Brad Davidson looks at the big issues in Queensland racing

RACING Minister Grace Grace has done little to hose down speculation Eliot Forbes is set to become Racing Queensland’s new chief executive.

Tasracing chief executive Eliot Forbes.

RACING Minister Grace Grace has done little to hose down speculation Eliot Forbes is set to become Racing Queensland’s new chief executive.

Grace refused to comment on the story on Letsgohorseracing.com.au last week which claimed, according to reports, Dr Forbes, Tasracing’s current chief executive, “snatched the position at the 11th hour from Victorian Paul Bittar, the one-time head of British horse racing”.

Attempts to contact Forbes have been unsuccessful and a representative for Tasracing last week said they do not comment on individual employees. An announcement on the new RQ chief executive and remaining board members is expected in the coming weeks.

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PROMISING apprentice Allanah Fancourt has suffered a setback in her bid to return to the saddle.

The 23-year-old suffered a fracture in her neck in a horror fall at Toowoomba on New Year’s Eve last year.

And while the fracture in her neck has healed, Fancourt is now suffering from nerve problems.

“I’ve had an MRI on my neck and back and ultrasound on my hand and it come back with carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist,” she said.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve.

“It causes a lot of pain in my right arm and it’s always going numb and that dead feeling,” Fancourt said.

“That happens I couldn’t tell you how many times a day and it’s just little things like brushing your teeth, holding your phone and drying your hair and using the hand can make it go numb.”

Fancourt, who has been back riding trackwork for five weeks now, is still confident of returning to race riding in the future.

“I will be returning and at this stage it’s more just a time factor and getting everything sorted out,” she said.

“I will be out of work for 5-6 weeks if I need an operation on my hand and I go see the neurologist and hand surgeon in the next fortnight.”

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IT was very disappointing to see the Ipswich track favour horses well off the fence on Saturday.

Just as concerning is why the track was downgraded to a Soft 5 after Race 4 despite no rain on race day and just 4.5ml in the seven days leading up to the meeting.

Punters who did form for a dry track had the right to feel frustrated. Not only did it put a dampener on the day but it also makes it hard to take much out of the meeting.

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SUSPENDED jockey Luke Tarrant is expected to face Caloundra Magistrates Court this Wednesday.

Queensland Police charged Tarrant in May with possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, stealing, possessing suspected stolen property and two counts of possessing property suspected of being linked with a drug offence.

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JIMMY Orman is set to appeal against his 11-day suspension for careless riding in Race 5 at Ipswich on Saturday.

Apprentice Orman is just 1½ wins behind leader Jim Byrne in the Brisbane senior jockeys premiership with just six weeks in the season remaining.

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JOHN Zielke might have lost Worthy Cause but the Sunshine Coast trainer will still be a player during the Melbourne spring carnival.

Worthy Cause was retired to stud yesterday after suffering a swollen tendon in Saturday’s Ipswich Cup.

But talented two-year-old Dreams Aplenty will stay with Zielke and target the Melbourne spring after his potential sale to Hong Kong fell through.

“He is spelling now but will target straight six and 1400m races at Flemington and Caulfield in the spring,” Zielke said.

Group 3 winner Worthy Cause’s connections are in negotiations with David Lucas from Dynasty Equine Australia regarding the horse’s future at stud.

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GOLD Coast stewards took a stand on Saturday when they suspended Jackson Morris and Nathan Day both for seven days for excessive whip use. Both jockeys had poor records relating to this rule. The move should be applauded.

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RACING NSW stewards have adjourned an inquiry into Thomas Huet’s ride aboard Rainbow River in Race 6 at Taree last Thursday. Rainbow River pulled up lame after the race.

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