Emerald 100 exceeds expectations

By Tony McMahon

Emerald’s Pioneer Park racecourse was packed last Saturday when a crowd of 2,600 witnessed young Rockhampton trainer Tom Smith’s Bayerische win the 56^th running of the iconic $13,000 Emerald 100.

In the process of his dominant on-pace win, Bayerische earned a spot in the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 3.

Bayerische described by Smith as somewhat an enigma, holding on to stave off Toowoomba’s Package by a half-length with Taroom’s Coach two lengths away third.

Race favourite, the Glenda Bell-trained Demurral disappointed when 12 lengths back near last.

Smith, along with Bayerische’s winning connections led by Gracemere’s Bear Rawlinson, were overjoyed by the win.

“This win was never about the prize money or added incentives for the connections but rather the sentiment and what it meant in their own different ways,” Smith said.

Bear Rawlinson admitted to being over the moon at claiming the feature race.

Fellow part-owner Neville Milne felt likewise, stating that his parents were life members of the Emerald Jockey Club, making the victory all the more special.

It was a day to remember for comeback jockey Colin Lennon (right), only back riding for a month after a six-year layoff from a broken neck sustained at Townsville in January, 2016.

Earlier during the five-race card, local trainer Raymond Williams quinealled the 1000-metre Emerald Lightning.

New stable addition Star Of O’Reilly made light of his 66.5kg impost to beat stablemate and track specialist and race favourite Ahwahneechee.

While the winning margin was one-and-a-half lengths, winning jockey Hamblin rated Star of O’Reilly lucky to win.

“He got the breaks in running and I believe this is why he beat Ahwahneechee,” he said.

“However, it was a courageous win under such a heavy weight.”

Raymond Williams, who also performs the bulk of the track curator role at Pioneer Park, dismissed his prowess with older horses such as the Lightning pair.

“I don’t do much with them on the track but swim them a fair bit,” Williams said.

Officials were delighted with all aspects of the meeting, deemed a rousing success, before one of the biggest turnouts in years.