By Tony McMahon
Leading Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh is hopeful that his charge Bollente, an unlucky fourth in last Friday’s Rockhampton Newmarket, can atone in the Mackay equivalent on Friday.
Bollente is the $5.50 third favourite behind the Cairns-trained Smart Image ($4.60) in betting markets for the $75,000 race which has assembled one of the best fields in its long history.
Between them the capacity 16 horse field in the $75,000 Mackay Newmarket have won 145 races and prize money earnings of approximately $3.96 million.
In the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket, Bollente and runner-up Princess Tenko had no luck in running but the latter is not among Friday’s field.
Walsh believes had jockey Ryan Wiggins been able to extricate Bollente out of a pocket earlier in the straight the prolific winner may have chalked up his 16th and biggest win.
“He couldn’t get out in the straight until late at Rocky last week and I feel had Ryan (Wiggins) been able to get him out earlier he would have gone close to winning," Walsh said.
Bollente featured in a photo for third and was only beaten 0.98 of a length by victor Roman Aureus.
Walsh went on to comment that Bollente “had pulled up very well” after the Rockhampton race.
“He has pulled up well and really his effort did not involve being a gut busting run and as well he is well drawn at Mackay on Friday," he said.
Bollente will jump from three gate.
There are no fewer than six Rockhampton sprinters, including Bollente heading north for the race.
These are Montenegro Man, Isis Carmella, Brad, Captain Fox and the Jared Wehlow-trained Savoury which from the rails gate with Georgina Cartwright to ride looks a definite lightweight hope.
Savoury was only 1.76 lengths away sixth in the Rockhampton Newmarket when having to contend with barrier 11.
The Jack Bruce-trained Axe, the closest of fifths in that race, has come up with the outside barrier of 16 and will carry top weight of 59.5kg under Ashley Butler.
No fewer than 37 Callaghan Park, Rockhampton-trained horses will start at Mackay in a colossal eight race program that has attracted trainers from Brisbane to Cairns and in between.
Ricky Vale will head up the Bruce Highway with a team of five including his outstanding performer Namazu, which contests the $35,000 Black Memorial Open.
Namazu was handicapped with 65kg, but Vale has paid his apprentice jockey McKenzie Apel, of whom he has a big opinion, a mighty compliment by engaging her for the ride.
McKenzie claims an invaluable 4kgs and while only having had three race rides, she went very close to riding a winner at Mackay on July 1 when second on the Vale-trained Valentina Express.
Namazu, the winner of $520,000, is a class galloper accruing nine wins including many of the North Queensland carnival feature races which no doubt will be Vale’s aim again this winter.