Locals shine as South Burnett trainer almost has perfect day
RACING: Jubilant South Burnett trainer Lindsay Anderson stole the show at the Melbourne Cup race day yesterday at Thabeban Park.
On the biggest race day in the region, Anderson combined with former South Burnett-based jockey Jason Hoopert to take out two of the five races on the calendar.
Beginning the day in the perfect way on Liverpool Jane in the Rum City Food Hcp (850m) it won by one and a half lengths over the locally trained Laura Cronin horse Claragh.
Pleased with how it ran Hoopert said he waited patiently for a good run.
"The leader went a bit quick and I thought it was always going to stop," he said.
"So I just set back off it and waited for the last chop at it."
Continuing his good day out, Hoopert then guided the Anderson-trained Glenthorn Avenue to a win by a neck in the Craft Rental and Hardware Hcp (1090m).
"Glenthorn is a nice horse and always has been," he said.
"About half way down the straight once I rolled outside the other horses I said 'yeah we got this'."
The now Caloundra-based jockey almost made it three from three but was pipped to the post by the Tony Hess-trained Cold Blooded.
In only its second start on sand it stormed home from nowhere to win by a fingernail in the race 2 Sea FM Plate (1090m).
Despite the closeness of the result, jockey Corey Bayliss said he was confident the horse had won when it crossed the line.
"She's done all the work coming home," he said.
"It was pretty close but I knew I had the win."
Bayliss then combined with Darryl Gardiner in race 5 as the locals won the final two races.
Riding Leaps and Bounds in the Bundy Diesel Benchmark Hcp (1380m) it won by six lengths over Gas Burner and Ruby Ray.
Finally in the East End Hotel Benchmark Hcp (1212m) the Mary Hassam-trained local Shockwave won by just under a length.
The next and final meet in Bundaberg this year will be held on December 10.
Results
Race 1 - 1st Liverpool Jane, 2nd Claragh, 3rd Isis Amber.
Race 2 - 1st Cold Blooded, 2nd Chen Wicko, 3rd Hopetoun Street.
Race 3 - 1st Glenthorn Avenue, 2nd Midnight Curfew, 3rd Seen A Host.
Race 4 - 1st Shockwave, 2nd Metallic Point, 3rd Dear Mama.
Race 5 - 1st Leaps and Bounds, 2nd Gas Burner, 3rd Ruby Ray.
