The Verdict: Wheels of change turn slowly in Queensland racing industry

THE VERDICT: ANOTHER week and another non-announcement on the new (interim) Racing Queensland board.

Jim Byrne rode Nicconi Leggera trained by Chris Munce to win in the Cascade QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap 1050m at Doomben Racecourse. Bridget Grylls rode Bagus to second place and Luke Dittman rode Happy Event to third place. Photo: Claudia Baxter

ANOTHER week and another non-announcement on the new (interim) Racing Queensland board.

Racing Minister Grace Grace told breeders last Sunday the confirmation of the new board by Cabinet had been bumped in favour of a more pressing issue.

What’s another week out of 10 months for the leaderless industry? Speculation continues on the possible make-up, with the best anyone achieving so far is confirming who is NOT on the board. The Minister assures an announcement is imminent.

The winds of change start this week with Sam Adams stepping into the interim chief executive as Ian Hall vacates the Deagon building.

AMBITIOUS

STEWARDS pinged Luke Dittman $200 for his longshot objection on I’m Belucci against Emphasis. Stipes took all of 10 seconds to dismiss the objection with connections barely out the door before they were called back in. Outside, Dittman’s father Mick was also baffled by the objection. For his part, Dittman junior copped the fine on the chin.

EASTER RAIDS

STEWARDS interrupted the Easter cheer at Eagle Farm on Saturday morning, conducting a series of drug tests on jockeys and trackwork riders.

Jeff Lloyd pilots Off The Rails to victory in the fifth at Doomben. Picture: Claudia Baxter

PLEASE EXPLAIN

TRAINERS are at a loss to explain the lack of 1200m races for juveniles in metropolitan Brisbane. Since Magic Millions, there has only been two 1200m races for the babies, with one of those on the Gold Coast. The next one comes up in Toowoomba, meaning trainers wanting a two-year-old 1200m race in Brisbane have to wait until May. Nicconi Leggera took out Saturday’s juvenile race over 1050m.

THE STING

WILD ‘N’ Famous was backed as if unbeatable, but Robbie Fradd found himself three deep for the entire trip and that was the end of the story. “They just jammed up and I was stuck out there so I had to let him slide forward,” Fradd said. The South African rider was a winner earlier on Emphasis and also tipped Oradonna to be a Saturday winner of the future. “That was her first good test and she passed with flying colours. She will get over more ground too. I think she will run a mile in time.”

GUINEAS ASPIRANT

TRAINER Richie Stephenson will bring Domesday gelding Emphasis back to the 1600m of the Toowoomba Guineas after his 2020m win at Doomben on Saturday. “I bought him broken in, but untried from Darley and paid only $10,000 for him. He’s only little, but he’s a trier,” Stephenson said.

PLATE CLASH

IN form four-year-olds Tan Tat Diamond and Reckless Abandon are set for a Class 6 1600m Plate clash in a fortnight. Trainer Liam Birchley said Reckless Abandon had “strengthened up” this time in after being a touch immature tackling the better horses during last year’s carnival.

Boys will be boys: trainer Chris Munce gives jockey Jim Byrne a friendly whack on the back after Byrne ode Nicconi Leggera to victory. Picture: Claudia Baxter

THE QUOTE

I wish I could say the same about the trainer.”

Winning jockey Jim Byrne described Nicconi Leggera as a very relaxed filly before describing trainer Chris Munce as being like a cat on a hot tin roof pre-race. Munce returned serve with an “I told you so” slap on the back post-race.

A beaming Munce labelled Nicconi Leggera, whose part-owners include Broncos chief executive Paul White, a potential stakes filly. “There’s a hell of a lot of improvement in her. She’s got a lot of natural ability,” Munce said.

Originally published as The Verdict: Wheels of change turn slowly in Queensland racing industry