Mt. Isa Mailman Express
Held every year as part of the Mt Isa
Rodeo festivities, the Mailman Express
is an event that has captured the
imagination of horsemen and spectators
alike. Mention 'the Mailman'and
recognition is immediate.
The race is a time trial for nonthoroughbred horses, run at night over
a 200 metre straight on the Buchanan
Park race track. It is named in honour
of the legendary Wally Mailman – a
champion rough rider, rodeo judge and
racing steward in Mount Isa.
The Mailman is one of the few speed
events available to Sprint Race
enthusiasts in this country. It attracts
not only local horses, but speed horses
from afar, to compete for some of the
$8500 on offer.
The winner of the 2015 event was Casey,
a gelding bred in NSW by Tony Smith
of Bymyside, fame and owned by Paul
Edwards of Delta Downs Station, out of
Normanton in far north Queensland. The
winning time was 11.48 seconds which
we understand was the fastest ever
recorded for this event.
Local Normanton girl, Juanita Smerdon,
took the ride on Casey, when the regular
rider broke a collarbone during a mishap
in the heats.
Diplomatic Jet
Like A Rock
Azure Star
Funs A Fortune(TB)
Price of Love
Azure Star
Runner up was Bek Knudsen's imported
stallion, Seductive Fame, who covered
the distance in 11.52s.
First Down Dash
Dash Ta Fame
Sudden Fame
Streakin Six
Seductively
Love Triangle
Bek Knudsen has shown courage in
her willingness to race her imported
stallions. She has ridden Mojos Workin
twice in the Mailman for two wins - 2012
and again in 2014. It was a sterling
effort to come so close in 2015 on the
inexperienced Seductive Fame having
his first start.
In third place, with a time of 11.64, was
Black Magic who, like the winner, was
bred by Tony Smith and owned by Paul
Edwards. Black Magic is no stranger to
this race, having won it in 2013 and come
second to Mojos Workin in 2014.
Diplomatic Jet
Like A Rock
Azure Star
Easy Dozen
Dozen Editions
Lady E
Casey winning the 2015 Mailman
Express ridden by Juanita Smerdon
Black Magic is a half brother to Tony
Smith's brilliant mare, Bymyside.
Paul Edwards also provided the fourth
placegetter with the Greg Douglas bred
Fearless.
The winner and third placegetter were
good advertisements for Like A Rock
and his new owner Andrew McqualterWhite. Diplomatic Jet, the sire of Like A
Rock, was a noted performer and sire for
rodeo great, Gary McPhee.
The results were a great achievment
for Paul Edwards whose tough, well
seasoned speedsters arrived at Mt Isa
the day before the race after a six hour
trip on a truck from Delta Downs. Paul is
a stalwart of the vibrant racing circuit in
far north Queensland and very successful
with his short distance runners.
The remaining finalists were
Mighty Judge
R U Withit
Chick Ching Cash
Kellys Star
Kaweah Cash
Star of Applause
Isana Mischief
Apologies if I have missed out on anyone
LOCAL CATEGORY The winner of this section was Isana
Mischief, ridden by owner Wendy
Christie. It seems Wendy tries to make a
habit of winning this event and is pretty
good at it!
Isana Mischief is by Wendy's deceased
Major Decision, a very interestingly
bred stallion. He is by Colonel Bass who
was a grandson of The Ambassador
(Like A Rock, sire of Casey, is also a
grandson of The Ambassador). Major
Decision was out of a mare by Grande
Muchacho (imp), something which is not
often encountered.
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Page 50 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • September • October 2015