Ready to go extra distance
Hoop looks to mile as promising gelding brings home second victory
Jockey Stephen Wilson reckons Arno Bay (above) is ready to step up to a mile. The lightly raced gelding registered his second win in the Far North at Cannon Park on Saturday afternoon after breaking his maiden status during the recent Cairns Amateurs Carnival. Wilson was on board that day and after two runs with other jockeys, the Irish hoop returned Arno Bay, by Artie Schiller from Kermis, to the winners’ list in the $7500 Class B Handicap (1250m).
JOCKEY Stephen Wilson reckons Arno Bay is ready to step up to a mile.
The gelding registered his second win in the Far North at Cannon Park on Saturday afternoon after breaking his maiden status during the recent Cairns Amateurs Carnival.
Wilson was on board that day and after two runs with other jockeys, the Irish hoop returned Arno Bay, by Artie Schiller from Kermis, to the winners’ list in the $7500 Class B Handicap (1250m).
After just getting the money ahead of the Rodney Miller-trained Out Of The Blue on Saturday, Wilson believes the four-year-old can now win over 1600m.
“If there is a mile race coming up in the future, I am sure that is where he will be heading,” Wilson said.
“He is only lightly raced, it is early in his preparation so he could win another one or two before he goes for a spell.
“He will come back a bigger and better horse.”
Previously trained by David Brideoake at Mornington, the brown gelding ran three thirds from five starts in Victoria before being sent north to the Tolga stable of Roy Chillemi.
The veteran trainer is getting the best out of him as well as carrying a hefty weight.
“He probably should have won last start,” Wilson said.
“It was a tough effort on Saturday with the 61kg – he dug deep to win.
“He has got a bit of ability and he will be better once he gets up to the mile.
“Any horse that can win with this sort of weight after getting back in the field, it is pretty impressive as he is still a little green. “There is plenty of upside.” Meanwhile, leading Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe bagged a double at the Cairns Jockey Club over the four races on offer.
Man Around Town, for Rowe, gave comeback jockey Sonja Wiseman her first win since November last year in the $7500 Open Handicap (1250m).
Wiseman only recently made her comeback from shoulder surgery and claimed her first victory in just her sixth race back.
Elsewhere, prolific trainer John Manzelmann dominated at the Bowen Turf Club on Saturday, including claiming the $12,000 Bowen Cup.
Racing continues in North Queensland this week at Cluden Park on Thursday before heading to Gordonvale this Saturday.
ANY HORSE THAT CAN WIN WITH THIS SORT OF WEIGHT AFTER GETTING BACK IN THE FIELD, IT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE
STEPHEN WILSON