Kirkwood lands Clifford Park double with leading ladies

Semaphore Girl gets her head down on the line to cap off a big night at Clifford Park for Stephen Kirkwood.

Semaphore Girl (right) for Jackson Murphy. Picture: Nev Madsen.

RACING: Stephen Kirkwood enjoyed a memorable night out at Clifford Park, finishing the evening with a double.

It started in the Black and White Cabs Rating 0-58 Handicap (1210m), as Semaphore Girl ($5) got the bob in to outgun Redzeb ($8).

It brought up her second victory of the season after nosing out Myola Milly at Warwick in October, and Kirkwood paid tribute to her desire to hit the line.

“She’s always been thereabouts and hitting the line about 10-20m past the line,” he said.

“She’s a funny sort of horse. She likes to beat herself more than she likes to win, but she was able to get a clear passage.

“It was only a bob of the head, and we’re hoping to get her up to 1400m and a mile.

“That should allow her to be able to settle, and if you can get her a clear path, her stride length is enormous.”

The double was completed with talented filly Elka Eleven ($1.75 fav) getting off the mark in the Ampol Toowoomba Maiden Handicap (870m).

With six minor placings from eight starts coming into the event, the three-year-old was knocking down the door for a win.

After holding the lead from the inside barrier, the filly was able to power away from her rivals in the straight, going on to score by 2 ¼ lengths.

“She’s been ultra consistent,” Kirkwood said.

“I don’t know how strong that race is on paper, but all you can do is win.

“She’s not a big filly, so it was nice to draw a gate and be able to dominate a race. She doesn’t have the size to fight with other horses to find her spot.
“This was her fourth run this time in, so she’s closer to a break. Now that she’s kicked a goal she might fill out a bit (after a spell).”

The night wasn’t without controversy, with the Taylor Building Group Rating 0-58 Handicap (1210m) overturned on a protest.

Got The Lot finished fourth for Les Tilley, who lodged an objection against winner Harry’s Me Boy (Noriyui Nishio) for the latter laying in over the concluding stages.

Stewards deemed the interference significant enough, with Harry’s Me Boy relegated to fourth and Me Mum’s Foxy landing the race.

CLIFFORD PARK RESULTS

Track: Good 4

Rail: +3m 800-600m, +4m remainder

1. BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP, 1300m: 2.15 fav MADDIARA (br m 5y Shamus Award-Maracoola. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 56.5 carr 55 (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) 1, 11.00 KEEP ON LOVING YOU 55 (Les Tilley) 2, 7.50 VIOLET 58 (Baylee Nothdurft) 3. Then followed: 41.00 Moss Go Now, 19.00 Mr Tickets, 4.40 Clockwise, 14.00 Louie La’joy, 9.50 Archer’s Treasure, 31.00 Basil last. Scr: Dreamtimer, Hidden Eyes. 1 ¾ len, ½ len. Time: 1:19.34 (Last 600m 36.66).

2. CLASS 3 HANDICAP, 1050m: 6.00 I’MTWENTYFOURSEVEN (b g 3y Shooting To Win-Our Miss Bossy. Trainer: Kevin Kemp) 54 (Nozi Tomizawa) 1, 3.50 fav GINGER ROCK 59 (Baylee Nothdurft) 2, 21.00 DANCES WITH TIME 54 (Rikki Palmer) 3. Then followed: 5.00 Saddle Boy, 5.50 Uncle Frank, 17.00 Honey Baby, 18.00 Ella Divine, 51.00 Secondofmay, 6.00 Dotti Dear, 101.00 Light Charge, 101.00 Hard Enough last. Scr: Head On, Master Baylee, Aceplay. ¾ len, hd. Time: 1:02.15 (Last 600m 35.78).

3. BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP, 870m: 8.50 KIRRA LASS (ch f 3y Nicconi-Crystal Jewel. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 57.5 (Jag Guthmann-Chester) 1, 13.00 BETTER BE BETTER 61 carr 58 (Ty Wheeler) 2, 1.65 fav ASHZAYA 59 carr 57.5 (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) 3. Then followed: 10.00 Misslleers, 19.00 Another Shiela, 5.50 Aceplay, 31.00 Remember Mary, 101.00 Ms Wicked Nicci last. ½ len, 1 ¼ len. Time: 50.19 (Last 600m 33.60).

