IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on a possible probe into the nomination of topweight Bid Spotter for the Townsville Cup.

Concerns have been expressed by some trainers and jockeys about the weight implications for runners in the Cup if Bid Spotter does not make the trek north and as of Monday it seemed he had not left Brisbane.

He also reports on the appeal of jockey Dale Missen which was upheld but cost him $27,000 which is hardly fair when it seems the stewards realized from the start they had little chance of winning the case.

Butts also previews Saturday’s Townsville Cup.

Here is his column:

 

PROBE INTO WHETHER TOPWEIGHT BID SPOTTER WILL BE A STARTER IN TOWNSVILLE CUP 

THERE was confusion among trainers and jockeys, and maybe even questions being asked by the handicapper about the entry of Big Spotter in Saturday’s Townsville Cup.

Oddly, Bid Spotter, a normal 92 rater, was not given a rating when the entries were released on Monday which indicated a possible probe by the handicapper or stewards, or both, into whether the horse would be a certain starter in the $100,000 Cup.

If handicapped to his rating, Bid Spotter couldbe weighted well over the 60kg mark with Danagaze, a benchmark 88 rater next best.

And all but a couple of the remaining 22 entries would be weighted on the 54kg limit.

But if Big Spotter was not in the field Danagaze would likely get the normal 59kg topweight.

“I hope I can rectify this next year by weighting horses after acceptances,” Racing Queensland handicapper Nathan Bourke said.

“It would be a way of overcoming ‘bodgie’ entries that can have a significant bearing on the handicap.”

With the exception of Bid Spotter, most of the visiting Cup horses have already arrived or are due in the next two days.

 

IT COST DALE MISSEN $27,000 TO PROVE HE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN CHARGED TO START WITH

YOU probably won’t read it on the official Racing Queensland website, but jockey Dale Missen has won his appeal against 12 months disqualification handed down by Gold Coast stewards several weeks ago.

Neither the appeal outcome nor the fact it has not be officially reported should surprise anyone.

Racing Queensland publicizes all stewards’ actions against licensees but seldom, if ever, mentions QCAT decisions that go against them at appeal.

That’s hardly fair.

And it could be said stewards were on very shaky ground in the Missen case from the very beginning.

Some learned racing people who have viewed the film are surprised he was charged at all – let alone copping a 12 months disqualification.

It is a particularly harsh penalty when the victim has a daily battle with weight – it could in fact be career threatening – but of course that is not a concern that stewards take into account when assessing penalty.

Facts are that the horse Missen was sent out over was having his first run back from a spell. It hadn’t publicly trialed and, according to the jockey, simply got tired in the straight and he didn’t knock it about.

You don’t flog a dead horse, as they say, and please pardon the pun!

Furthermore, the horse hasn’t been placed in several subsequent starts – but again that’s not an issue stewards would even consider – but perhaps it is worth noting in this case.

On the day of the QCAT appeal, stewards applied to change the charge initially brought against the jockey to a ‘lesser’ infringement. It was unsuccessful.

QCAT announced its decision last week and while it came as no surprise to most – and a great relief for Missen – he now has to find the $27,000 that it cost to defend the charge.

This is where it is totally wrong.

Stewards can lay a charge, take a person’s livelihood and at appeal have the services of a barrister paid for by the industry.

But licensees must finance their own defense.

In the case of Missen a massive $27,000 – and eventually he is declared innocent.

Now convince me that’s fair – because quite frankly it’s not.

 

PLENTY OF VISITORS HEADING TO TOWNSVILLE FOR SATURDAY’S $100,000 CUP

THEY have started rolling in for Saturday’s Townsville Cup that promises to be one of the best in years.

However, an early casualty is Flying Home owned by theowever an early casualty Sheehan family from Ingham who are long-time supporters of racing in the north.

Plans to have their ever familiar white and black hoops back at Cluden on the Barry Baldwin-trained stayer were halted last Saturday when

Flying Home was found to be sore and the trainer decided against a long float trip north.

Also a scratching is his jockey Chris Munce who was to have been special guest at Wednesday’s barrier draw and luncheon at the Townsville

RSL.

Steven O’Dea, the local boy who has made a name for himself in the big smoke, will be back on a flying visit with his capable stayer Cash 'n’

Style which will be ridden by top Melbourne jockey Mark Pegus who celebrated his return to the north with a winning double on Saturday.

And another former local Jeffrey Caught has nominated Moment to Remember for the Cup.

Danagaze hopes make it a ‘third time lucky’ bid for Cup honors. He won the Rockhampton Cup (1600m) last month and was eye-catching at

headquarters two weeks ago. He has failed at two previous attempts at the Townsville Cup.

Brisbane galloper Delago Pilli, winner of the Mackay Cup and the mount of Justin Stanley, is a very big ‘tip’ to complete the double and then

there is another visitor in Denwood.  

He ran a great Cup trial on Tuesday and the whisper is that Melbourne lightweight jockey Jason Lyon might head north after the Seymour meeting on

Wednesday to partner the horse for yet another Townsville old boy Daryl Hansen.

Mt Isa will rely on the old stager Sandwood which has won almost every major Cup race out west but is likely to get into the race on the 54kg

limit and connections are scurrying to find a suitable rider at that weight.

The chase is on in earnest for jockeys who can ride the limit.

The main local hopes are evergreen Cash Attack which has been lumping big weights in lead up races and the up-and-comer Strato Mostro

which blotted his copybook on Saturday after three straight wins that had vaulted him to the forefront in pre-Cup discussions.

 

BALLARD FAMILY COMBINE TO WIN THREE OF THE FIVE RACES AT JULIA CREEK

THE Ballard family had a big day out at Julia Creek on Saturday where mother (Denise), father (Keith) and son (Dan) combined to win three of the five races.

It is not an uncommon to see the Ballards scoop half the program at a meeting out west. They have long dominated the riding scene and Keith, about to celebrate his 60th, has amassed nearly 1600 winners.

Not bad for a bloke who is restricted to riding only once a week and for about nine months of the year.

Denise trains nowadays almost exclusively for the Huddy family. She is a regular visitor to Townsville at this time of year but it seems the stable is concentrating more on the upcoming TAB meeting at Mt Isa as part of the Country Series.

 

COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.

TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.