Mateship spurs Mair in classic bid

CALOUNDRA trainer Mick Mair has given himself a double chance in the race he would most like to win at the Sunshine Coast.

Mair has King of the North and Hinano in the Bruce McLachlan Classic (1200m) at Caloundra today.

The race is named after the late champion trainer Bruce McLachlan who was based at the Sunshine Coast track for the final few years of his career before he died in June 2009.

Mair and McLachlan were good friends and helped put the Sunshine Coast on the map as a major training centre of stakes horses.

“All Caloundra trainers want to win the Bruce McLachlan Classic because of Bruce. It is always a hard race to win,” Mair said.

He has stuck with his ap- prentice Taylor Williams to ride King of the North who has won twice and been placed twice in five starts.

“Taylor rode him to win at Ipswich two runs back and she does a lot of work with him,” Mair said.

Tegan Harrison, who also regularly rides for Mair, will be on Hinano who is raced by Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell and his wife Mary. “The Bells bred Hinano who is by their former racehorse Chosen To Fly and they were also great mates with Bruce,” Mair said.

Meanwhile, premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan will have a limited team at the Sunshine Coast feature meeting, which is likely to be run on a wet track.

Gollan accepted with I’m A Rippa (Glasshouse Handicap), My Girl Hayley (XXXX Open), Tiyatrolani (XXXX Open), and Jetsonic (Provincial Sprint Series), Jetsonic (Benchmark 80) and Lord Coconuts (Benchmark 75) at Caloundra.

Rain this week on the Sunshine Coast means the track was heavy on race eve.

“I won’t run I’m A Rippa, Tiyatrolani, or My Girl Hayley on anything worse than a soft six,” Gollan said.