By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
“A very pleasant surprise. Both Sherryl (wife) and I are honoured!”
That is how longtime Queensland harness racing owner and breeder, Ian Corazzol, described his now 6-year-old Hurrikane Kingcole mare, Torque In Control, after she was named both the 2023 Redcliffe Harness Racing Club’s Horse-of-the-Year; and 2023 Mare-of-the-Year.
The Park Ridge based-resident never knew that Torque In Control had to win her last race of the season at Redcliffe Paceway on December 28 to nail the coveted award from the Michael Nutley trained Vermont, who by finishing third in the following race (R6) finished second in both categories by a mere point.
“I never realised she was even in the running until you contacted me. I watched the race, and it was again a genius drive by Nathan Dawson. He is an absolute master in the bike.
“This is wonderful because we have been racing horses at Redcliffe for nearly four decades now and never won these awards before. To have one of your own breed achieve the double in one season is an honour,” Corazzol said.
He said it came as no surprise that a Jack Butler trainee won Redcliffe’s most coveted award.
“We have had horses with Jack for just a year now, and not only is he a quality horseman like Nathan, but his horses always run well with decent luck. Torque In Control is still in work.
“This award is a result of Jack’s hard work, as well as Nathan’s, and all the drivers who drove Torque In Control last season,” said Corazzol, who has been importing and selling musical instruments for 43 years via his ‘Pro Music’ company.
Butler trained 65 winners at ‘The Triangle’ this season and finished third on the Redcliffe Training Premiership with 65 wins – 42 shy of 2023 champion, Grant Dixon. All results can be viewed at the bottom of this story.
Corazzol said he was proud of Torque in Control’s five wins and 15 placings at Redcliffe Paceway. She started from gate five and got home by half-a-head as the $2.20 favourite. Her Award-winning race can be viewed here: https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=RE281223
“That was her 10th win ($58,538) since she started racing back in February 2020. She has been a wonderful mare, and will make a lovely broodmare in the future as well,” Corazzol said of his 1:58.8 pacing mare.
For the last 30-plus years of his 73 years Corazzol has bred and owned standardbreds. It all started with the 1983 Palm’s Romeo nine-win mare, Thelma Palms. Torque In Control is no relation.
Torque In Control is in fact the fourth of 10 foals out of the 2005 Jenna’s Beach Boy – Hot Reaction (New York Motoring) mare, Effective Torque (1:57), who won 18 races ($128,314).
Foal two, the 2014 Mach Three mare, Mach Torque (1:55.4), has been her most successful to date. She won 25 races and placed 48 times ($138,517).
Corazzol said Effective Torque’s most recent foals are a Captain Crunch 3-year-old filly; an American ideal 2-year-old colt; and an Ultimate Machete yearling colt.
“It all started from Thelma Palms, who hails from a different family to Torque In Control. She was the foundation mare, and from her I bred every second foal. Her fifth foal, Turbo Torque (1997 Fake Left gelding) was the first horse I raced. He never won a big Group race, but he did win a few cups up north like the Rockhampton Cup.
“In the end he won 73 races and nearly $400,000, so my breed goes back to the mid-1990s,” Corazzol said.
But it was a grand-daughter of Thelma Palms, who has so far proved to be the best racehorse that Corazzol has owned or bred.
“That would be the 1:52.2 miler, Torque In Motion ((P B Bulville – Ella Palms – Speed King). She won the 2012 Ladyship Mile.”
That 2006 bay mare won 19 of her 38 starts between February 2010 and July 2013 for $380,203, including 11 races in a row. The bay also placed 12 times and paced a 1:52.5-mile rate in the Group Three Robin Dundee Stakes at Tabcorp Park Menangle, in February 2012.
Corazzol said Torque In Motion had left seven foals including two who have won over $150,000. They are foal one – the 2014 Mr Feelgood mare, Justalittle Torque (1:51.6) and foal five, the 4-year-old Four Starzzz Shark mare, Torque Like Motion. They have won 15 ($151,896) and seven ($168,476) races respectively.
The Wayne Graham trained, and Shane Graham driven Torque Like Motion won the Group One Queensland Oaks last year and also placed in the Qbred Triad 3yo Fillies Final.
Although Corazzol said he had been interested in harness racing all of his life, he said the term “torque” originated from his mate, Chris Murray, who worked at Redcliffe Torque Ford.
“We got to know each other through work. We used to get our fleet cars off him, and I’ve never let him forget that he lured me into harness racing, and ultimately breeding. I haven’t looked back since,” Corazzol said.
The 2023 Redcliffe Harness Racing Club Award winners (to be presented at the annual Racing Queensland Awards) are:
2023 Horse-of-the-Year: Torque In Control 40 points; Vermont 39 points; Betting Baron 37; Matai Reactor 36, Forgive Me 36.
Mare-of-the-Year: Torque In Control 40 points; Vermont 39; Forgive Me 36.
Driver-of-the-Year: Nathan Dawson 197 wins; Angus Garrard 100; Leonard Cain 74; Brendan Barnes 66; Mathew Neilson 49. Note Australian champion reinsman, Dawson, drove a Queensland record-413 wins nationally ($3.06m) – 142 more than second-placed Gary Hall Junior, of Perth.
Trainer-of-the-Year: Grant Dixon 107 wins; Peter Greig 71; Jack Butler 65; Graham Dwyer 50; Jonah Hutchinson 46.
Concession Driver-of-the-Year: Angus Garrard 100 wins; Chloe Butler 46; Taleah McMullen 29.
