Historic performance at anniversary Cooktown meeting

By Jordan Gerrans

On a historic afternoon for the Cooktown Amateur Turf Club, it was fitting that an extraordinary performance claimed the local Cup of 2024.

Cooktown – which is the northernmost track on Queensland’s coast – celebrated their 150th race meeting on Saturday afternoon.

Cooktown only races once a year but it is a popular meeting for participants and punters across North Queensland to attend.

At the special anniversary race day, the track record was broken in the Cup as Choir Boy bolted in by almost a dozen lengths to win the feature event.

Renowned Atherton conditioner Janel Ryan had high hopes for the bay gelding leading into 1760 metre staying trip but even she was astonished to see her galloper bolt in by more than 11 lengths.

“It was massive,” Ryan said.

“To win by that – it is unbelievable.

“I did not think he could win a race by that far, but every run he has had this preparation – even in his track gallops – he has seemed to improve and get better. I do not know how much better he can be.”

Choir Boy had a stint with leading provincial trainer Stuart Kendrick through 2022 where he won races at Ipswich and Caloundra.

Choir Boy was ridden by Nathan Day on Saturday and was the last leg of his winning treble on the program.

Ryan trains alongside her husband and former jockey Ronnie Ryan.

The FNQ team are prolific Cup winners across their long tenure in the sport, winning multiple Cairns Cups as well as plenty of country Cups around the local area.

While Ryan did not have the record books in front of her following the Cooktown Cup romp, she estimates that Choir Boy’s victory was the biggest in her decades in the sport in terms of winning margin.

She recalls a nine-length dominant victory at Oak Park a few years back, which Choir Boy easily accounted for.

Cooktown Amateur Turf Club president Robyn Holmes said racing in the regional town went all the way back to the gold rush and they were proud to celebrate their history on Saturday. 

“With such a long and preserved history, the club has supported the spirit of racing and highlighted the town’s resilient spirit," Holmes said.

The Ryan barn have been long-term supporters of the Cooktown races and they were chuffed to win the anniversary Cup.

“It is a lovely setting at Cooktown,” she said.

“They had a huge crowd and the club does a great job up there.”

The Cup at Cooktown doubled as a heat of the Country Cups Challenge with Choir Boy now qualified for the decider later this month in the city.

The son of Divine Prophet has won four races since early July and has been placed on three other occasions from nine attempts.

The CCC Final will be run at Doomben on November 30 with $200,000 on offer.

It is a long trip from FNQ to Brisbane but the Ryan team plan to be in the city later this month.

“If everything goes alright, we are headed to Brisbane,” she said.

“I am not sure how competitive he can be down there because I have not paid too much attention to the rest of the field that will be down there. But, this horse keeps improving for us.”