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Qld Harness News Briefs

14 December 2018

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Classy pacer Mattgregor has returned home.

The Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen prepared pacer has gone for a brief let-up following his disappointing effort in the final round of heats of the Inter Dominion series at Cranbourne last weekend.

Mattgregor was unplaced in all three heats of the series.

The hulking pacer will be aimed at a number of features events coming up early in the New Year, both locally and interstate.

In sad news for the stable, open class performer Bettabe Perfect has succumbed to illness and passed away.

The New Zealand bred gelding won 23 races and earned just shy of $200,000.

In his most recent start, the son of Bettors Delight finished 4th behind Alleluia in the Welcome Advice Open Pace at Albion Park on September 10.

Bettabe Perfect won 14 races at Albion Park.

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Queensland based owner Dean Shannon has a nice prospect on his hands.

Shannon races talented Auckland based three-year-old filly Belle Of Montana, a winner of back to back races at Alexandra Park during the past week.

Prepared by legendary horseman Barry Purdon, the Bettors Delight filly grabbed feature race glory when scoring in the Gr.2 $65,000 Ladyship Stakes defeating quality rivals Cheesy Fingers, Wainui Creek and Princess Tiffany.

Zachary Butcher took the winning drive.

Belle Of Montana has now won 3 of her 4 starts to date.

The Queensland Oaks during the Brisbane winter carnival in July is obviously a possibility for the richly talented filly.

Purchased at the 2017 Australasian Classic Yearling Sale at Karaka, Shannon parted with $40,000 to secure the filly.

Shannon has raced with the likes of Lanercost, Montana Marie, Courageous Annie and many other great money-spinners over the years.

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Calvert horseman Greg Elkins achieved a first for his stable with a training quartet at Marburg last Sunday.

He prepared half the card, four of the 8 winners.

His winners included Inciter, Takitimu Express, Crowing Glory and Jumping Jolt.

He took the winning drive himself behind Inciter and Takitimu Express while his son Matt partnered Jumping Jolt with Narissa McMullen driving Crowning Glory.

Elkins had seven runners engaged spread across four races at the meeting.

His previous best effort was a training treble at Albion Park.

Matt landed a driving double himself after also combining with the Ray Cross trained Honey Please.

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Monster-sized pacer Major Cam is back in work.

The gifted pacer has returned to work for Kylie Rasmussen at her Stanmore stables, north of Brisbane.

The Art Major gelding has won 19 of his 37 starts to date while banking more than $160,000 in stakes.

His last start came on January 13 at Albion Park when 3rd behind Avonnova and Village Witch in the Remembering “Benefactor” Open Pace.

Meanwhile, talented pacer Anychance is set to leave his stable in the coming weeks.

Anychance suffered a nasty injury following his effort in the Listed $25,450 Patrons Purse at Redcliffe on July 27.

The Mach Three gelding finished runner-up behind Inter Dominion Grand Finalist Our Uncle Sam in the 2280m feature event.

Boxed following an operation, Anychance is making pleasing progress.

He has won 13 races since being under the care of Rasmussen.

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Popular pacer Somepartysomewhere is headed for a brief let-up.

Deemed to be a late scratching from the Swift Customs Services Pace at Albion Park last Saturday night, the big striding Somebeachsomewhere gelding has been a highly consistent pacer since being under the care of Redcliffe trainer Greg Franklin.

Last season, Somepartysomewhere won 13 of his 31 starts including 10 at Albion Park.

Franklin also took him to TABCORP Park, Menangle where has been placed in 4 of his 5 starts.

His only unplaced run there came in the Gr.3 $30,600 Dahua Group Final two starts ago when 5th behind Joes Star Of Mia in 1:50.9.

Somepartysomewhere ranks as a half-brother to another talented Queensland performer in Markey Oh Markey, a winner of the Flashing Red at Albion Park back in May.

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Gr.1 winning juvenile Regulus is making pleasing progress.

A winner of the $100,450 Redcliffe Yearling Sales Series Final back on June 1 has completed six weeks work for Menangle based trainer Rickie Alchin.

Raced by his breeder, Alf La Spina, the Christian Cullen – Sheez Not Perfect gelding won 5 of his 11 starts during his rookie term.

He has not raced since August 7 when 5th behind (Our) Princess Tiffany at Menangle in a time of 1:56.0.

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The racing future of richly talented performer Major Coup will become clearer in the New Year.

A winner of 14 of his 42 starts to date, the Wayne Graham prepared pacer has not raced since June 27, 2017.

The Art Major gelding won the Listed QBRED Breeders Classic Final at Albion Park back in April, 2016.

Currently in work on a treadmill program, a scan next month will determine what course of action is taken next.

Major Coup has banked more than $135,000.

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Multiple Albion Park premiership winner John McCarthy will leave a number of his current team in Brisbane following the final of the Racing Queensland Summer Carnival tomorrow night (Saturday).

McCarthy has campaigned over the past three weeks in the Sunshine State and claimed the Gr.3 $31,400 Be Good Johnny Sprint with Rakarolla on December 1.

His good friend Ron Sallis will take over the training of the runners he leaves behind.

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Browns Creek (near Bathurst) horseman Leigh Davis is planning on sending a number of his “Studleigh” pacers to Brisbane.

John McMullen is expected to train the pacers for Davis during their stint in Brisbane.

The Davis family is no strangers to Brisbane having raced quality performer Studleigh Alla in the Sunshine State during the mid-1990’s.

Christchurch based horseman Mark Jones is also weighing up his options for a possible Brisbane campaign with a number of his talented performers.

The former World Driving champion has a number of pacers in work in Sydney and is looking at Tres Vite, The Bus and Getarattleon for the northern stint.

Both Tres Vite raced during the winter carnival earlier this year.

Connections of The Bus are aiming at the Gr.1 $200,000 Chariots of Fire at TABCORP Park, Menangle in February before his possible Brisbane campaign.

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Racing Queensland was saddened to hear of the recent passing of respected horseman Paul Zimmerlie.

Based in Central Queensland, Zimmerlie enjoyed good success with the likes of Leagueofherown, Calypso Capers and Nothin Lika Flash among others.

Zimmerlie experienced good fortunes at both Rockhampton and Mackay racetracks.

Overall, he trained more than 530 winners and had more than 650 winners as a driver.

Thoughts and prayers to the Zimmerlie family.

Chris Barsby | RQ Web News | December 14 | Photo by Dan Costello