Bonny Mare Still Matas Two Decades On

Grand producer Mata Mia is continuing to leave her mark on Townsville racing almost 20 years after she was winning races at Cluden Park.

Highly strung filly Wemyss became Mata Mia’s third foal to win at Cluden Park when she bolted away with the Carlton & United Breweries 3YO Hcp (1000m) on Saturday.

The win also continued Townsville trainer Gary Dickson’s long winning association with owner Michael Burge and the Mata Mia family.

Dickson won races with Mata Mia at Cluden in the early 2000s before she raced on in Melbourne and has since put the polish on all three of her Townsville winners – Countess Mia, Mianu and now Wemyss.

Sadly, Mata Mia, who had 10 foals all up for six individual winners, died last year at age 24.

But Wemyss showed the Mata Mia legacy is set to continue with a runaway win on Saturday.

“Mata Mia was a very good mare. She’s thrown some good horses – Mianu was good but had a bad throat, it won its first start here.

“Countess Mia won three for me and was a good mare and she’s just had a foal to Harry Angel.

“The last foal out of Mata Mia is by Jungle Cat and is now being educated.

“This one Wemyss is a good horse but she’s not easy to train. It’s just so hard to keep weight on her because she’s a constant walker.

“After I gave her the jump out here and got her home all she did was walk, walk, walk.

“That’s the biggest thing going against her. There wasn’t much in that race today but she won well and it was good for Michael.”

Wemyss was having only her second race start but first run since joining the Dickson stable.

Ridden confidently by Nathan Thomas, Wemyss coasted in fourth to the turn on Saturday before careering away go 4 1/4 length win.

Heavyweight jockey Ashley Butler again showed why he is one of the best money riders in provincial Queensland after landing a winning double from just three rides on the eight event card.

Butler rated Bondurant perfectly in front to win the 150yrs of Racing at Cluden Park BM70 Hcp (1609m) for trainer Jared Wehlow before storming home on Bringyaticket for trainer Darby Amos in the Ladbroke It BM55 Hcp (1200m).

Amos continued his great run of success with “cheapie” buys with the win of Bringyaticket which he owns with his mother Patricia.

“It goes to show that they don’t have to be dear to be fast,” Amos said.

“He was not quite a giveaway from Scone, He came from Glenthorpe Park and was a late foal. When we got him he was tiny as anything and ugly as hell,” Amos said.

“He’s turned out to be pretty handy and Ash really likes him. He said as long as the pace is on he’ll just let it rip.”

Amos relocated from Charters Towers to Home Hill last year and hasn’t looked back with a team of bargain buys.

He has high hopes for his promising three-year-old Dirt Cheap who won brilliantly on debut at last year’s Townsville carnival and has now won two from three.

The Sepoy gelding has returned to work and Amos is excited about his return.

“He was very cheap and his owner Kenny Caldwell has bought a few more as well,” Amos said.

“It’s exciting times ahead for the carnival later in the year, I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ll have 10 in work in a few weeks.

“I’m loving it in Home Hill and horses are thriving there. I’m never leaving.

“We’ve got our own track there, and Ricky Gudge is there, a good president, with a really good committee.

Townsville apprentice Isabella Teh found form only a week after returning from injury, with an all-the-way win on the impressive Chilli Jam for Wulguru trainer Tony Comerford in the Maiden Hcp (1000m).

Pictured: Jockey Nathan Thomas eases Wemyss down for an effortless win at Cluden on Saturday. The filly is another winner out of the grand producer and former good race mare Mata Mia.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.