Old association wins again at Doomben

Devils Marbles has won at Doomben for trainer Michael Nolan and long-time client Kim McCasker.

A winning association dating back two decades has continued with Devils Marbles at Doomben.

Having his second race start, Devils Marbles ($6) charged down the middle of the track to beat the leader Duane ($10) by length in Wednesday’s Two-Year-Old Maiden ( 1050m).

Devils Marbles raced by his breeder, Toowoomba dentist Kim McCasker, and trained by Michael Nolan at Clifford Park.

Their association goes back to the 1990s most notably with the 1999 Doomben 10,000 winner Laurie Lottery.

In the years since, McCasker has had many other smart horses including Kenconcarne, Col ‘N’ Lil, Red Heavy, And Hang.

He has spread his horses among other trainers but usually has at least one with Nolan.

“Kim puts a lot of time into breeding and deserves to get results. He has had a lot of luck with Devils Marbles’ sire Easy Rocking,” Nolan said.

“I must admit when Devils Marbles came into work we never thought he would make a two-year-old but his first start on a heavy track when third at Caloundra was very good.

“He’ll go for a spell now and come back for the two-year-old feature race at Toowoomba on Weetwood day.”

Devils Marbles is out of the good producing mare Green Poles whose progeny include handy gallopers Sell The Silver and Maypole.

The win continued the build-up in the reputation of apprentice Baylee Nothdurft who handled Devils Marbles to perfection.

Nothdurft’s career has been stop-start because of suspensions and injury but he has ridden 130 winners in just over two years.

“Hopefully there will be more opportunities coming in town,” Nothdurft said.

Another apprentice Corey Bayliss, who has also had a disrupted career with suspensions, continued to build his career when he won on Knock Toff ($12).

The gelding won two races when trained by John O’Shea at Randwick but was sent north to find easier races with Bryan and Daniel Guy.