Spartan Jet hits top gear at Clifford Park

TOOWOOMBA gelding puts his mind on the job for welcome return to winning form.

Spartan Jet and Skye Bogenhuber complete their victory in today’s Class 1 Plate at Clifford Park. Picture Kevin Farmer

RACING: Some astute gear changes and a positive ride helped lift the racing fortunes of Toowoomba four-year-old Spartan Jet for a return to the winner’s stall at Clifford Park today.

Spartan Jet ($7.50) notched career win number two with a tenacious effort in the Byron Capital Private Investors Class 1 Plate (1300m).

After racing outside leader Run The Cutter until the home turn Spartan Jet was sooled to the lead on the home bend by Skye Bogenhuber and defied all attempts in the straight to run him down.

Stablemate Bel Beau ($5) arrived with his customary solid finish to be a half length back second with $3.20 favourite Millen Falcon running home fairly to be a length away third.

Spartan Jet’s win was the first of a two-track double for trainer Kevin Kemp who saluted minutes later with stable warrior Tisani Tomso in the Open Handicap on Bassett Park’s gala Roma Cup card.

Spartan Jet had been out of the placings since scoring at Ipswich in March but turned that form around with the addition of blinkers, winkers off and a gelding operation on his gear change list.

“He was recently gelded and it seems to have helped him turn things around,” stable representative Judy Kemp said.

“We were happy to have Skye on him today as well.

“It’s great to have her back and riding well after so long out.

“This horse is raced by a large group of owners, including Mr Chappell from Sydney who bred him and leases him out.

“A lot of the owners are here tonight celebrating as well which is great.”

Bogenhuber made it two wins for the night after lifting Spirit’s Pride ($5) back into the winner’s circle for trainer Michael Nolan in the Better Than Ready @ Lyndhurst Benchmark 70 Handicap (1640m).

Skye Bogenhuber and Spartan Jet return to the winner’s stall. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The tougher the races are becoming the deeper Toowoomba mare Evamac is digging.

Evamac ($2.35) continued her form resurgence for trainer Eric Ropiha to complete a hat-trick of home-track wins in the Eureka Stud Class 3 Handicap (1000m).

The five-year-old enjoyed a midfield rails run for Emma Ljung before darting through a gap on straightening to set up a long-neck win over closing Remember Mary ($12) with $1.90 favourite Patches another half length back.

Ropiha said Evamac appears to be relishing a return to short-course sprinting.

“Early on when we were chasing QTIS money with her in 1200 metre races,” Ropiha said.

“But we’re just concentrating on sprinting for her now and she seems to be appreciating it.”

# ATOUCHMORE delivered his connections and Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp successive Roma Cup wins with a half-length win for jockey Brooke Richardson in today’s $75,000 Bassett Park feature.

The win was Kropp’s third Roma Cup success.

# SATURDAY’S Toowoomba feature race success also stretched to the Sunshine Coast where Tycoon’s Ace took out the Swiss Ace Plate for trainers Tony and Maddy Sears.

THE WIN

WHEN in-form mares hit a purple patch it usually spells delight for their supporters and trouble for the opposition. Trainer Eric Ropiha has a happy horse presently in EVAMAC who shot to her third successive win following a sweet Emma Ljung ride in the Class 3 Handicap.

THE TRAINER

VISITING trainers BILLY HEALY (Sunshine Coast) and KIM MOTHERSHAW (Deagon) made profitable Toowoomba visits with impressive wins from El Prados and debutant Corajillo.

THE RIDER

SKYE BOGENHUBER and JOSH OLIVER continued on their winning ways with two victories each while RON GOLTZ joined the seven-race card double club with big wins aboard Corajillo and the Wayne Nugent-trained newcomer Bloodblister.

CLIFFORD PARK

Track: Good 4

Rail: Out 3m 800-400m

Then out 4m

1._ CLASS 1 PLATE, 1300m: 7.50 SPARTAN JET (b or br g 4yo Jet Spur-Miss Impact. Trainer: Kevin Kemp) 59 (Skye Bogenhuber) 1; 5.00 BEL BEAU 59 CARR 56 (N. Fazackerley) 2; 3.20 fav MILLEN FALCON 57.5 carr 55.5 (N. Masuda) 3.

Then followed: 4.00 Wiccan Rede, 26.00 Modernistic, 18.00 Run The Cutter, 16.00 Lake Hillier, 26.00 Tavi McBride last.

