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Cluden Park
Bobby back with a bang and keen for more Cluden wins

Bobby back with a bang and keen for more Cluden wins

30th March 2021

Gun Brisbane based jockey Bobby El-Issa is keen to chase riding opportunities in Townsville after making a triumphant return to Cluden Park yesterday.

El-Issa produced the ride of the day to land the money on Bold Thalia from a wide gate in the Brown Brothers Hcp (1000m).

It was El-Issa first day riding at Cluden since winning the 2017 Townsville Cup on Chivadahlii.

“It’s great to be back,” El-Issa said.

“I love Townsville and I’ll definitely keep coming back if I can get the support and some decent rides.”

El-Issa, who was champion apprentice in Sydney twice and has had a number of stints riding in Brisbane and NSW, turned in a gem to get Bold Thalia home from 13 alley.

He had the Jarod Wehlow trained mare fifth, one off the fence in clear running by the 600m and knew that far out he was travelling like a winner.

“I knew we’d need a bit of luck from the gate but it was all over by the turn.

“She’s been racing against some pretty handy horses around Brisbane like Garibaldi so she had the form to win.”

Bold Thalia was having her first start for Rockhampton based Wehlow and was impressive beating the luckless Hurricane Fighter with Pantone flashing home for third.

While El-Issa was at his dashing best, the grand old campaigner Beau Jet was the star of the day with another win over his pet 1000m trip in the Brighter Lives Open Hcp.

The rising 10-year-old, normally a hard finisher, surprised many racegoers when he led easily and from there it was a procession as he chalked up his eighth win over the Cluden 1000m.

Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi again climbed to the top of the Townsville trainers’ premiership on 11 wins with an early winning double.

He started the day with Boomed who finally mended his manners to claim a narrow win in the Hygain Two-Year-Old Mdn Hcp (1200m) beating the Rob Kirkwood trainer The Delinquent.

The Chillemi stable made it a race to race double when three-year-old Robig appreciated a drop in weight and distance to cruise to a two-length win over his older rivals in the C.U.B Class 6 Hcp (1300m).

The Kirkwood stable from Charters Towers bounced back from The Delinquent’s narrow defeat with victory in the Mdn Plate (1400m) with Norah.

Backing up from a third in Cairns on Saturday, Norah was crunched in the betting markets and stormed home from last to win under the guidance of Adam Sewell.

Pictured: Bobby El-Issa eases Bold Thalia down to a brilliant win at Cluden Park yesterday. El-Issa wants to make more trips to Townsville. Photo courtesy of Mike Mills Photography