FAST LANE: Ollie Vollie’s jockey Jessica Drury is making every post a winner on fast horses, but fast cars is another issue. Picture: Peter Bull
Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
BRINGING the acceptance deadline for Saturday metings forward by a day to Wednesday may not be all good news for owners.
Connections of runners now have an extra day to try to guess what the track conditions might be like on race day.
Theoretically it could lead to a few more scratchings. And there is a financial penalty imposed on owners if they go down that path.
To make the move which will be introduced on a trial basis initially the Victorian model at least offers some reduction in the scratching fee.
Hopefully, Queensland will adopt the same discount system.
The reason behind the early acceptance is to allow media outlets greater production time and provide better pre-promotion of metropolitan racing.
But the big driver is increased Fixed Odds betting.
Under the Tattersall’s-Racing Industry agreement in Queensland, owners should be aware the return to the industry from TAB Fixed Odds betting is less than the return from normal TAB pari-mutual betting.
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That effectively means less available in the pool for increased prizemoney if Fixed Odds is drawing money across from the traditional tote.
THE official racing calendar has ben regarded as the “bible” for race conditions.
There was a boo-boo in the calendar in November and December with yesterday’s Sky Racing Nudgee Handicap not posted as a Listed race.
Owners of fillies and mares chase black type like greyhounds chase the lure. Hopefully, nobody missed the race through the oversight.
TAMWORTH apprentice Jessica Drury has always enjoyed the thrill of the power and speed of horses.
Unfortunately that also applies to cars. She currently has no licence due to speeding offences.
“My mother has to drive me to a lot of race meetings,” an excited Drury revealed after her first city win on Ollie Vollie.
Drury was a successful competitor on the show jumping and eventing circuit growing up in the New England area.
“I still have my own horses at my family’s property just out of Tamworth. I often ride them but I have competed in events since I started in stables,” she said.
Ollie Vollie’s trainer Sue Grills said Drury and her own apprentice Tim Bell were outstanding show riders.
“They both could win the blue ribbon at the Brisbane Show if they concentrated on show competition. They are outstanding riders,” Grills said.
Bell has spent a lot of time on the sidelines through suspension in recent times but is due back at the end of this week.
BEATEN favourite Brave The Way looked to feel the firm conditions in the fifth at Doomben.
HIs wide barrier was not of any significance. Rider Glen Colless positioned him one off the fence albeit a fair way from the leaders.
But in the home straight Brave The Way kept working hard but there was no real dash about his finish.