Tough Times turns things around

Winning return sets kick starts Hatch stable double.

RACING: Better things look to be ahead for Tough Times after she resumed racing with a booming Clifford Park victory today.

Tough Times ($2.90) resumed from a five-month spell following a frustrating first preparation with a runaway win in the Scott McAlpine Maiden Handicap (1000m).

With the aid of a boxseat Josh Oliver ride, the Collate four-year-old bounded clear on straightening to down Yazzi Jean ($10) by five and ¾ lengths with race co-leader Somebody Loves You ($31) sticking on fairly to be a head back third.

Tough Times notched consecutive second placings before spelling and trainer Lindsay Hatch had no doubts she was primed for a positive return to racing.

"We tried to have a go at the QTIS money with her last prep but she struggled with shin soreness and a few little issues," Hatch said.

"But she's been going terrific coming into today's race and we were expecting something like that from her first-up."

 

Josh Oliver returns with Tough Times to the winners stall after race two at Clifford Park, Saturday, December 14, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Stablemate For My Annie ($3.30) made it back-to-back race wins for Hatch and Oliver when he kept his unbeaten record intact with an impressive performance in the Murray Arthur Class 3 Plate (1200m).

The Shaft entire took a class jump in his stride to notch his third victory with a 3½-length win over Fish Burger ($8).

Bel Beau ($16) was doing his best work late to finish 1¾ lengths back third.

Hatch said For My Annie has gone from villain to a stable pin-up since arriving in Toowoomba from Sydney.

"He was a buckjumper when we first got him and he gave our work riders a pretty hard time," Hatch said.

"But he's turned into just a grouse little horse, even around the stable, and he just keeps improving all the time.

"That was a smart effort today."

It was a case of second time lucky for the connections of recent tried-horse purchase Heart Of Kings (Cecily Eaton, $14) who scored at his first run for Hendon trainer Gino Barbierato in the Ambassador Travel Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

"We tried to buy him a while ago but he was a bit too expensive so we bought Ruby Rush instead and it won for us," part owner Wayne Hooke said.

"But when this horse came up for sale again we got him cheaper second time around and that was his first start for us today."

# HARRY'S Style ($18) presented former jockey Todd Banks with his first Clifford Park winner as a trainer with a last-to-first performance for Skye Bogenhuber in the Mandy Robbins Maiden Plate (1625m).

 

 

THE WIN

TOUGH TIMES or FOR MY ANNIE? Take your pick. You'd be happy to have shares in either after both raced to stylish wins for trainer Lindsay Hatch. The effort of For My Annie had plenty of merit as he made an impressive jump from Class 1 to Class 3 company. UNCLE FRANK sizzled home his final 600m in 35.20 on his way to victory in the 1000m Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate for trainer Stephen Kirkwood.

 

THE TRAINER

PAUL NOLAN JNR concedes Benchmark 58 winner Errol isn't always the easiest galloper to catch on his good days but Nolan had the seven-year-old steeled for his gruelling 1850-metre test at only his second run back from an eight-month spell. Former jockey TODD BANKS added to his previous Clifford Park riding successes when he led in his first Clifford Park winner as a trainer with Harry's Style.

 

THE RIDER

JOSH OLIVER turned up for three rides and went home with three victories under his belt after producing gem rides to help make good things out of impressive winners Tough Times, For My Annie and Errol

 

FROM THE STAND

Race 1: With competitive markets the bookies got to lay most of the runners in the opening event. Fortyshort was hard to lay and the bookies were 5.00 to see any money. Turbo Teddy was 15.00 into 6.5 on the QOP and the track bookies got to lay it at 15.00 and would have been a bad result if it saluted. The track punters wanted to be on Alleviator at 6.00. The winner Heart Of Kings was unsupported on track to give the bookies a fair start for the night.

Race 2: In an upside down betting race, there was early money for Somebody LovesYou at 101.00 and then the same punters came back at 71.00. Some bookies got to lay Weather Man at 2.70. The connections stepped into the winner Tough Times at 3.00. With the placing of Somebody Loves You (sp 31.0) it was a bad result for the bookies.

Race 3: Junction went into the books first at 8.00. Fish Burger saw small money at 8.00. Then the money came thick and fast for Moscini at 4.20 into start 3.10 on the QOP. There was one phone bet of $1500 at 4.40 and a cash bet of $1200 at 4.20. There was late money for the winner, For My Annie at 3.30 to get the bookies out of jail.

Race 4: The favourite In Your Element was easy to lay at 3.00. Jondy Qualo was specked at 41.00. Shadow Vision was backed at 14.00 and was a bad loser in the book. The winner Errol was 10.00 at jump time with little takers.

Race 5: Jimmy Neutron was easy to lay at 3.60 and SP was 3.20. The favourite Steady Star saw phone bet of $1200 at 2.50 and follow-up cash bets. There was small talk that there would be money for the number one, Harry's Style. There was as much as 41.00 bet the night before. Money came the for the winner Harry's Style on track 21.00 into start 18.00.

