Horse Racing: Quirindi success for Tamworth trio

The QJC staged its first Werris Creek Business Houses meeting and it turned out a good day with a good crowd and good turnover.

QJC secretary manager Ted Wilkinson was delighted with the response, crowd-wise and punting-wise for a day highlighted by the first Commercial Hotel Werris Creek Summer Sprint (1200m).

That was won by Brotherly Secret for Inverell trainer Shane Edmonds.

Tamworth trainers Sue Grills (Montana Pines), Cody Morgan (Anchois) and Stephen Dixon (Mishani Istana) also had good days.

Mishani Istana followed a long priced win at Grafton by knocking over an odds-on favourite.

The six-year-old daughter of Oratorio came from behind the Angela Davies-trained Magic Name to catch and pass the Gosford gelding down the Quirindi hill and post a half neck win.

It was apprentice jockey Reece Jones’ eighth win since he started race riding earlier this year and he used his three kilogram claim to great effect.

Magic Name carried 58 but Mishani Istana had just 51kg after Jone’s deduction and it proved decisive.

“I just had to ride her a bit quiet today and let her settle,” Jones said.

“Saved her for a last crack at them.”

Dixon had trained the mare originally but transferred her to his brother Brian.

“He couldn’t get her going,” he said.

“So I got her back and she’s picked up well.”

While Dixon celebrated so too did Jones.

The 22-year-old has now ridden eight winners in a short period of time since his debut win at Tamworth.

“Loving it,” the Scone based apprentice smiled of his blossoming career.

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Earlier Montana Pines surprised his jockey and gladdened his trainer when the five-year-old gelding son of Husson won the Perrett’s Taxi Cabs Maiden Handicap (1200m).

The gelding was having his 19th start but had just three seconds and three thirds to his credit.

“That was a surprise,” winning jockey Greg Ryan said when he returned to the winners stall at Quirindi.

His big smile belied some early worries when he had to “niggle him along” before “he picked up the bridle at the 500m.

Then he stormed home to catch Khitaamy in the final 100m and post his first win for Grills.

“He deserved that,” she said.

“He’s been consistent and got knocked off on the line at Gunnedah the other day. He’s a beautiful horse, really happy for his owners.”

The large syndicate includes Jamie Barbuto who has had a number of horses with Grills over many years.

Anchois meanwhile might be heading to a Highway Handicap after his impressive win..

The four-year-old gelding scored a second career win at his 10th start in the Crawford Freight Lines Class 1 Handicap (1000m) when he surged to a two length win from Cocky Rocky with King Percy a short head away third.

Morgan was confident too.

“He worked really well the other morning and had a real good blow after it,” he said.

“The stable is having a good run too and he did look a class above them today. I thought he did a good job with the 60kg though.”

He said he’s a “potential Highway horse”.

“He’s doing everything right,” he said.

The QJC now race on Wednesday, December 26 with a five-race Boxing Day meeting highlighted by the $7000 Murrurundi Cup (2000m) and the $6000 Cactus Wilson Memorial Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

Tamworth Jockey Club meanwhile stages an eight-race TAB meeting next Tuesday (December 4) with nominations closing 11am Wednesday (November 28).