McKenzie Apel grabs big Cluden Park win

By Glenn Davis

Leading Rockhampton apprentice McKenzie Apel landed one of the biggest wins of her short career at Townsville on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Apel and her boss, Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale, teamed up to win the Ladies Bracelet with Pipistrelle at Cluden Park.

Apel, who hails from Gin Gin, has only been riding since the 2022-23 campaign but is having a great season and currently leads the Rockhampton apprentice premiership.

“My biggest win was on Track Tale for Ricky in the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic earlier this year,” Apel said.

“But, this win was very good as we blundered at the start and lost about six lengths after I lost my irons.

“I thought I’d be leading but we ended up back in the field and four wide.

“It wasn’t until midway down the straight when I thought she could win.”

Apel is due to have shoulder surgery in two weeks. 

“I’ve dislocated my shoulder a few times and it needs surgery to fix,” she said.

Apel is unsure how long she’ll be out of the saddle following her shoulder reconstruction.

Meanwhile, trainer Tom Button’s dream of claiming his third Cleveland Bay Handicap moved a step closer after Hellish’s all-the-way win in the Chairman’s Sprint.

Hellish never looked in danger of defeat and was too strong downing Turbeau in an impressive display in the 1200 metre feature.

Button has won two Cleveland Bay Handicaps with Heartbreak Harry in 2017 and last year with Northern Pride.

Hellish was having only his second start for Button after being sent north by Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor for the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

The $100,000 Cleveland Bay will be run at Cluden Park on August 9, the same day as the $150,000 Townsville Cup.

The Stephen Massingham-trained Smart Legend booked his place in the Townsville Cup next month with a dominant win in the Winter Cup.

Smart Legend relished the step up in distance to 2000 metres after finishing fourth in his first run for the stable in the Magnetic Island Mile at Townsville on July 6.

Massingham won the Townsville Cup in 2019 with his former star The Harrovian who, like Smart Legend, is owned by Tom Hedley.