Monique Carberry

Leading Local Trainer by Strike Rate in First Season

It was a great night celebrating at the Ballart Turf Club Racing Awards.

The 2018/19 Season was our first full year in training and from 42 starts we had 7 winners, including our first winner, first double (at Ballarat) and our first city winner at Flemington on New Years Day.

With just a small team we took out two awards for the night.

Our strike rate of 16.67% meant we took out the Leading Local Trainer by Strike Rate (National).

We also received an award in recognition of our First Career Win as a Trainer for Diplomac Jack’s win at Ballarat back in September.

It was a great first season for us and we would like to thank our staff and super owners who have taken a punt on a new training team.

We appreciate everyone who has helped us to get off to such a great start and we look forward with a lot of excitement to the future.

The Allowance That Keeps Giving

Transfer Allowance has been a family favourite of the Roche family since he was a yearling.

Now a spritely nine year old, Transfer Allowance showed he still has it!

It has been a long journey for the stable gentleman, having sinus surgery late last year. Contemplating retiring him after the surgery, the vet said “keep him in work, he can now breathe” and he was proven to be right.

So we headed to Hamilton feeling confident that the 1600 metres would suit him on a soft 6.

Ridden patiently by Jarrod Lorensini, Transfer Allowance settled near the end of the field. Coming into the straight Jarrod angled him to the outside and off he went, he was too good and won by 2 lengths.

See the race here:

First Flemington Win

After the Werribee win, Johnny Allen said “hopefully he progresses from here to something a bit better”…and he was certainly right!

Three weeks later, Johnny Allen and Diplomac Jack teamed up again for our biggest win to date in the Head Wind Handicap over 1600 metres at Flemington. Our first metropolitan win, first Flemington runner and first Flemington win.

Ridden patiently by Johnny, they weaved through the field in the straight before bursting through at the 200 metre mark and dug deep when the favourite loomed. He was flying under the guidance of Johnny and it was a great fight to win. We had the horse super fit and it showed in the last 50 metres.

Thomas also announced to the course that we were recently engaged, so it was a doubling exciting day!

Click on the image to see Diplomac Jack’s flying finish

**Diplomac Jack in the straight at Flemington**

Here comes the Raccoon…Rocky Raccoon

Off to Colac we went with Rocky Raccoon to contest the Christians Bus Line Maiden Plate over 1,600m.

Rocky Raccoon, a three year old by Americain, was purchased at the 2016 Vobis Gold Sale. He had a couple of educational runs as a two year old, then we tucked him away knowing he just needed time.

In his second preparation with us, Rocky Raccoon showed a great turn of speed when finishing third at his first start back at Stawell. He was looking and feeling a treat as he lined up for his second start with Neil Farley onboard.

He jumped well, settled in second place and when in the straight he he took the lead. When Neil hit the accelerator, he drew away winning by 2.75 lengths! Big thanks to a great confident ride by Neil Farley.

Click on the image to see the replay of the race

https://www.racing.com/form/2018-12-22/colac/race/3

From last to first Diplomac Jack does it again

John Allen rode Diplomac Jack at Ararat in our first ever runner since getting our licence back in January where he ran a stellar fourth.

The team were back together at Werribee in early December for a Benchmark 64 over 1600 metres.

Since breaking his maiden on 5 September, the ever consistent Diplomac Jack had been there abouts with three fourths and a third.

Johnny rode a very patient race and was always travelling easy. Johnny said “I was pretty impressed how he let down”.

Thomas was really impressed saying that he took a while for Diplomac Jack to learn his craft and today he really went away with it. It was a brilliant ride by Johnny.