By Tony McMahon
While the Callaghan Park barrier trials held yesterday TUESDAY had little bearing on the likely outcome of the $125,000 CYS 2YO Classic (1200m) on April 13, they certainly unearthed some coming winners.
The Lyle Rowe trained Bantu Bay (b g 2 Hvasstan-Pokomo x Piccolo), who seems assured of sneaking into the Classic field in Rockhampton, was one of only two 2YO Classic entrants to trial.
Signed-off by Rowe for $23K at last year’s Capricornia Yearling Sale, Bantu Bay, ridden by Elyce Smith won his 900 metres trial heat by two lengths in the time of 56.97 seconds.
Bantu Bay has demonstrated considerable promise being runner-up at both starts this campaign at Callaghan Park behind Craiglea Altona and Pound For Pound.
His mum Pokomo was twice a winner at two years and has been a good winners’ producer.
Back in 2013, Bantu Bay’s half-brother by Garrison Savannah named Jokerman, who incidentally was also trained by Lyle Rowe, finished third in the CYS 2YO Classic behind his all-conquering stablemate Mythologist.
While Bantu Bay trialled pleasingly yesterday TUESDAY the effort of third placegetter Nobody Better (Thomas Doyle) stood out like a beacon.
Nobody Better was given an ultra-easy trial by Doyle, who barely flinched on the Better Than Ready-Nobody Listens (NZ) X Kilimanjaro filly and she cruised to the line some 3.5 lengths behind winner Bantu Bay.
One of the standout fillies from last year’s CYS, Nobody Better sold for $24K to North Queenslanders Peter Malpass and Ross Donovan.
The owners are keen for Nobody Better to make the 2YO Classic field and as of yesterday TUESDAY she was a borderline case of making it in.
If she misses a Classic start, Nobody Better placed twice at Mackay and decidedly unlucky when a half-length third to Astral Knight there at her last start on February 1, may contest the $37K (Fillies prize) QTIS 2YO Maiden (1050m) at Callaghan Park the day before.
Three fillies by boom first season sire Better Than Ready have been entered for the CYS at the Rockhampton Showgrounds on Sunday, April 14 and they would be prize catches for purchasers.
Better Than Ready youngsters have stormed the racetracks this season through 14 individual winners of 22 races.
He entered stud in 2015 and since then his service fee has been fixed at $9900.
On the back of Better Than Ready’s freakish first season runners’ figures, that fee is expected to spiral when announced anytime now for the upcoming 2019 stud season.
Without doubt the most impressive trial winner at Callaghan Park yesterday TUESDAY was the Graeme Green trained talented Poet’s Voice (GB)-Verkko x Flying Spur) male Master Jamie.
He ran the fastest time of the morning over the 900 metres course running 55.12 seconds indicating he is primed to perform to his optimum as soon as Green puts him down in a race.
Master Jamie brilliantly won the Breeders Plate (1050m) on debut in Rockhampton on November 9 before third at Doomben after a slow getaway on November 24.
The Lyle Wright trained Cyclone Topgirl has been given a gift weight of 54KG in her Toowoomba assignment on Saturday, the $110,000 QTIS 3YO Handicap (1200m).
Cyclone Topgirl galloped well in a short jump out at Callaghan Park yesterday morning.
Capricornia Yearling Sales graduate Gypsy Toff also has 54kg in the same race as Cyclone Topgirl.