By Casey O'Connor
Racing swung into action on the Southern Downs last weekend. The Warwick Turf Club hosted the 2018 Railway Hotel Allora Cup meeting last weekend. The five event card heralds the start of the Cup’s season on the Southern Downs with preparations in full swing for the upcoming Warwick, Stanthorpe and Clifton Cups.
The Allora Cup meeting is a popular date on the Allman Park Racing calendar and patrons frocked up enjoying the local races.
Toowoomba galloper, Unique Mustique took out the Allora Cup, the main event on the five race card. Trained by Mark Callaghan, the eight year old gelding who started at $5.50 gave jockey Noriyuki Nishio his second win for the day when he held on for a half length win over Champagne Rock ($2.70) and Dangerous Danica ($6). El Venetian started favourite at the short quote of $2.60 but finished a long way from the winner.
Warwick trainer, Michael Hemmings opened the meeting with a win in the Purshouse Rural Warwick / Allora Class NB over 800m.
Angel’s Love enjoyed the 3kg claim for apprentice Minehiko Shimodaira. The mare started at the good odds of $8 held on for a narrow win over First Bid and Mighty Roller. Favourite Gold Monarch who finished fourth in the race suffered interference at the 600m mark and had to be steadied on a couple of occasions in running when Shadwell Flyer shifted ground. Melissa Cox copped an eight day suspension for careless riding at a subsequent inquiry.
Rosexcel raced by Optima Thoroughbreds and trained in Toowoomba by Tony Webb provided Cup winning Jockey Minehiko Shimodaira with the first leg of a winning double when he saluted in the second event a 1350m Class B, sponsored by Invergarry Equine Centre / Allora True Value Hardware.
Starting equal favourite ($3.20) with third place getter, locally trained Nareema, the winner put the writing on the wall with an eye catching trial recently.
Punters who backed the Ben Robinson trained You’ll Beatem ($11) in the third event the Blue Cow Hotel / Wattles RLFC had to survive a protest from the rider of the second horse Catena alleging interference at the 600m mark before they could collect.
The six year old was having his first start in Queensland since transferring to Robinson’s Beaudesert stable from Victoria.
The meeting wrapped up with a win for the connections of the Sunshine Coast visitor Dave’s Valor in the Warwick Painting Services / White’s Garage Class 3 over 1100 metres. Ridden by Hannah English the Darryl Hansen galloper drew barrier one and franked good recent country form and his liking for the Warwick track with a six and half length win.
The successful meeting gave local racing enthusiasts a taste of what is on the racing calendar in the next few weeks.
