Tiny Queensland town set for Jewel day thrill

By Jordan Gerrans

A large portion of Condamine’s population is set to descend on the Gold Coast next month after Magnetic Drive qualified for the 3YO Jewel at Mackay on Saturday afternoon.

While all eyes were on the returning Sweet Dolly in the Central Queensland qualifier, it was the Clinton Taylor-trained filly who finished over the top of the 2YO Jewel champion from 12 months ago.

Resuming after almost a year off the racing scene, there was always going to be questions about Sweet Dolly’s ability to run out the 1200-metre trip and she tired late after leading from a wide alley.

The Rockhampton-based Taylor, who is fourth on the Queensland provincial trainers premiership this campaign, thought his Top Echelon filly could upset the popular Sweet Dolly if she was not quite at her brilliant best in her comeback effort.

“We were not kidding ourselves; we went there thinking we were running for second,” Taylor said.

“I did think if there was any chinks in Dolly’s armour then we would be there the last 100 metres and it worked out well for us.

“Magnetic Drive is crying for 1300 or 1400 metres really but unfortunately we do not have many races in that distance for three-year-olds in the north. 

“We will freshen her up now as we have three weeks between the Jewel.

“We are not going down with high expectations but it will be great experience for everyone involved.”

Taylor, who rides much of his own work, praised the smarts of apprentice hoop Tahlia Fenlon on Saturday to guide Magnetic Drive to the fourth victory of the fillies emerging career.

Taylor hails from Condamine, which is south of Miles and Chinchilla, and moved to Central Queensland three years ago to pursue his ambitions of training on a full-time basis.

He has not forgotten his roots in the Western Downs Region, selling shares of Magnetic Drive to all his old mates in Condamine, most of which he played footy with or worked on farms alongside.

With a group of around 15 in the ownership of the exciting filly, most are expected to make the trip to the Gold Coast next month to see her race for $500,000.

Just under 400 call Condamine home.

With a Jewel winner coming from Rockhampton in 2021 – Sweet Dolly in the 2YO race – the connections have ever right to dare to dream.

“I put it to the owners on Sunday as they are all old battlers from Condamine, they are all mates of mine and good friends as a group, and they all said 'what are the chances of us having a horse in a race like this again?',” Taylor recalled.

“They were all keen to take her down for a go.

“They were all excited, they all said even if we finish back in the field, they were not too fussed, they were all looking forward to the experience, that is what it is all about.

“If we happen to get a big down pour of rain leading into the Jewel, that will bring us right into a race like that.”

Taylor’s progression as a trainer over the last three campaigns has quickly made him one of the up-and-coming horsemEn to watch in the Sunshine State.

Across the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, Taylor prepared just seven victories.

In the three campaigns since, he has gone past 20 winners each season – with a career best of 32 in 2020-21 – a number he is likely to surpass this season.

He only trails leading barns like Tony Gollan, Stuart Kendrick and Lindsay Hatch on the provincial trainers premiership so far this season.

“We were behind all the big boys like Gollan and Kendrick for that, which is a big achievement for a stable like us,” he said.

“We have had terrific support from great owners and we were very active at the sales last year so we have big numbers – around 30 in work – we just need to keep the winners ticking over when you have numbers like that.”

While Sweet Dolly could not keep her unbeaten streak to her career alive, her trainer Kevin Hansen was not disappointed with her first appearance at the races in almost a year.

“It was a stinking hot day in Mackay and she might have just lost it a bit before the race, maybe she was just a little bit soft for 1200 metres first-up as well,” Hansen told News Corp post-race on Saturday afternoon.

In the lead-up to March 19 on Jewel day on the Gold Coast, qualifier races have been held across regional Queensland in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton – with more to come in Brisbane on the ‘Journey to the Jewel.’