Ringo to rock in Roberts’s tribute race

It will be apt if the Jim Roberts Class Six race at Doomben is won by the Norm Stephens-trained Ringo’s A Rockstar.

There are no more popular figures in Brisbane racing than Doomben course manager Roberts and Stephens who at 86 is the city’s oldest trainer.

They are regarded as the doyens of Brisbane racing in their chosen fields.

The Brisbane Racing Club has honoured Roberts 30 years of service by naming the race after him on Saturday.

BRC racing manager Matt Rudolph said Roberts and his team had done an outstanding job with Doomben which had been called on for a heavy workload in recent years.

“He isn’t just a legend in Queensland but also worldwide which is shown by the fact he is the current Australian Track Manager Of The Year,” Rudolph said.

Ringo’s A Rockstar was beaten a nose in track record time first-up and at three unplaced runs since has been hampered by wide barriers.

He has drawn barrier three on Saturday and looks ideally placed.

Ringo’s A Rockstar, who has won $271,000 prize money, is Stephens’ only horse although his son Wayne is now training a small team.

Norm Stephens won the 1948 Stradbroke Handicap as an apprentice jockey and has been a trainer for many decades.