Won by ½ len., len. Time: 1:19.48. Last 600m: 36.77..

2._ MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1110m: 1.70 fav EL PRADOS (ch g 3yo El Roca-Palace Crown. Trainer: Billy Healey) 57.5 (J. Oliver) 1; 7.00 KNUCKLEBOX 55.5 carr 53.5 (N. Masuda) 2; 9.50 SCARAMOUCHE 55.5 (R. Goltz) 3.

Then followed: 51.00 Our Sugar Ray, 21.00 Begin, 26.00 Hot Corona, 51.00 Patrick’s Me Mate, 91.00 Bad Ink, 61.00 The Grouse, 5.00 Leadburn Lion, 31.00 Exceptional Belle last.

Won by 5¼ lens, ½ len. Time: 1:07.18. Last 600m: 35.94.

3._ CLASS 3 HANDICAP, 1000m: 2.35 EVAMAC (b m 5yo Longhorn-Mayamac. Trainer: Eric Ropiha) 56 (Emma Ljung) 1; 12.00 REMEMBER MARY 57.5 (J. Oliver) 2; 1.90 fav PATCHES 59 (Skye Bogenhuber) 3.

Then followed: 31.00 Leroy Rocks, 31.00 Grey Skies, 19.00 Good Grab, 61.00 Hard Enough, 101.00 Chevys Desire, 151.00 Sorrella Tramonto last.

Won by lg nk, ½ len. Time: 59.84. Last 600m: 35.92.

4._ MAIDEN PLATE, 870m: 13.00 CORAJILLO (b m 5yo Love Conquers All-Mused (NZ). Trainer: Kim Mothershaw) 55.5 (R. Goltz) 1; 2.25 fav SNAP ON 57.5 (Emma Ljung) 2; 2.90 UNO EYNO 55.5 (Skye Bogenhuber) 3.

Then followed: 16.00 Archie Finito, 13.00 French Vida, 10.00 Rhetorical, 13.00 Madame Grace last.

Won by 1¾ lens, 1¾ lens. Time: 50.74. Last 600m; 34.01.

5._ BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP, 1640m: 5.00 SPIRIT’S PRIDE (b h 4yo Spirit Of Boom-Proud. Trainer: Michael Nolan) 56 (Skye Bogenhuber) 1; 7.00 PHOENIX FLYER 55 carr 52 (Montanna Savva) 2; 3.80 HARADIFY 55 (J. Oliver) 3.

Then followed: 12.00 Unique Mistique, 3.40 fav Bernie’s Tiger, 21.00 Geometrist, 5.50 Splitz last.

Won by lg hd, len. Time: 1:40.26. Last 600m: 38.15.

6._ CLASS 4 HANDICAP, 2175m: 3.50 WINKLER (b g 6yo Rip Van Winkle (Ire)-Anne Carina (NZ). Trainer: Ethan Ensby) 59 (J. Oliver) 1; 3.00 ef IN YOUR ELEMENT 54 CARR 52 (Montanna Savva) 2; 6.50 CHARLIE’S WORLD 58.5 (Beau Appo) 3.

Then followed: 3.00 ef Talapus, 17.00 Casino Gold, 101.00 Kira’s Beat last.

Won by sh nk, ¾ len. Time: 2:17.88. Last 600m: 36.68.

7._ 2-Y-O MAIDEN PLATE, 870m: 10.00 BLOODBLISTER (ch f 2yo Foxwedge-Vonharp) 55 (R. Goltz) 1; 1.60 fav UNCLE FRANK 57 (K. Yoshida) 2; 2.60 LADY BLACKWOOD 55 (Emma Ljung) 3.

Then followed: 31.00 Fay’s Fury, 31.00 Jabalic last.

Won by 2 lens, 2½ lens. Time: 50.58. Last 600m: 33.80.

ROMA

Track: Sand. Good

Rail: True

1._ MAIDEN PLATE, 1200m: HARAMAIN (Madeleine Wishart, 16.00) 1; Pirelli (L. Tilley, 2.15 fav) 2; Raise The Fight (Zoe White, 17.00) 3.

Then followed: 3.70 Fury Of The Storm, 41.00 Vinny Vavoom, 11.00 Britzel, 31.00 Super Sid, 7.00 Everynow’n’then, 41.00 So Stunning, 31.00 Ilovethisgirl last.

Won by 4 lens, 1¼ lens. Time: 1:12.20. Last 600m: 36.00 (all raced hand timed).

