Big Hall of winners at the 'Curry

By Jordan Gerrans

Three horses in work for a trio of winners on the same program – that is not bad going for new North West trainer Terry Hall.

Hall – a former jockey – previously prepared his small team of gallopers at Oakey on the outskirts of Toowoomba but in recent months has relocated to Cloncurry for work purposes.

The Gympie Cup-winning horseman did not waste any time settling into his new surroundings.

He took three horses to the non-TAB program at his new home deck of Cloncurry on Saturday afternoon and walked away with as many victories.

They came from The Carpenter, Ashmolean and Sista Elenore.

Ashmolean and Sista Elenore are both newcomers to Hall’s team after previously doing their racing through South East Queensland.

“I like it, it is a good place,” Hall said of training out of Cloncurry.

“There is a lot of interest out here for people wanting to purchase horses for me to train so we will need to get a few more stables built.

“The facilities are good and I am the only one training out here, which is great, I like that. It looks pretty good looking forward for the year.”

Hall has family living and working in the North West and after visiting the regional town late last year, he decided to relocate there.

While there are several other trainers that base themselves down the road at Mount Isa and Julia Creek, Hall is the lone trainer at Cloncurry, which is a track that has hosted TAB race days in recent years.

According to Hall, one of the appeals of training in the town is that he can ride his own work at any time of the day and is not restricted to having it all completed first thing in the morning.

With three in work at the moment, Hall says he may double that and get his stable numbers up to as many as six as 2024 progresses.

It was the newcomers and visitors who walked away with all the prizes from Saturday’s five-event non-TAB program as Hall’s trifecta of results were coupled with Barcaldine trainer Toni Schofield also walking away with a double.

The hobby trainer learnt under the guidance of bush icon Charlie Prow in Blackall, completing his apprenticeship with the revered horseman.

He got going in 1992 and would ride in the areas around Blackall and Barcaldine for around five years – being the leading apprentice and senior jockey for a period of time - before weight became too much of a concern.

The Carpenter and Sista Elenore won by almost a combined 20 lengths on Saturday.

Sista Elenore was previously prepared by Darryl Hansen and was dominant in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres on his first opportunity on the dirt surface at Cloncurry.

“The Carpenter always goes really well fresh and I am looking forward to seeing him at Mount Isa,” Hall said.

“I cannot wait until he gets up there on the sand as he loves Roma and Gympie, winning there. That was very good from him and good to see him back.

“Sista Elenore is a horse that I have only just picked up for a local family here in Cloncurry and she was very impressive, I really liked her.

“Sista Elenore went to the line strong and I have her nominated for the Boulia Cup this Saturday. If she puts on another performance like she did at Cloncurry, then she will be very hard to beat at Boulia.”

Ashmolean broke through for her first victory in 19 attempts on Saturday after previously being placed on eight prior occasions.

“I was pretty lucky as Ashmolean has come from a very good stable and I have only had her four or five weeks,” Hall said.

“My brothers have bought her so that was good to see her winning.”

Sista Elenore is nominated for Saturday’s $15,000 Boulia Cup which will be run as a Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1400 metres.