Rockhampton Jockey Club receives 280 entries for two day gala

The Rockhampton Jockey Club has received a mammoth 280 entries for its two days of gala racing at Callaghan Park this week.

Racing trainer Darryl Hansen of Hansen Racing Caloundra pictured with Le Chef, who will be competing in the Magic Millions race day.Photo: Iain Curry / Sunshine Coast Daily

In what can only be described as a welcome embarrassment of riches, the Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) has received a mammoth 280 entries for its two days of gala racing at Callaghan Park later this week.

The club’s feature racing calendar sprint, the $100K Newmarket (1300m) has top billing on Friday’s card while the $150K Rockhampton Cup (1600m) spotlights Saturday’s program.

As usual the time-honoured races which date back to 1918 have in keeping with their status, have fielded attractive nominations.

Over the two days a total of a whopping $890K in prizemoney and bonuses will be raced for at Callaghan Park racecourse which has been “dressed to the nines” for the occasions.

Some 20 entries have been tallied for Friday’s One Syndications Newmarket while 22 have been penned in for the TAB Cup with the RJC scheduling eight race TAB programs for both afternoons.

From a Newmarket viewpoint, the modern-day trainer with the most resounding record, is now Caloundra based Darry Hansen, who incidentally honed his skills in the training ranks going back over two decades ago at Callaghan Park.

With five Rocky Newmarket winners on his CV – Onalar (2008); Perugin Thought (2011); Le Cap (2015) and Doctor Zous (2021/22), Hansen has high hopes of extending that record on Friday.

Darryl Hansen after winning the Mackay Cup with Balboa Rocks. Picture: Taron Clarke

He starts last start Rockhampton Tattersall’s Sprint (1200m) winner Demon Award, so his appraisal of that nine times winning horse from a Newmarket perspective is of great interest.

Here is what Hansen had to say about Demon Award’s prospects.

“There is no doubt he has to be right up there with my five other Newmarket winners. His win in Rocky the other day (June 20) was very good and run in fast time (1M:08.32). He came home here (Caloundra) and has done really well since. Look it’s an open race with six of seven genuine chances. As usual the barrier draw and then luck in running will play a big part but I couldn’t be happier with him,” Hansen enthused.

Gold Coast apprentice Jai Williams with 186 winners to his credit, has retained the Newmarket ride after impressing Hansen with his Tatts Sprint victorious display.

Not only is Hansen chasing an all-time record of six RJC Newmarket wins but also the $20K bonus to the leading trainer over the two days of racing.

“I’ll probably be bringing six or seven up for the two days,” Hansen said.

Queensland horse trainer Mark Currie. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

That representation pales into insignificance compared to the size and scope of Toowoomba trainer Mark Currie’s visiting team of marauders.

Through weight of numbers, Currie has made no bones about the seriousness of his quest to claim the $20k trainers winning bonus, proclaimed by his 29 nominations over the two days which does however include joint entries.

Currie’s has last start winner Secret Plan entered for the Newmarket which with a BM Rating of 89 is the third highest in the field.

Guest, champion Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller 50, with a staggering 66 GR 1 winners among his worldwide overall record of 2741 winners, has been booked for the Richard Laming Gold Coast trained Bank Maur in the Newmarket.

Rawiller rides on both Newmarket and Rocky Cup Day at Callaghan Park and will be a guest speaker at the Cup Calcutta Dinner there on Friday night.

Rockhampton Jockey Club Carnival week festivities galloped off at Callaghan Park racecourse with an early morning Breakfast with The Stars on Tuesday, described by RJC CEO David Aldred as a “fantastic morning”.

Weights for the Cup meeting will be declared on Wednesday as will the Newmarket card fields.

Originally published as Rockhampton Jockey Club receives 280 entries for two day gala