By Glenn Davis
Birthday boy Jim Byrne continued his successful association with Sydney’s Team Snowden after landing his fourth Queen’s Cup (Queensland Cup) aboard Plot Twist at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Plot Twist maintained his unblemished record in three starts over 3200 metres with a commanding 1-1/2 length win over the fast finishing Anton En Avant.
Caloundra Cup winner Megablast finished third in his last run for Kiwi trainer Nigel Tiley, a further 1-1/4 lengths away.
It was Queensland’s turn to host the Group 3 Queen’s Cup this year which replaced the traditional Queensland Cup which is run at this time of the year.
Byrne won the 2017 Doomben 10,000 on Redzel for co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and had previously won the Queensland Cup/Queen’s Cup three times aboard Insecure (1988), Iggi Pop (2014) and Murphy’s Delight (2016).
Byrne is riding in superb form and celebrated his 47th birthday on Saturday.
Peter Snowden was delighted with the win from Plot Twist who was coming off a narrow victory in the Stayer’s Cup (3200m) at Randwick on June 9.
His only other 3200-metre win was in the Stayer’s Cup at Randwick last year.
Snowden will now spell the former Irish stayer before aiming him for next year’s Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville.
“He did a great job. He’s a real two-miler,” Snowden said.
“I heard it was Jimmy’s birthday today so it’s a nice way for him to celebrate.
“We’ve had a lot of luck with Jim and he’s our go-to man whenever we go to Brisbane.
“It was a great result and he was weighted to run a big race.”
Trainer Nigel Tiley was far from disappointed with Megablast’s defeat.
“He did a great job over here but unfortunately he pulled a bit hard and wanted to over-race,” Tiley said.
“Damian (Browne) said he didn’t settle like he normally does.
“That was his last run for me and he’ll go for a spell now before he goes to Darren Weir in Melbourne.
“It’s sad to lose him but you’ve go to do what’s best for the horse and he deserves to be racing for better prizemoney here than back home.”
Racing Queensland webnews July 14