LIVE COVERAGE: Sunshine Coast 16 November 2019

The 2019 TAB Queensland Summer Racing Carnival gets underway today at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club. A new race, The Mooloolaba Cup is the feature race on the program. 

Follow our live blog for all the comments from jockeys and trainers, photos and race replays from all nine races on the card. 

Race 1 - 12:28PM THE SPIT MOOLOOLABA QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st – Dusty Tycoon – Robert Heathcote – Dale Smith

2^nd – Way Beyond – Stuart Kendrick – Daniel Griffin

3^rd – All Good Millo – Michael Costa – Robbie Fradd

Trainer – Robert Heathcote

“It’s a fantastic concept there are 1000 owners in this horse and it’s great to look upstairs and see a lot of happy faces.”

“I did exactly the same with her as I did with Rothfire, I gave her a soft 650 metres on Tuesday didn’t take anything out of her and really had her ready to go today.”

“I said to the team it’s all about who’s most professional and she jumped well, didn’t pull, sprinted and ran through the line.”

“Three week’s time we’ll go to a nice set weight plate and if we can knock that off we’ll go to the Millions.”

Jockey – Dale Smith

“I said early days when I rode her she has a lot of ability and she’s doing it all on class a the moment, once she learns the caper she’ll be a serious filly.”

“She chilled out today in the heat she soaked the atmosphere up, bounced quick and today will be a great learning curve for her.”

“It sounded like the Melbourne Cup when I came around the home corner, but it’s great for all these new people in racing.”

Race 2 - 1:03PM THE ESPLANADE MOOLOOLABA Class 3 Plate (1800 METRES)

1^st –  So Dapper – John Symons & Sheila Laxon – Larry Cassidy

2^nd – A Man To Match – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdurft

3^rd – Nicholas – Tony Gollan – Jim Byrne

Trainer – John Symons

“He’s probably not suited as a front runner, but we had a look at the race and didn’t see much speed so if he jumped thought we would take it up, as the races get stronger he’ll learn to get cover.”

“I was a bit edgy when Larry (Cassidy) let him go at the half mile, being his first run over the 1800 metres, but he had plenty in the tank and put them to the sword.”

“One step at a time with him, he’s a Magic Millions horse and if we can get him into a staying race there that would be fantastic, because we missed out on the Winter Carnival when he pulled him hamstring.”

Jockey –  Larry Cassidy

“I actually think he’s going to be a better horse when he comes from behind, he used to miss the start now he catapults out of the gates, so I thought if we end up leading it wouldn’t be a bad spot.”

“Once he settled he was just floating out in front it might have looked like he quickened buut he was always comfortable.”

“I rode him in a barrier trial he missed the start by ten lost by eight and I said that day he’ll be a group horse and nothing he’s done since tells me otherwise

Race 3 - 1:38PM THE WHARF MOOLOOLABA No More Than One Metro Win Handicap (1400 METRES)

1^st –  Mewstone Rock – John Symons & Sheila Laxon – Ron Stewart

2^nd – Sister Patti – Les Ross – Luke Tarrant

3^rd – Prince of Tie – Kelly Schweida – Jackson Murphy

Trainer – Sheila Laxon

“She’s had a lot of bad luck all the way through, but with all the preparations she certainly is very mature.”

“I came here with a lot of confidence her trackwork was excellent and she’s brought the same form to the track today.”

“The connections drove up from Victoria, fantastic to have them here at the Sunshine Coast.”

“We’ve got fifteen runners in the stable and have gone two from two today with one more to come, fair to say we’re happy.”

Jockey –  Ron Stewart

“First up was a really good run circumstances just got her posted wide and back but it was a really good return and she’s stepped up again today.”

“We had the better draw today and even though we were a long way off them we had the back of Coral Bay and tracked into it nicely.”

Race 4 - 2:17PM RICEBOI MOOLOOLABA BENCHMARK 80 Handicap (2200 METRES)

1^st –  Advance Warning – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdurft

2^nd – Picka Plum – Paul Jenkins – Jimmy Orman

3^rd – Checkmate Lad – John Symons & Sheila Laxon

Trainer – Tony Gollan

“They’re a really tricky breed if you try to take off sideways on them they tend to lose all momentum on the corner forcing us to ride for luck through the field.”

"You look at him in the yard he got pretty hot and sweaty today, but he carries his condition through his preparation and the deeper he gets the further he stays, he’s a proper stayer with a big future.”

Jockey – Baylee Nothdurft

“We tried to go around them last start and he got a bit lost, he’s far better up underneath them I had to wait a while for the run but he finished really strong.”

“His first preparation he was a bit green, but every race he’s learning more and more and looks like a really good stayer going forward.”

