GREY MISSILE ROCKETS HOME
Chillemi-trained sprinter tunes up for southern campaign in March
TYZONE’S credentials have already been proven in southeast Queensland and stablemate Grey Missile looks well on the way to the same.
The Roy Chillemi-trained sprinter scored one of the most astonishing victories in recent racing history in the Far North on Saturday afternoon to secure his place in the inaugural $125,000 QTIS 3YO Jewel on March 17 on the Gold Coast.
After being well back in the field in the $14,000 QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap (950m), the three-year-old blew away the smart field, well, like a missile really, in the closing stages to tune up for the upcoming southern campaign.
Grey Missile’s jockey, Stephen Wilson, directed his gelding out around the heels of Rose Clip, ridden by Wanderson D’Avila, leaving the 400m mark and shifted wider, resulting in Redwiska and jockey David Simmons having to take evasive action and being forced to almost the widest point on the Cannon Park track.
Wilson was all smiles in the mounting yard after the race but copped a 10-day suspension for his efforts.
Chillemi was also grinning as his Irish stable hoop delivered the emerging star his fourth win from nine starts.
On the Heavy 9 track, Grey Missile scored by half a length from Our Atom, trained by Janel Ryan and ridden by Rhiannon Payne.
“He was giving them six lengths at one stage and gave the second horse 5kg,” Chillemi said. “He ran them down pretty easy really. It was a pretty big effort. That is what we wanted to see to see ahead of the trip to Brisbane. He is what I thought he was. He has now shown us that.”
With the Chillemi, Wilson and owner Tom Hedley team set to send a handful of horses south in the coming weeks, Grey Missile is locked into a start on the Gold Coast now.
“He will probably start in the Jewel and I think the 1200m will suit him far greater than the 950m at Cairns on Saturday,” Chillemi said.
The Tolga stable of Chillemi grabbed a double on Saturday afternoon as Model To Exceed won earlier in the day.
Lushan, for trainer Janel Ryan, could not have been more impressive in the first of the day, blowing away the small field by over four lengths.
Racing in North Queensland turns to Townsville’s Cluden Park tomorrow afternoon.
HE WAS GIVING THEM SIX LENGTHS AT ONE STAGE AND GAVE THE SECOND HORSE 5KG. HE RAN THEM DOWN PRETTY EASY REALLY. ROY CHILLEMI