Race 6: The connections of Adamdeeant brought a bus load of supports to the track and the price went from 11.00 to start 6.00 on track. Bookies then pushed the favourite Devil's Temptation out to 1.90 and punters thought it was Christmas and snapped up the 1.90. With the placing of Adamdeeant it was a bad result for the bookies.

Race 7: Punters put the last down to two hopes Better Than Silver and Uncle Frank. The early money was on Better Than Silver and there was one good phone bet of $2000 at 2.40. The price on the winner Uncle Frank then drifted. Uncle Frank went to the barriers with little support and gave the bookies some relief on a hard night. Overall the punters might have finished in front.

 

 

CLIFFORD PARK

Track: Good 4

Rail: Out 2m entire course

1.- BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP, 1000m: 14.00 HEART OF KINGS (ch g 4yo Show A Heart-Royale Crown. Trainer: Gino Barbierato) 59 (Cecily Eaton) 1; 6.50 TURBO TEDDY 59.5 carr 57.5 (Madeleine Wishart) 2; 9.00 LOVESON 58 (J. Grob) 3.

Then followed: 5.00 Sir Bam, 5.00 Alleviator, 19.00 No Qualm, 4.80 fav Fortyshort, 15.00 Black Jaguar, 21.00 Shiitake, 7.00 Best Of Us last.

Won by lg nk, len. Time: 1:01.38. Last 600m: 36.70.

2.- MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1000m: 2.90 TOUGH TIMES (b m 4yo Collate-Tough Luck. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 56.5 (J. Oliver) 1; 10.00 YAZZI JEAN 55.5 carr 53.5 (M. Shimodaira) 2; 31.00 SOMEBODY LOVES YOU 55.5 (Rikki Palmer) 3.

Then followed: 8.00 Raku's Secret, 2.50 fav Weather Man

Won by 5¾ lens, hd. Time: 1:00.31. Last 600m: 35.38.

3.- CLASS 3 PLATE, 1200m: 3.30 FOR MY ANNIE (ch h 4yo Shaft-Babylonia. Trainer: Lindsay Hatch) 57.5 (R. Goltz) 1; 8.00 FISH BURGER 57.5 (J. Huxtable) 2; 16.00 BEL BEAU 57.5 carr 54.5 (N. Fazackerley) 3.

Then followed: 3.50 Majestic Ivy, 3.10 fav Moscini, 31.00 Jaydee Indy, 7.50 Junction, 31.00 Brutus, 26.00 Blues Your Ball last.

Won by 3½ lens, 1¾ lens. Time: 1:12.56. Last 600m: 35.94.

4.- BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP, 1850m: 9.00 ERROL (b or br g 7yo Court Command-Aquatic Drive. Trainer: Paul Nolan Jnr) 57.5 (J. Oliver) 1; 2.70 fav IN YOUR ELEMENT 57 carr 55 (Madeleine Wishart) 2; 9.00 PHOENIX FLYER 61 carr 58 (Montanna Savva) 3.

Then followed: 18.00 Legs Unbarred, 7.50 Corsini, 8.00 Fast Arli, 13.00 Shadow Vision, 4.60 Frascati 41.00 Jondy Qualo last.

Won by 2 lens, ¾ len. Time: 1:55.76. Last 600m: 39.05.

5.- MAIDEN PLATE, 1625m: 18.00 HARRY'S STYLE (b g 5yo Hidden Dragon-Simple Plan. Trainer: Todd Banks) 57.5 (Skye Bogenhuber) 1; 3.20 STEADY STAR 57.5 (R. Goltz) 2; 31.00 HE'S ALL WHITE 57.5 carr 55.5 (N. Masuda) 3.

Then followed: 3.40 ef Jimmy Neutron, 16.00 Major Oak, 8.50 Leadburn Lion, 41.00 Sheindlin, 3.40 ef Swing Shift, 31.00 Likeabeel, 61.00 Ban Ink last.

Won by 4 ¼ lens, sh nk. Time: 1:41.15. Last 600m: 38.84.

6.- 3-Y-O HANDICAP, 1050m: 1.85 fav DEVIL'S TEMPTATION (br or blk g 3yo Falvelon-Brandbury's Chocolate. Trainers: Tony and Maddy Sears) 59 carr 56 (N. Fazackerley) 1; 6.50 ADAMDEEANT 54 carr 53 (N. Masuda) 2; 5.50 KASITA 54 (N. Evans) 3.

Then followed: 10.00 Quart Pot, 8.50 Lieutenant, 11.00 Tisani Rose, 51.00 Orsetto last.

Won by ¾ len., sh nk. Time: 1:02.87. Last 600m: 35.66.

7.- 2-Y-O MAIDEN PLATE, 1000m: 2.00 UNCLE FRANK (ch g 2yo Falvelon-Amber Rae. Trainer: Stephen Kirkwood) 57 (K. Yoshida) 1; 21.00 JABALIC 55 carr 53 (N. Masuda) 2; 26.00 STELLAR WAY 55 (W. O'Connell) 3.