Race 5 - 2:53PM LANDMARK RESORT & SPA QTIS Three-Years-Old Colts and Geldings Handicap (1000 METRES)

1^st –  Kalik – Tony Haydon – Brad Stewart

2^nd – Le Palmier – Tony Gollan – Jim Byrne

3^rd – Ready To Roam – Tony Gollan – Baylee Nothdurft

Trainer – Tony Haydon

“He’s probably bred to stay and not really sprint, but it’s all about the future with him and to be able to pinch a couple of nice thousand metre races is a bonus.”

“It was good to see him show a bit of fight when the other horse stuck it to him, he can be a bit grand, he’ll need that when he gets further.”

“We’ll take stock now have a look at the calendar, we don’t want to push him too far this prep, but I’m sure we’ll find him something.”

“A huge amount of credit has to go to Neville Bell who owns and bred this horse, I’m glad I’m having some success for him.”

Jockey – Brad Stewart

“He took a bit of riding we were head to head there for a while, but he dug in and got the best of it late.”

“It’s the first time I’ve rode the horse and he’s starting to relax in his racing and will certainly get further with that maturity.”

Race 6 - 3:32PM DEFINE PROPERTY AGENTS BENCHMARK 70 Handicap (1200 METRES)

1^st –  Pinnacle Star – David Vandyke – Ryan Maloney

2^nd – Love Squirrels – Paul Jenkins – Ron Stewart

3^rd –  Doctor Zous – Darryl Hansen – Jim Byrne

Trainer – David Vandyke

“He’s been very consistent, but the difference today was his professionalism he was happy to sit last early Ryan (Maloney) didn’t bustle the horse and he was strong late.”

“He only won by a neck and Ryan (Maloney) saved every inch, it was rider and horse that won that race.”

“He’s a work in progress he’s not there yet but if he keeps racing like he did today we’ll keep him ticking along.”

Jockey – Ryan Maloney

“He’s been a model of consistency this time in and I said to David (Vandyke) pre-race I think he’s on today, where he may not have handled the 1400 so well last preparation.”

“It was a good tenacious effort he’s not the full product yet and when he gets there he’s going to be a very solid horse.”

“The track felt terrific, a few riders seemed to head towards the crown of the track but we took inside runs and still came on well.”

Race 7 - 4:12PM THE WHARF MOOLOOLABA SWISS ACE Plate (1000 METRES)

1^st –  Tycoon Ace – Tony & Maddysen Sears – Jimmy Orman

2^nd – Meet Mr Taylor – Kelly Schweida – Mark Du Plessis

3^rd –  Tarzan – Stuart Kendrick – Luke Tarrant

Trainer – Maddysen Sears

“He’s probably the most consistent horse we’ve got in the stable and that’s a fantastic way to start this preparation.”

“About fifty metres out he looked a beaten horse, but he just kept coming and had superior fitness fresh.”

“He had a phenomenal jump out about ten days ago and pretty much since then we knew he’d be a big chance in this race.”

Jockey – Jimmy Orman

“I thought it was always going to work out pretty good for us with the speed from Meet Mr Taylor and Tarzan, I said to Tony (Sears) pre-race I thought he was a good thing I couldn’t believe he was paying $15.”

“It took me the whole trip to get there the two he was chasing are tough horses, but he just kept finding and we got there in time.”

Race 8 - 4:48PM STAYMOOLOOLABA.COM.AU MOOLOOLABA CUP (1600 METRES)

1^st –  The Candy Man – Barry Baldwin – Matthew McGillivray

2^nd – Reckless Choice – Steven O’Dea – Boris Thornton

3^rd –  Spectroscope – Natalie McCall – Brad Stewart

Trainer – Barry Baldwin

“I’m seventy-six years old and still learning, I took him down South and made a few mistakes with him, I might have been staying a bit too close to the SCG in Roosters territory he’s a Queensland and wanted to be back here.”

“He had plenty of excuses in Sydney and I stand by the claim his Epsom run was the third best in the race, so to get him back on home soil and the winners circle is fantastic.”

“We did a little bit of a rain dance, but he would have handled a but more as well he loves the wet.”

“He’s back to himself the only problem we have now is planning what we do with him next there are some quality races over the Summer Carnival but they’re about a month apart and he’ll need something in between.”

“It’s great that the crowd embrace him and the story around him, gives you an extra buzz.”

Jockey – Matthew McGillivray

“We got a bit crowded at the corner around the 1200 metre mark and it got a little bit awkward when they slackened the tempo, he threw his head around and we almost went through the fence, but he steadied up.”

“There were a few doubters out there, but I thought he was a great chance today the master in Barry Baldwin training had him in tip top condition it’s a privilege riding him.”

Race 9 - 5:30PM THE SURF CLUB MOOLOOLABA QTIS Three-Years-Old Fillies Handicap (1000 METRES)