FROM Bowraville to Royal Randwick!
Gosford trainer Nick Mitchell only a couple of days ago won a four-horse race at Bowraville before “graduating” to headquarters yesterday to win his first race at Royal Randwick.
And whilst such a breakthrough with his gutsy mare Miss Checkoni was clearly a highlight of his career, he was just as pleased to get Count Rollo on the board in a lowly Maiden Plate (1370m) at Bowraville last Thursday.
At only his third start, five-year-old Count Rollo ($5) led throughout, whilst six-year-old mare Miss Checkoni ($26) was having her 23rd start when successful in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m); her second city win on end.
“Both were very special,” Mitchell said today.
“It’s been an average start to the season, but three wins in December have come at the right time to get us going into the new year.”
Mitchell paid $28,000 for Miss Checkoni at the 2019 Inglis Classic yearling sale Highway session, and then syndicated her amongst good clients along with his partner Katie Collins.
He put blinkers on the mare in late October, and she has since raced three times for a fourth at Rosehill Gardens and wins at Warwick Farm and Randwick.
“Miss Checkoni isn’t a big mare, but copped a couple of bumps from bigger horses in Midway Handicaps, and became a little bit timid,” Mitchell explained.
“She is honest and whilst the blinkers have obviously helped, I might take them off now and use visors instead.
“She was inclined to float around over the closing stages yesterday as she set out after the favorite Runwiththetide, and fortunately stuck her head out right on the line.”
Apprentice Molly Bourke’s 3kg claim proved invaluable on Miss Checkoni (reducing her weight to 53.5kg; the same as the runner-up) as she replaced fellow apprentice Amy McLucas, who partnered the mare in her Warwick Farm midweek 1400m victory on December 6.
“I tried to book Amy again and she wanted to stay with Miss Checkoni, but went on holidays, and her manager wasn’t able to contact her,” Mitchell said.
“I waited as long as I could before booking Molly.”
Mitchell says he looked more than 100 yearlings before sorting out two possible purchases, and settled on Miss Checkoni when he saw her walk.
“I knew she would be in my price range and just had to buy her,” he said. “I had a $20,000 budget, but eventually went to $28,000 to get her.
“She has been a good mare for us, winning six races and earning just over $210,000.”
As for Count Rollo, Mitchell almost didn’t take him to Bowraville to shed his maiden status.
“He didn’t come to me until he was a late three-year-old, and has been a real work in progress,” he said.
“He had a couple of stewards’ embargoes placed on him, and actually has been to the races four times, but was withdrawn at the barrier at Quirindi in mid-November after an incident.
“Count Rollo needs a low gate in his races, and I wasn’t going to run when he drew seven in a field of eight.
“When four horses were withdrawn, there was no point passing up an opportunity to win a four-horse race.
“I was really pleased to win for Queenslander Bruce Fenton (Valhalla Thoroughbreds), who bred Count Rollo and is one of my good supporters.
“He was in my now retired good mare Dream Lane, and is also in a few others with me.”
Mitchell paid tribute to jockey Kacie Adams, who scored on Count Rollo, pointing out what a good job she did to get him first past the post.
“Count Rollo has been scared of life because he doesn’t like being around other horses, but we’ve persevered because I know he has ability,” he said.
“But I wouldn’t say Count Rollo has turned the corner yet because he doesn’t have corners,” Mitchell said.
“Instead he has roundabouts, and we have to keep working to find the best exit for him to take.”
Story John Curtis, December 31, 2023 - Pics Bradley Photos
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