4. MAIDEN PLATE, 1110m: 1.95 fav NO INUENDO (b g 4y Trusting-Dananova. Trainer: Steve Tregea) 57.5 carr 56 (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) 1, 10.00 FAIRY DELL 55.5 (Les Tilley) 2, 101.00 SILENT WEEKEND 54.5 (Stephanie Lacy) 3. Then followed: 41.00 Hisgrace, 6.00 Crayon, 17.00 Cyclone Diva, 6.00 Frida’s Time, 16.00 Harryup, 101.00 Motion Sensor, 21.00 Madcall, 31.00 Tiger La Joy, 101.00 My Big Brother last. Scr: Massie Whisper, Better In Than Out, Lucky Senator, Who Shot Maggie, Norse Mythology. Hd, ½ len. Time: 1:08.56 (Last 37.04).

5. RATING 0-58 HANDICAP, 1210m: 5.00 SEMAPHORE GIRL (b m 5y Spirit Of Boom-Flying Pennant. Trainer: Stephen Kirkwood) 56 (Jackson Murphy) 1, 8.00 REDZEB 59 carr 56 (Ty Wheeler) 2, 7.50 EXPRESSO LOVE (Georgina Cartwright) 3. Then followed: 13.00 Wearetenfortyeight, 19.00 Red Monkey, 13.00 Nitrologycerine, 10.00 Comfortably Numb, 4.20 fav Absolute Glory, 8.00 Clear The Bill, 20.00 Prior Engagement last. All started. Nse, ¾ len. Time: 1:14.46 (Last 600m 36.62).

6. RATING 0-58 HANDICAP, 1210m: 3.30 eq fav ME MUM’S FOXY (b m 5y Red Element-She’s Foxy. Trainer: Gordon Hay) 56 (Anthony Allen) 1, 11.00 CHEESIE 55.5 (Kenji Yoshida) 2, 6.00 GOT THE LOT 58 (Les Tilley) 3. Then followed: 20.00 Harry’s Me Boy, 26.00 Ego Dancer, 7.00 The Knight, 14.00 Crab Boy, 3.30 eq fav Conquer Mee, 101.00 Leroy Rocks last. Scr: Queen Lear. Hd, sh ½ hd. Time: 1:15.35 (Last 600m 37.13). *Protest 4th vs 1st UPHELD*

7. MAIDEN HANDICAP, 870m: 1.75 fav ELKA ELEVEN (b or br f 3y Eurozone-Flawless. Trainer: Stephen Kirkwood) 57.5 carr 55.5 (Nathan Fazackerley) 1, 5.50 EDDIEGATO 58.5 carr 55.5 (Tessa Townsend) 2, 6.50 WATCH LIST (NZ) 56.5 (Ron Goltz) 3. Then followed: 12.00 Roseami, 81.00 Enterprise Electra, 13.00 Red Dress, 31.00 Isla Surrender, 14.00 Bean Dare Dun Dat last. Scr: Sgurr Mor, In Havana, Bytact. 2 ¼ len, 1 ¼ len. Time: 51.60 (Last 600m 34.74).

8. MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1640m: 13.00 ENJOY THE SHOW (b g 4y Canny Show-Mishki. Trainer: Tim Gillespie) 56 (Les Tilley) 1, 4.00 MADAME GRACE 54 (Jackson Murphy) 2, 15.00 FROM THE GONG 54 (Anthony Allen) 3. Then followed: 61.00 General Elliot, 81.00 Gitchee Gumee, 1.85 fav Frazzled, 26.00 Pistol Packin Lena, 8.50 Licence To Rock, 16.00 madame Tess last. Scr: Set Beat, Reg’n’Kath, Somnia. Time: 1:43.67 (Last 600m 38.15).

Race 9 abandoned due to poor visibility

Originally published as Kirkwood lands Clifford Park double with leading ladies