Sport
27 August, 2025
Form goes out the window as outsiders dominate program
No favourites won at Buchanan Park on Saturday.
It was a tough day to be a punter at Mount Isa on Saturday as form guides were tossed to the ground following a string of unlikely results at Buchanan Park.
Five favourites were beaten on the non-TAB program as honours were shared among four trainers and four jockeys.
Julia Creek’s Tanya Parry was the only trainer to get a winning double, while Denicious Smith was the only jockey to ride two winners.
Former Mount Isa Race Club president Peter Inwood celebrated a hard-earned victory to kick off the day when The Last Crusade produced an impressive sprint to run over the top of his rivals in the 0-60 Handicap (1450m).
Sent out an $8 chance, Nor Yadi timed his run to perfection and put paid to the opposition, winning by 2.3 lengths.
Barcaldine trainer Bevan Johnson celebrated a quinella in the next race, the Open Plate (1450m), as Stampede Warrior ($8) turned back the clock with Smith in the saddle to win impressively from stablemate Victory Bay.
Then, the Emma Morton-trained Theresabearinthere ($5) shook off his recent bad form on his home track to lead all of the way for visiting jockey James Baker in the Open Handicap (1000m).
Appreciating the chance to lead with not a lot of natural speed in the race, the eight-year-old was too good for favourite Soopat, who had every chance to beat him.
Unless the stopwatch malfunctioned, the most impressive win on the day belonged to Santorini Sun ($3), who blitzed the field in the Benchmark 55 (1000m) in a time of 58.48 – lightning in Mount Isa.
Ridden by Smith, the South African hoop avoid the kickback and produced a barnstorming run to blitz his rivals, including favourite Heavenly Legend.
Since arriving in the Parry stable, Santorini Sun has produced two good wins from his three runs.
His only failure was earlier this month when he appeared to resent the sand in his face.
One-time champion jockey Chris Whiteley then made sure he left Mount Isa with a winner, causing the biggest upset of the day aboard Tricketeer ($16) for Parry.
The win gave Johnson his fifth placing of the day after the well-backed newcomer Whodareswins finished second.
The only blemish on the Mount Isa program was the performance of 2024 boom horse Just Stop It, who broke down after bleeding.
He won’t be seen on the track again this year, if not for good.