A great day for the Irish and a great day for Mount Isa Race Club which finally got its first meet of 2018 after two cancellations due to the weather.
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The first meet was cancelled two weeks ago and efforts to run it again last week were thwarted again by the wet weather.
But there was nothing but blue skies to greet the March 17 meeting with the luck of the Irish on St Patrick’s Day.
Not surprisingly green was the colour of the day both in the wonderful fashions and around the grounds where everything was looking fresh after the rains and the going was good.
The five race card started with the Seafood Nights Coming Soon Benchmark 60 Handicap over 900m.
See races photo gallery here
There was close finish but Safdie ridden by Shane McGovern for trainer Steven Royes edged out the Bob Burow-trained Anchor Chain with Aaron Spradau aboard while Dreamward Bound finished third.
The Spradau-Burow combination would have better luck in the races to come.
The Spradau-Burow combination would have better luck in the races to come
In Race 2 the Welcome Jody Contarino QTIS Maiden Plater also over 900m Spradau had his first win on Lord Windermere which finished 3.5 lengths clear of Hunting with My Mind Is Madeup finishing third.
The Spradau-Burow combo completed a quinella in Race 3 the Training Track Subsidy Scheme Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap over the slightly longer distance of 1000m.
Their horse Split the Atom split the field to cruise home by nine lengths from Born to Fire and Tuning.
In Race 4 Function Room Available for Hire Open Plate again over the kilometre distance $12 chance Eldrick gave a surprise victory to trainer Darren Burgess and jockey Jason Babarovich ahead of the two Ballards on Travel in Style (Keith) and Chasing the Dragon (Danny).
The final race of the day was the Linmar Cranes and Haulage Benchmark 65 Handicap over the 1000m distance and there was finally a victory for the Ballards – though it was trainer Denise not jockeys Keith and Danny who had the win.
Her horse Bush Lawyer was skilfully piloted to victory by Tamara Tincknell to a one length victory over I’m Desperate Too (giving the Spradau-Burow pairing another podium finish) and Night Wolf was third.
Racing moves to Cloncurry this weekend with next races in Isa on May 12.