Then followed: 14.00 Haz De Bee, 26.00 Fay's Fury, 2.05 Better Than Silver last.

Won by 8 ½ lens, nk. Time: 1:00.50. Last 600m: 35.20.

 

CHINCHILLA

Track: Good 3

Rail True

1.- CLASS B HANDICAP, 1030m: BONDAGE (Hannah English, 6.00) 1; Divine Miss Boom (G. Geran, 4.40) 2; Rural Rebel (Dakota Graham, 4.80) 3.

Then followed: Grace Darling, Targets, Hey Doll, Miss Literati, Cool Chaos, Untold Secrets, Mighty Success, Invincible King. Late scratching Backup Billy.

Won by len., len. Time: 58.70 (all raced hand timed).

Winner trained by Clinton Taylor.

2.- BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1200m: GOLOVKIN (Sophie Wilcock, 3.40) 1; Dixie Lad (P. Randall, 7.00) 2; Chocolate Oreo (G. Geran, 3.00) 3.

Then followed: Third Rock, Rosover, Relnino, Choice Son, Lakeside Oval, Haylee Prince

Won by .2 len., 1.25 lens. Time: 1:10.12.

Winner trained by Scott Rodgers.

3.- MAIDEN PLATE, 1400m: MY COUSIN BABY (G. Geran, 2.60) 1; Complete Trust (Sophie Wilcock, 8.00) 2; Smarty Jack (Dakota Graham, 5.00) 3.

Then followed: Starbeats, Madame Grace, Galshadow, Cyclone Mia, Terminal, Suavado, Ignite The Magic, Loretta's Rose.

Won by 3.5 lens, 1.75 lens. Time: 1:24.21.

Winner trained by Kieran Kirwin.

4.- BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP, 1400m: MACMISSILE (Tessa Townsend, 4.60) 1; By The Law (M. Schrapel, 9.00) 2; Aklavik (Natalie Morton, 8.00) 3.

Then followed: Coolmunda, Positive Spin, Our Gracious Dane, Ahmah Star, Teya, Ruler's Pride, Leopard Queen, Brady 'N' Me, Danish Diction.

Won by .4 len., .75 lens. Time: 1:22.65.

Winner trained by Royce Connolly.

5.- CHINCHILLA CUP, 1400m: SUGAR BUZZ (Hannah English, 4.00) 1; Mr Tickets (G. Geran, 3.00) 2; Portion Control (T. Treichel, 8.00) 3.

Then followed: Palace Tycoon, Ritchford, Gud Onya, Thin Disguise, Smooth Hustler, Mr Opportunist. Artie's Shore declared a non-runner.

Won by .5 len., 3 lens. Time: 1:22.03.

Winner trained byBrenton Andrew.

 

ESK

Track: Good 3

1.- MAIDEN PLATE, 800m: PATRICK'S ME MATE (W. O'Connell, 3.50) 1; Hidden Storm (Stephanie Lacy, 2.00) 2; Roots'n'rocks (Hannah Phillips, 3.10) 3.

Then followed: Coalbank Cavalry, Love Ya Lad, Curly Whirly Kenny.

Won by .2 len., .2 len. Time: 44.94 (all raced hand timed).

Winner trained by Stacey Mesken.

2.- BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 800m: DAVE'S VALOR (Kelly Gates, 5.50) 1; Good Grab (Hannah Phillips, 2.80) 2; Last Round (Madeleine Wishart, 7.00) 3.

Then followed: Ask Audrey, Bris Vegas, Strive To Succeed, Instantaneous, Coalbank Caviar, Denman Quality.

Won by .1 len., .3 len. Time: 44.52.

Winner trained by Andrew Hayward.

3.- BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1200m: RUN PAM RUN (Leeanne McCoy, 4.00) 1; Last Armageddon (P. Hamblin, 2.30) 2; Airport (N. Thomas, 10.00) 3.

Then followed: Sailor Gerri, Major Luck, Manhattan Gambler, Grenache, Evening.

Won by 3.25 lens, .1 len. Time: 1:09.34.

Winner trained by Dave Reynolds.

4.- MAIDEN PLATE, 1200m: BETTY IS READY (Montanna Savva, 3.80) 1; Love Puzzle (M. Shimodaira, 3.30) 2; Forensic Auditor (N. Thomas, 3.20) 3.

Then followed: Fleur De Jour, Ventures Sight, Cheeky Chops, The Moa Factor, Dream On Lucy, Carlton Star.

Won by .1 len., 4 lens. Time: 1:10.50.

Winner trained by Patrick Sexton.

5.- BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP, 1750m: STRYKING EMERALD (W. O'Connell, 6.00) 1; Hellava Babe (J. Morroe, 3.10) 2; Inkulu (Kelly Gates, 3.80) 3.

Then followed: Grey Court, Surgical, Landale, Mshindi, Rockuzzo, Youl Beatem.

Won by 6.5 lens, 2.75 lens. Time: 1:46.22.

Winner trained by Alicia Willick.