Dan Ballard has four Queensland country jockey premierships under his belt and he is starting 2019 like he is aiming for number five.
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After saddling two winners from two starts at Mount Isa's St Patrick's Day races, he went one better at Cloncurry's Weather Together races on Saturday, bringing home a treble from three mounts, indeed the Ballard father and son combo won four out of five on the day.
the Ballard father and son combo won four out of five on the day
The first meeting of 2019 brought a big crowd into Schumacher Park and it helped that sponsorship enabled the racing to be free for punters.
Ballard started the ball rolling in Race 1 the Glencore's Ernest Henry Mining Class B Handicap over 1000m.
He saddled up the $1.70 favourite Henry Forster's Kuril Fox and won by one and a quarter lengths from No Hat No Play with Dutch Twist finishing third.
In Race 2 the IOR Petroleum Class 4 Plate over 1000m, Ballard was aboard another favourite, Bob Burow's gallant Galea Warrior for trainer Bub Burow and they did not disappoint winning by over six lengths from Crystal Bear with Metazoa a further length behind in third.
In Race 3 the KJW Contracting Maiden Plate over 1200m, the Ballard spell was briefly broken - and then only because Dan didn't have a ride.
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Instead the honours went to jockey Jason Hoopert who rode another favourite, trainer Croydon Hampton's Flossy to victory by five and a half lengths from Experienced with Group Session a further two lengths back in third.
In Race 4 the K & R Contracting Class 1 Handicap over 1200m, Dan Ballard was back in the saddle - and back in the winner's enclosure.
He rode Tanya Perry's Leica Celebre to victory by a head from Steven Royes' The Big Sheila with jockey Tim Brummell aboard.
King Solomon was almost five lengths back in third place.
In the final race of the Dan's dad Keith Ballard kept it in the family by winning the Bell Rural Contracting Open Handicap over 1200m.
Ballard senior gave trainer Henry Forster his second win of the day aboard Heroism which won by two and three quarter lengths from Clateau with favourite Good Job Bro finishing third and unable to recreate his heroics in Mount Isa last week.
Racing in the North West moves on to Winton this Saturday, March 30.
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