On a day when the powerful metropolitan stables from across the country (think Gollan, Hawkes, Heathcote, Neasham, Snowden, Waller) were all in play … Toowoomba based trainers came up trumps in the two Group 3 races on the card at the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Hollindale Stakes race-day, which this year took place at the Sunshine Coast because of the work being done laying a new track at the glitter strip venue.
Yellow Brick underlined his claims as a rising talent by outgunning his rivals in testing circumstances in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas for the Toowoomba based training partnership of Tony and Maddysen Sears (see separate story).
That win was the second act of a double delight for the Toowoomba racing fraternity following on trainer Kevin Kemp’s special success with Russian Alliance earlier in the day in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic … a result which gave the affable Kemp his first Group 3 victory.
Russian Alliance had certainly given notice of her ability leading into the Ken Russell contest. In fact, the two-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution went into the race looking to make it five wins in a row and to stay unbeaten in this preparation.
The climb from Maiden through to Class 1 and then two wins in QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap company were all achieved in impressive enough fashion with the winning margins always being comfortable, but never excessive.
Apart from indicating above average ability, the relatively close nature of her four wins also showed Russian Alliance’s commitment in the finish … and, as it turned out, she needed to bring both of those positive traits to the Ken Russell contest to secure the result.
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Kevin Kemp could not have been happier.
“It was unbelievable. I didn’t know I could smile that wide,” said Kemp.
“I didn’t think I would either because I don’t normally get too excited … but being my first Group race win, the way she won and having a lot of good people in the horse made it very special. They are such a good group of people.
“One of my best mates Paul Reedy, who is one of the owners, selected the horse.
“And, my word … what a fight it was in the straight. I thought the other one might have had her measure with 100m or something to go and for her to fight back like that … amazing.
“I was watching on the big television screen. I didn’t know the result on the line. I was standing with a mate of mine, and he said, “I think you got there’ and I said, “I hope you are right.’
“The other horse (Abounding) had a big white nose which would have helped in the photo-finish … and then the number came up and that was it!
“It was great … as I say … for Paul and the owners … and all of my staff. It really was a great moment.”
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But it wasn’t an easy watch right from early in the running.
Just 200m after the start, Russian Alliance was severely hampered when carried in across heels when another horse shifted ground abrupted. Larry Cassidy had to check Russian Alliance to avoid disaster.
‘She copped hefty interference in the back straight,” explained Larry Cassidy. “She is only a tiny little filly, so to be able to withstand the level of interference that she got … and still come through shows how tough she is.
“I was pushed into the fence. I was actually lucky I didn’t clip the stable companion’s heels … and we just took it on from there.
“In the straight, I came up inside of the stable mate and she dashed through pretty quick,” continued Cassidy. ‘Obviously the other horse (Abounding) had scooted quickly down the outside and got the better of me at that stage.
“I knew that she wasn’t going to lay down because, as the other one got a neck on me, I hadn’t really sent her yet, but she still had to do it and she dug deep and was good enough to get the job done.
“Obviously, it was great to be part of a landmark win for Kevin. He is a great guy.”
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That close, hard fought, stride-for stride battle between Russian Alliance and Abounding wasn’t the only battle Cassidy had to win to be able to add another Group win to his impressive riding record.
While jockey’s battle with weight is a generally a given, apart from some very fortunate riders, the specifics are seldom talked about.
Cassidy’s weight tribulations for the week throw some light on that situation.
‘I got suspended, plus I hurt my back … so for the initial, first five days of my suspension I couldn’t do much except having physio to get my back right.
“I got cleared so I rode work on the Saturday. I went to my son’s graduation during the week where I didn’t eat much … some prawns and a salad. I was bit heavy on the Tuesday before we went, but I thought, when I’d get home, I’d be about 58kg.
“I was nearly 61kg.”
Getting down to the 55kg to ride Russian Alliance … that was quite a feat in itself. More than most would be able to do.
With the win on the board, it was all worth it.
The downside was that his pre-race effort losing the weight and then the intensity of the ride meant that Cassidy had to be stood down on medical advice after the running of the Ken Russell Memorial.
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The obvious question now is what options are being considered for Russian Alliance moving forward as there does look to be options aplenty.
“She can go on to run in the filly’s race at Doomben in a fortnight … or … the Sires … or … there is another big race option, the J J Atkins.
“There is a big chance she can even get to two of those … but the paddock is also still an option as I have got to be mindful of the fact she has had five runs. Two or three of them were fairly easy, but the Ken Russell win wasn’t … but, gee, she looks bright this morning.
“But, then again, it is a bit hard to tell how bright they look this morning because the temperature is about zero. They are all a bit fresh, but if we do carry on she’s got three nice race options.
“She lives in Dalrello’s box … the box that Dalrello was trained out of by the late Jim Atkins. I rent those stables from Jim Atkins’ son … so wouldn’t that be good if Russian Alliance could win the JJ Atkins.”
Were that to happen, that would indeed be a side story in its own right … not to mention the no small matter of a Group 1 for Kevin Kemp.
How good would that be!
The size of the smile might set a new record.
