All eyes on Rocky

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The Rockhampton Jockey Club is all set for the biggest week on its racing calendar with the running of tomorrow’s $100,000 XXXX Gold Newmarket Handicap (1300m) and Saturday’s $100,000 Rockhampton Cup (1600m).

 

Tomorrow’s feature sprint at Callaghan Park has attracted strong interest from top local trainers as well as leading south Queensland trainers such as Robert Heathcote (Lauterbrunnen), Tony Sears (Choice Bro) and Liam Birchley (Desert General).

 

Sears and leading Queensland apprentice James Orman will combine in an attempt to win another feature race with this year’s Weetwood Handicap winner Choice Bro.

 

Saturday’s Rockhampton Cup has also attracted some big name nominations, with the likes of former top Sydney trainer David Vandyke (Emerald City), Kelly Schweida (Ruling Force) and Natalie Mccall (Colour Charge and Walk To The Bar).

 

Trainers have also been lured to Rockhampton by a $10,000 bonus for trainers who earn the most points from starters (based on first to third placings) over the two carnival days at Callaghan Park.

 

The points earned are based on the finishing position of the runners (first to third) in each race held over the two days. The bonus prize money split will be: $7000 first; $2000 second; $1000 third.

 

The RJC initiative was introduced last year to entice visiting trainers to be a part of the Rocky Winter Carnival and this year the points scoring system has been tweaked to better reward trainers for numbers of wins, second and third placings.

 

“RJC are thrilled with the nominations locally and from South East Queensland,” said RJC General Manager Mick Cottee

 

“The Rockhampton Winter Carnival still attracts the big trainers chasing $100,000 in prizemoney for the Cup and Newmarket.

 

“The RJC has again put up a $10,000 trainers bonus over the two feature days and based on early nominations it looks like it will be hotly contested again this year.”

RQ official

Another highlight of the two-day carnival will be the presence of special guest Peter Moody, who will attend on both Newmarket and Rockhampton Cup raceday in addition to Friday’s Rocky Cup Calcutta.

 

Before taking a break from racing, Moody was regarded as one of Australia’s best horse conditioners and is better known as the trainer of arguably the world’s greatest ever sprinter Black Caviar.

 

“The RJC is ecstatic that Peter will be here over the two feature days and Friday’s Calcutta,” said Cottee.

 

“His involvement has already proven a success with 80 per cent of Calcutta tickets for Friday’s luncheon being sold out.”

 

The RJC’s 2016 Stayers Series will culminate with the seventh and final heat on Rockhampton Cup Day. Following this race, the RJC will award $2500 cash to the leading trainer of the series, and a further $2500 cash to the owner/s of the leading horse in the series.