Move proves real winner
FRUSTRATED with Magnus Rules’ lack of wins on the hard track at Rockhampton, connections thought a softer approach on Townsville’s Cluden Park was the answer. They were correct. After 14 luckless runs under John Wigginton and Shea Eden before that in Victoria, Wulguru trainer Jeffrey Caught has prepared the fiveyear-old to two wins from two starts since she landed in North Queensland.
The mare ($3.70) made it a pair of triumphs on the bounce yesterday afternoon in the rain at Cluden Park, scoring by half a length in the $14,000 Benchmark 60 Handicap (1400m).
“The reason she came to Townsville was that she could not handle the hard tracks in Rockhampton,” a smiling Caught said. “The owners thought the track might suit her in Townsville and that is how I ended up with her.
“We were lucky it rained this week, the track has a bit of give in it usually anyway.”
Most trainers would be in the bar until late in the night after a winner but not Caught.
The draftsman by trade was back to work yesterday afternoon not long after Magnus Rules greeted the judges.
Caught grew up in Townsville and spent 10 years training out of Cairns before moving to Brisbane and is the son of former Townsville trainer Ray Caught.
Earlier, the absolutely onfire stable of Alby Molino kicked off the day in perfect fashion as Valuate ($2F) smashed the field in the $14,000 QTIS Two-Years-Old Maiden Handicap (1000m).
With Stephen Wilson in the saddle, the public elect romped in by nearly six lengths as he extended his lead in the straight in the driving rain.
The Cluden Park trainer has found his purple patch, finding six winners from his past 16 starters.
Georgie Bourke and John Kilroy also trained winners at Cluden Park yesterday.
Racing in the north turns to Home Hill tomorrow.