Winner trained by Wayne Baker.

2._ BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP, 1200m: SUPERSONIC BOOM (N. Evans, 4.00) 1; Blues Your Ball (Zoe White, 9.50) 2; Cash Strapped (L. Tilley, 11.00) 3.

Then followed: 8.50 Golovkin, 3.20 fav The Consigliere, 21.00 My Cousin Bossy, 12.00 Arctic Circle, 21.00 Chief Advocate, 7.00 Mojos last.

Won by ½ len., 2¼ lens. Time: 1:11.95. Last 600m: 35.12.

Winner trained by Rex Lipp.

3._ MAIDEN HANDICAP, 900m: ADAMDEEANT (G. Geran, 1.90 fav) 1; Aratula (Natalie Morton, 21.00) 2; Disco Dougie (T. Treichel, 16.00) 3.

Then followed: 13.00 Strawberry Deluxe, 21.00 Mr Noddy, 7.00 Terraja, 14.00 Pogo, 61.00 Plenty Of Whitt, 10.00 Terminal, 101.00 Age With Grace, 13.00 Cheesie, 26.00 I Am Teflon last.

Won by 8¾ lens, ½ hd. Time: 51.97. Last 600m: 33.20.

Winner trained by

4._ CLASS 1 HANDICAP, 1000m: FOXY BELLA (Madeleine Wishart, 11.00) 1; Rural Rebel (Minonette Kennedy, 9.00) 2; Aklavik (Brooke Richardson, 4.20 fav) 3.

Then followed: 31.00 Ringo’s Magic, 7.00 Lucky Dealen, 5.00 That Will Do Me, 5.00 Gambler’s Son, 11.00 Shelly’s Dream, 14.00 Invincible King, 41.00 Edgeroi, 71.00 Valpons, 61.00 Special Recruit last.

Won by 2¼ lens, ¾ len. Time: 58.74. Last 600m: 35.90.

Winner trained by Wayne Baker.

5._ RATINGS BAND 0-55 HANDICAP, 1200m: BESTERS (L. Tilley, 2.25 fav) 1; Tarwyn Blue (G. Geran, 18.00) 2; Yokai (Madeleine Wishart, 18.00) 3.

Then followed: 51.00 Prior Engagement, 31.00 Same Old Story, 9.50 Ruler’s Pride, 7.50 Applause A Star, 12.00 Bold Crusader, 21.00 Red Monkey, 21.00 Auric Gold, 16.00 Coroglen, 31.00 Tsani Topaz last.

Won by ¾ len., ½ len. Time: 1:12.48. Last 600m: 37.01.

Winner trained by Craig Smith.

6._ BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1640m: 8.50 GUD ONYA (Natalie Morton, 8.50) 1; Arigold (Minonette Kennedy, 7.50) 2; Immutable (Zoe White, 10.00) 3.

Then followed: 26.00 Spur With Ease, 7.50 She Likes A Drink, 26.00 Mishani Centurion, 5.00 fav Third Rock, 31.00 Rusty Scooter, 16.00 Long Story Short, 7.00 Lakeside Oval, 12.00 Supervisor last.

Won by ns, ns. Time: 1:42.06. Last 600m: 38.98.

Winner trained by Geoffrey Schrader.

7._ OPEN HANDICAP, 1000m: TISANI TOMSO (J. Morrow, 6.00) 1; Super Suave (G. Geran, 3.20) 2; Blue Jest (Minonette Kennedy, 31.00) 3.

Then followed: 10.00 Eight Over, 21.00 The Mechanic, 8.00 Malibu Affair, 21.00 Rough Eddie, 3.60 Smooth Hustler, 41.00 Bagger Chance, 41.00 Classic Wind, 18.00 Squall last.

Won by ¾ len., nk. Time: 58.57. Last 600m: 35.85.

Winner trained by Kevin Kemp.

8._ ROMA CUP, 1640m: ATOUCHMORE (Brooke Richardson, 6.00) 1; Oh Why (S. Sweedman, 26.00) 2; Eschiele (Zoe White, 12.00) 3.

Then followed: 101.00 Palace Tycoon, 8.00 Fab’s Cowboy, 2.60 fav Romakash, 31.00 Ayham, 7.50 Money Ad, 31.00 French Hussler, 19.00 Cape Wickham, 11.00 Hang, 16.00 Sayed.

Won by ½ len., lg nk. Time: 1:40.40. Last 600m: 37.97.

Winner trained by Matt Kropp.