Trainer back on track

TASMANIAN trainer Glenn Stevenson has regained his licence after serving a twomonth disqualification after one of his horses, Killin Falls, returned a positive swab to caffeine after finishing unplaced in a race in Devonport in December last year.

Stevenson was originally outed for six months but that was reduced to four months because of the trainer’s previous unblemished record.

But following that, it was further reduced to two months on appeal.

While he was serving his penalty, Stevenson’s star sprinter-miler I’m Wesley campaigned in Melbourne for minor placings in two Listed races last month.

I’m Wesley was second to Group 1-winning mare Secret Agenda in the Bob Hoysted Quality at Flemington, beaten by a short half-head.

He followed up with a game second to Stellar Collision in the $200,000 Hareeba Stakes at Mornington. Following the Hareeba Stakes placing, connections opted to keep the horse in Melbourne with the view of sending the gelding to Adelaide for the McKay Stakes (1100m) on May 5.

“I regained my licence on Monday so I was on the plane to Melbourne that night and I watched I’m Wesley gallop at Cranbourne on Tuesday and he looked fantastic,” Stevenson said.

“He will head to Leon Macdonald’s stables at Morphettville [in Adelaide] later this week, so he will have plenty of time to settle in before his first start in that state.

“Depending on what happens in the McKay Stakes, he could progress to the Goodwood Handicap.”

Former Tasmanian leading apprentice Raquel Clark, who partnered I’m Wesley to victory in the Newmarket Handicap and the weight-forage Conquering Stakes late last year, has been booked to ride the gelding in whatever he tackles in South Australia. Clark had her indentures transferred to Macdonald a year ago and she is making great inroads in SA, lying third on the jockeys’ premiership with 52 wins for stake earnings of just over $1.2 million.

“The biggest advantage for us is that Raquel [Clark] lives and works in Adelaide, so she can ride him in the McKay Stakes and the Goodwood, if we decide to go that way,” Stevenson said.