from a prolonged break due to post concussion symptoms.

Rodd’s career was stopped in its tracks when he suffered debilitating post-concussion syndrome from a series of falls and kept him on the sidelines for almost three years.

He kicked off the day with victory aboard Enterprise Defence in the QTIS 2YO Handicap (1350m) and was at it again on blue blood Mount Fuji in the Benchmark 68 (1200m), before rounding out his day on Cunnamulla Fella in the Benchmark 70 (1600m).

“It’s the first treble in town I have had since I came back,” he said.

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Mystery departure 

Your average racing fan could be excused for wondering who is running the show at the state’s integrity body.

Six weeks after commissioner Shane Gillard quit his post in the wake of a KPMG review into the internal workings of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, not a word has been published publicly announcing his resignation.

Better yet, no announcement has been made about long-time public servant Malcolm Letts taking over the job in an interim capacity.

Shane Gillard.

Racing Minister Grace Grace used to sing from the rooftops the virtues of QRIC and how it was the way forward for racing in Queensland, however it seems that is no longer the case just months out from a looming election.

After several years of punishing headlines, it seems the Minister is keen for QRIC to disappear for the time being.

It comes as the highly touted KPMG review is still yet to be released, with no indication whether the public will be made aware of the findings into the organisation.

This week’s Alligator Blood revelations provide more evidence why the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission must be abolished, writes @bendorries76 .

READ MORE: https://t.co/GSQljTngNrpic.twitter.com/zS0XPSqePl

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 9, 2024

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Starter’s delight

Hats off to Brisbane Racing Club stalwart Ross Smith, who celebrated 40 years of service on Saturday.

The track guru has fulfilled many roles during his time with the BRC, but is most well known as the Doomben track manager at present.

Doomben Racecourse Manager Ross Smith provides an update before XXXX Doomben Cup Day @SkyRacingAU@7horseracing@stevejoseph69#bneracespic.twitter.com/e1hlJnpdBM

— Brisbane Racing Club (@BrisRacingClub) May 19, 2023

Originally published as Defending champ’s Hype train derailed in Rockhampton Cup