Gelding hits stride

The Harrovian on target for Townsville

CAIRNS galloper The Harrovian has loomed as a serious threat over the Townsville Winter Carnival after a dominant display at Cluden Park yesterday.

After he dropped back to the 1200m for yesterday’s Class 6 Plate, the Stephen Massingham-trained gelding was expertly placed midfield by experienced jockey Chris Whiteley.

The relatively inexperienced five-year-old made a move at the 600m mark, levelling up with the field before he kicked clear in the home straight to put a length on nearest rival Polar Blast for Janel Ryan.

The locally trained Septimo for Garry Dickson put in a strong final 200m to finish a further 1½ lengths third.

The win made it two from his last three for the son of famed sire Fastnet Rock since joining the Massingham yard back in March from Jim Conlan’s Victorian stables.

Massingham will now set his sights on the Townsville carnival, as the five-year-old gets set for a feature race in July.

The Ricky Ludwig-trained galloper Kodai emerged as a potential favourite for next month’s Townsville 2YO Classic after holding off a late challenge from favourite Lady Yendor in the Classic Prelude yesterday.

Ridden by experienced hoop Justin Stanley, Kodai emerged from a wide barrier nine at a rapid rate as he took the front running at the 1000m mark.

Stanley traded blows with rising Cairns apprentice Adin Thompson on board Redeski, before kicking clear in the final stretch to win by less than half a length.

Lady Yendor, trained at Wulguru by wily veteran Bill Kenning, found herself stuck on the rails late in the running before threading the needle to run on a gallant second with Bonnie Thomson in the saddle.

Meanwhile, Atherton will host a non-TAB meeting tomorrow.