Dream barrier huge boost for Brisbane raider
HE is the little-known trainer from Deagon, who plans to cause a giant stir in the $150,000 Townsville Cup.
And Darryl Ward has drawn the perfect barrier to do just that.
Ward will saddle up New Zealand-bred Calypso Bay as the lightweight in Saturday’s stayers’ feature. The pair was given the ultimate leg-up during Wednesday’s barrier draw after they got the run of the race from barrier two.
Brisbane-based hoop Anthony Allen will make the long trip up to Townsville for the ride, and will have his choice as to how he runs the 2000m journey with a lack of speed on either side.
John Manzellmann’s Golden Mane drew the rails out of barrier one while the race smoky Savwell, for David Vandyke, scored barrier three.
Savwell put in an impressive finish in the Mackay Cup a fortnight ago to run on third behind Bergerac and Hardern, with the latter drawing barrier eight in his hometown Cup.
But it was Ward who was celebrating the loudest, after making the shock decision to leave his Deagon base this week for Townsville’s sunny shores after winning a 1650m benchmark 70 a fortnight ago.
While his last win only came over the mile, Ward said there were no queries on his six-year-old gelding’s chances of running out the trip after being an impressive third to future group winner The Candy Man over 1800m earlier this season.
“We got a bit of luck (with the barriers), so hopefully it hasn’t ended there,” Ward said.
“He is a puncher’s chance, he is a lightweight chance. He will run the distance and he is honest. We are not here to make up the numbers.”
One thing that will be on the gelding’s side is jockey Allen who has been on a strong run of form including wins in the $50,000 Mother’s Gift feature at Grafton earlier this month.
The bond between the jockey and trainer stretches back to when Allen apprenticed under veteran trainer Steele Ryan, while Ward was coming through the ranks.
“I love him, he is a good mate of mine, he is like a little brother to me,” Ward said of Allen.