A highlight of Saturday night's meeting at Albion Park was Fortyeighthenson’s 17th career victory in the ninth race – the $13,000 Pryde’s Easifeed Pace.
The 7-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven and Chris Geary held on to beat Hard To Hear by a head, and in doing so won a $10,000 QBRED bonus for his first win in Queensland.
Trainer Brian McCall has praised the QBRED initiative saying it gave older horses like Fortyeighthenson the desire to race on and even compete inter-state.
“My older brother, Darren, did all the work with him at Menangle and I’m his caretaker trainer up here in Churchable. He’s had four starts up here this campaign, and he accomplished his mission, which was to nail the QBRED bonus.
“I can’t speak highly enough of it. If it wasn’t up for grabs, he probably wouldn’t have come back here to race. Racing Queensland needs to be applauded for the initiative and for enticing horses from other states to race here,” McCall said.
“He will race again at Redcliffe on Saturday, and that track should suit him because he’s used to racing on the smaller tracks like Penrith and Bankstown,” he added.
McCall said the win was also a sentimental one.
“Fortyeighthenson was bred by the late Billy Hill, who only passed away a month or so a go, so that win was for him too. He was a great old fella who really loved the horse.
“I’d known Billy for as long as I’ve been here (about 20 years). He knew how to breed a horse all right. Millionaire pacer, Fleur De Lil (Armbro Operative – French Flair – Preux Chevalier) was one of his best. She won 39 races. I certainly miss him,” McCall said.
The 7-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven and Save Me Christian (by Christian Cullen) was sold to Gary Watkins at the 2014 APG Sale in Brisbane for $51,000.
He has now won 17 of his 127 starts and placed 29 times for $105,679. He collected $7,646 as well as his $10,000 bonus for his victory on Saturday.
Since coming north Fortyeighthenson has recorded a win, a second, an eighth, and a ninth.
“He’s a real credit to my brother. It was a smart business decision bring him home to Queensland. He has come through the race real well. We got home late on Saturday, and he licked his plate clean, and was ready to go again,” said McCall, who currently works a team of four in the Lockyer Valley.
