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Plenty of Toowoomba spark in Baqaba and Spirit of Boom
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Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea enjoyed a Listed win with stable star Baqaba
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Baqaba has cruised through his grades to become top of the class.
On New Year’s Day at the Gold Coast, the four-year-old gelding picked up his first Black Type win in the $100,000 Listed Carlton Mid Goldmarket Quality Handicap 1300m.
He had his first shot at open company less than a fortnight earlier where he placed fourth in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes.
From nine starts the Easy Rocking gelding, out of the Rory’s Jester mare Bouree, has posted five wins and two thirds, amassing $148,400 for Toowoomba breeder, owner and trainer Steve Tregea.
Starting at $6, Baqaba jumped from the outside barrier of 16 with Ric McMahon in the saddle.
Jockey Jim Byrne was fined by stewards for accepting rides on both Baqaba and Gag Order. Byrne’s decision to ride the fourth placed Gag Order was much to the delight of McMahon, picking up the feature win in Queensland after returning from Hong Kong.
Baqaba travelled well back and was last coming to the home turn, where McMahon steered him to the outside before storming home past the field in a thrilling finish.
It was tight on the winning post when Hard to Catch (Joe Bowditch) flew home and lost out by a short half head.
Pat Duff’s stables rounded out the placings when stablemate Cocktail Supreme (Jason Taylor) held on for third position by three quarters of a length.
McMahon thought the win was “super”.
“To be honest I actually thought I got beat. I went probably a bit too soon. Not knowing the horse and riding him the first time I went a bit quick,” he said.
“He rounded them up really quickly and when he hit the front he stargazed a little bit. He fought on really well.
“He’s a hard horse to get a guide on. He travelled well but without dragging you into the race.
“As soon as I bought him outside horses and gave him a dig I rounded him up in a matter of 10 strides and hit the line sensational.”
After such a come-from-behind-win, Tregea was pleased, if not a little surprised, with the win. “I thought he was right amongst them but I would say I thought he was a good thing,” explained the trainer.
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Kristy Banks guides Spirit of Boom to his impressive maiden win (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Toowoomba also came to the fore again the following day at the Gold Coast.
Promising two-year-old colt Spirit of Boom chased his short half head second in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm with an outstanding seven length victory in the $100,000 Magic Millions 2YO Prelude 900m.
The win brought his prizemoney total to $80,000, putting the son of Sequalo, out of Temple Spirit, in contention for the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Jockey Kristy Banks made the win look too easy as she guided the youngster to the front from barrier 10. At the turn they sped away leaving all other contenders for dust.
After an unsteady start, where jockey Jim Byrne became unbalanced after the colt jumped awkwardly from barrier one and faltered, General Shareef recovered to post second place a short half head in front of Tiyatro (Michael Cahill).
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – January 4
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