Express MIDLAND
www.midlandexpress.com.au
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
A day to remember
Nicantellya ridden by Samantha Noble with connections after winning the Miranda Park Stan Nicholls Sprint BM58 Hcp at Hanging Rock. Photo: Jay Town/Racing Photos
There are countless stories about racing at Hanging Rock going back generations, and New Year’s Day 2022 added yet another chapter, with the next element ahead being the Hanging Rock Cup meeting on Australia Day. Extreme heat predictions and wavering uncertainty about the latest COVID transmissions in Victoria guaranteed there would not be record numbers in attendance, and everything ran smoothly until a large kangaroo appeared on the track during the running of the sixth and final race, leading to a ‘no race’ outcome. Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club’s initial estimates put the attendance at about the 2000 mark. Scorching temperature fears not being realised and a
welcome breeze, plus an abundance of shade, made the iconic venue much more welcoming than many other locations across the state. Kelly Sports attractions kept many youngsters occupied away from the racing reserve area.
A LOCAL WINNER
A locally trained winner came earlier than many expected, in the second race. Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer knew his last start winner In Bel’s Shadow would probably start favourite in the final event, but there was still some confidence about the prospects of Nicantellya after a close second at Kerang on Boxing Day. The Kerang run was after a four months' break, with the six-year-old’s only previous win occurring in Darwin in April, 2019. The Miranda Park Stan Nicholls Sprint
BM58 over 1000m, had all the local content as Nicantellya was bred by Gary O’Meara at his Miranda Park breeding and agistment farm a short distance away from ‘The Rock’. O’Meara is the K&HRRC vice-president and said Miranda Park was pleased to sponsor the race in memory of lifetime Hesket identity Stan Nicholls, a racing club life member who passed away last April. Nicholls was described as a true ‘local legend’ for his involvement with racing, the local fire brigade, cricket and bowls. Nicantellya’s first problem was securing a jockey, with Kevin Bohorun ruled out after being injured in the first race, and Jake Duffy being too heavy. Lancefield area jockey Samantha Noble filled the role superbly. Jumping well from barrier one, Noble
stayed on the rail throughout, taking an inside run in the straight to win by one and a half lengths much to the delight of connections. It’s not often a third replacement jockey lands the money! The Midland Express BM52 Handicap over 1800m was won in a tight finish by another outsider in BayFury, an 11-yearold trained by Seymour owner-trainer Ron Hockley. Experienced jockey Jake Duffy made it three wins from four rides when he hit the front in the last few strides with topweight Purrfect Scent in the bet365 Bruce Jones Memorial BM58 Handicap over 1600m. Then it was time for race six, the Tony McMahon BM58 Handicap over 2400m. To read what happened, see Sport on page 23.
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