MICHAEL NOLAN’S THREE SIGNIFICANT CONTRUBUTIONS TO THE RICH HISTORY OF THE WEETWOOD - PART 2

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Toowoomba based trainer Michael Nolan might have had to wait a while before he claimed success in the Weetwood, but he now has his name entrenched in no less than three very significant moments in Weetwood history.

MICHAEL NOLAN’S SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS IN WEETWOOD HISTORY - PART 2: SKYE BOGENHUBER BECOMES THE FIRST FEMALE RIDER TO WIN THE WEETWOOD.

Miss Imagica’s second successive Weetwood win in 2013 also put a ‘first’ up in lights on the scoreboard as rider Skye Bogenhuber became the first female rider to land Toowoomba’s famous feature race which dates back to 1895.

“Having Skye there after riding for my stable for so many years made that moment extra special,” said Nolan.

“For Skye to have the courage to go forward on the horse … she really had to hunt it up and get across … iwas the type of run where if the tactics didn’t come off, we might have finished eighth or something, but it was a very game ride and Skye pulled it off.

“We still watch the replay … over and over. We still watch it now.

“It was a very tight finish over the last 100m metres.” (The first five horses across the line were only separated by less than a length). “When we won it, it was a huge, huge thrill … doing it with the same guys in the same circumstances as the previous year.

“Winning back-to-back Weetwood’s was a phenomenal feeling and, to have Skye be part of it all in that second win and to have played a small part in helping Skye create history … well, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

And along with all the thrill and enjoyment there was the no small matter of a great financial return as Nolan confirmed connections purchased Miss Imagica an $18 000 with her final career earnings coming in at a cool $574 000.

“She was just great for our syndicate in so many ways,” said Nolan. “She was a dream come true for us all.”

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