Two-year-old colt Sherwood Prince will be out to spark Saturday afternoon celebrations in Nanango when he lines up for an exciting Clifford Park assignment tomorrow.
Sherwood Prince has the chance to deliver Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson and his jockey wife Hannah a dream Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate debut when he looks to open his racing days with a feature win.
The Richardsons operate one of southern Queensland’s leading country stables but will aim up at city level tomorrow with their first Pat O’Shea Plate runner.
Sherwood Prince underlined his Plate credentials with an 870-metre barrier trial win at Clifford Park earlier this month.
Hannah is now hoping he can measure up on the big stage for his owner-breeder John Thornton and supporters, including followers at Nanango’s Fitzroy Hotel.
“We were praying he’d draw an inside gate, but unfortunately he’s drawn out wide,” Hannah said.
“But anything can happen and we’ll just hope for a bit of luck now.
“It’s a bit unknown at this stage for all the runners.”
Glenn and Hannah maintain a working stable of around 20 horses and are excited by the opportunity to have a runner in Queensland’s opening two-year-old race of the new racing season.
“We’ve had our fair share of young ones over the last few years,” Hannah said.
“We’ve got around half a dozen again this year, but this colt is the only one race ready at this stage.
“We’ve educated him at home but we haven’t done a lot with him on the track which is pretty hard at the moment.
“He’s a lovely little horse and seems typical of the Better Than Ready breed.
“He did it a bit tough in his trial win he but he handled it quite well really.
“Everything just seems to have fallen into place for him so far and we’ll see on Saturday if he’s taken another step forward.
“It’s good to have a chance in the race and it would be good if he could win, especially for his owner John Thornton who bred him.
“Peter Jackson runs the Fitzroy Hotel at home and he’ll probably have a good following there as well on Saturday.”
By Glen McCullough
Photo courtesy of: Noosa News
