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Pacing siblings nail quinella thanks to driving brothers

3 May 2020

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By Duane Ranger

A 14-year-old one-win mare provided one of the individual highlights at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Madrina Dee has only had three foals, and two of them finished first and second in race eight – the $8,000 VHRC 64-69 Pace.

The Michael Nutley trained The Casual Goose, strode to a 1.5 metre victory over his half sister, Call Me Trish.

Ironically the siblings were driven by the Barnes brothers, Hayden and Brendan respectively.

Nutley, a baker by trade, only has two racehorses in work and drove the 30km back to Kurwongbah with the perfect result.

“It was a great night and one to remember for a while,” Nutley said.

“I thought they were both winning chances when the draws came out, It came down to who got the easier run because they both drew nice marbles.”

Albion Park

BLACK DUKE ASPIRATIONAL PACE 2138m

The TAB had a similar confidence in the siblings, with The Casual Goose closing the $5.50 second favourite behind his sister, who opened at $3.50.

The Four-year-old Casual Goose and Barnes (Hayden) led all the way from gate two, while five-year-old Call Me Trish, trailed throughout from her ace draw.

It was The Casual Gooses’s fourth win in 14 starts, and second this season, having also placed three times.

“Hayden has always got on well with the horse, and he drove him well out in front,” Nutley said.

“He did the same at Redcliffe the start before (last Sunday) when he won by more than 12 metres.

“Of the two he’s probably the one who can make more of his own luck - I’m just rapt for Dad, he bred the mare with Joe La Spina.”

The 48-year-old said he had been around horses all of his life and remembered when his father, Darryl, bought Madrina Dee off Brisbane’s Sammy Difranceso.

“She was actually quite a promising racehorse, she came to us race ready and had her first start at Redcliffe in 2008,” Nutley said.

“She only won one of her 20 starts and placed in a couple of others because she had a dropped hip but she’s a lovely broodmare who hasn’t had a foal since The Casual Goose in November 2015.

“We will put her back to another sire again, she’s too good a broodmare not to.”

Madrina Dee, who is by Jenna’s Beach Boy, had her first foal in November 2012 – a Live Or Die mare named Emily Lauren, who placed once in 11 starts.

While two sets of siblings took centre stage on Saturday night, the grand old 16YO Grinfromeartoear stallion – Mr Feelgood – was the ‘Dad’ of the night, siring the first four winners on the nine-race card.

The 39-win ($3.3 million) multiple Group One winning champion won via the Grant Dixon trained and Trista Dixon driven Red Charmer in race one.

The Chantal Turpin trained and Peter McMullen driven Feel The Reign claimed race two; the Dixons again with Goddess Jujon in race three; and the Geoff Dawson trained and Kelli Dawson driven Feelingforamiracle in race four.

Peter McMullen also drove two winners on the night, the other coming when he again led from go-to-woe behind the Wayne Graham trained Glenferrie Hood in the feature event – the aptly named $14,540 Hectorjayjay Open Pace.

But it was an eye-catching run from both place-getters, especially Hectorjayjay and Brendan Barnes, who made up many lengths after being last at the 400m.

The Jack Butler trained winner of 43 races and $1.15 million got within half-a-neck and 1.2 metres of the deserved winner, a performance that had “next time” written all over it.

Glenferrie Hood has now notched up 45 wins from his 101 starts.

The 10YO Christian Cullen gelding has also placed 34 times and banked more than $520,000 since making his debut at Pinjarra in July 2012.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Driving Premiership still sees Nathan Dawson still at the helm with 132 wins over Peter McMullen’s 126.

Narissa McMullen is third with 104 winners – three more than fourth placed, Paul Diebert.

Australia’s leading trainer, Grant Dixon, still sits atop the national training premiership with 184 winners ($1.6m), over second-placed Emma Stewart of Victoria, who has 153 wins ($1.7m).