This Cheeky Red sure has smooth finish

ROCKHAMPTON gelding Cheeky Red produced a huge finish to cut down favourite Bold Shot in yesterday’s Townsville Guineas ThreeYear-Old Handicap (1609m) at Cluden Park.

Rockhampton trainers have had a sensational strike rate during the Townsville Winter Carnival, but the Ricky Valetrained Cheeky Red didn’t have an easy run after jumping from barrier 14.

Jockey Scott Sheargold had to push the horse to the extreme outside at the turn to find a run, but Cheeky Red showed explosive speed to hit the front over the final strides and win by a length.

The well-backed Bold Shot ($3.20 favourite) held on for second for Sunshine Coast trainer Garnett Taylor, with the Leigh Wanless-trained Mista Busy ($4.80) coming home third.

Cheeky Red ($26) saluted at big odds but Vale said he was always confident his star three-year-old was a winning chance. The Capricornia Yearling Sale graduate was having just his second start over the mile, but Vale said his previous runs showed that he could handle the trip.

“We couldn’t believe the price to be honest,” Vale said.

“He won over 1300m firstup in the big Sales race in Rocky. He did go off a little bit after that – the 1300m probably flattened him – but we’ve always thought he was going to be a miler.

“His last start was a beautiful run. It was just a warm-up for here, back over 1200m and carrying 62.5kg, and we mainly did that so he’d have a big 8kg weight drop.

“He was back last at the turn over the 1200m and flew home in his last start so we knew he’d have a huge run (in the Townsville Guineas).”

Cheeky Red’s victory in the Townsville feature race capped a promising campaign, with two wins from seven starts, and Vale said he had high hopes for the son of Red Element.

“This was his final run for the campaign,” Vale said.

“It’s the perfect way to finish and it’s good that he’s repaid the faith that we’ve had in him.

“He’s actually named after my father, whose nickname was ‘Red’ and his best horse was Cheeky Challenge.”

The Townsville Winter Carnival wraps up at Cluden Park tomorrow with the prestigious Townsville Cup and Cleveland Bay Handicap.