Stars on show at Yeppoon

By Tony McMahon

It is a rarity for a Group 1 winning jockey to ride at a Yeppoon Turf Club non-TAB race meeting on a Saturday but that’s the case tomorrow at Keppel Park racecourse.

Talented jockey Matt McGillivray teams up with his mentor and former apprentice master Craig Smith with three rides at the 1400-metre Country Cups Challenge G J Gardner Yeppoon Cup meeting.

Recently, Matt has been battling weight issues which has restricted his rides in Brisbane and on provincial SEQ tracks, so it has been a case of getting back to grass roots on the country circuit.

McGillivray was the toast of Queensland on June 1, 2019 when he landed the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on the Garry Newham- trained Winning Ways.

Just last Saturday, Matt bobbed-up at his old stamping ground at Roma winning on Vinaigrette for Augathella trainer Raymond Frazer.

Indeed, winning ways has been a trend throughout Matt’s career which stands at 594 victories which included 103 during the 2014/15 season.

On what looks and excellent Cup Day card at Yeppoon’s picturesque Keppel Park racecourse, McGillivray and the astute trainer team up with Rostrum, Sir Altius and Art By Concorde.

The trio look to have excellent prospects in their three minor races which is headed by the $12,000 Cup at 3.35pm.

Success races with McGillivray and Smith, combining for 51 wins in the past.

Incidentally, Matt McGillivray’s younger brother Dan 23, who is currently indentured to Craig Smith at Roma, will also be riding at Yeppoon.

There will be no shortage of riding talent at Keppel Park as Brisbane-based Justin Stanley, Beau-Dene Appo and Wendy Peel along with the Sunshine Coast’s Adam Spinks will be in action.

Wendy Peel, fresh from riding Doomben winner Colpo Di Tamburo last Saturday, combines with her favourite horse, the David Reynolds-trained Rather Salubrious in the Cup.

The trio of jockey, trainer and horse shared a memorable victory in the $200,000 Battle of the Bush Final in Brisbane on June 26.

Rather Salubrious has a good horse’s weight with 63kg but this is not surprising with her BM rating of 85 - some eight points over second topweight Ammoudi Bay with 59.5kg.

Rather Salubrious relishes the 1400 metres trip of the Yeppoon Cup win seven of her 11 victories over the old seven furlongs equivalent.

Despite the weight, Rather Salubrious looks the one to beat while the Olivia Cairns-trained Ammoudi Bay also has winning credentials being a winner four times at the 1400 metres.

Justin Stanley, who has quickly struck winning form with two winners from just three rides in the last week after a six months injury layoff, rides Ammoudi Bay.

His other ride at Yeppoon is on Cacao for Rocky trainer Clinton Taylor with whom he combined to win with Bluindi in Rockhampton yesterday.

Yeppoon Turf Club president Paul Hoolihan is delighted with the composition of fields for Keppel Park, particularly in the Cup given the number of race meetings scheduled at this busy Spring period.

“There is something like 60 race winners in the Yeppoon Cup and in total they have won over $1.2 million in stakes,” Hoolihan said.

“The Club is very happy and the course and surrounds are primed for a huge turnout and top racing.”