The Harrovian will stick with carnival
WHAT do you do with a horse that is without peer in north Queensland?
Well, for leviathan owner Tom Hedley, he will do absolutely nothing with The Harrovian.
As soon as the star gelding crossed the line in the Cairns Amateurs Cup on Saturday afternoon to score the first Queensland Northern Crowns Series bonus, a tilt at Brisbane racing was mooted by most.
Even Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham suggested a stint in the south of the state may be on the cards with the six-year-old, who secured more than $460,000 for his connections while rewriting history in the process over the northern carnival.
For Cairns Jockey Club president, Hedley, he is set to send The Harrovian for a long spell in the paddock before coming back to try to do it all again in 2020.
“I am happy to have the northern dreams, that is my world,” Hedley said.
“I am pretty happy to do it again next year.
“It is fine down there in Brisbane but it is hard work.
“We have been down there with Tyzone and other horses, you cannot compare it to winning horses here with your friends and family.”
The leading north Queensland owner has been known to open the wallet wide to purchase quality horses in his career but he revealed for what he paid for The Harrovian, his three cup victories this year have gone well beyond his expectations.
The 2018 Cairns Amateurs Cup winner, Multifacets, is yet to race this year due to injury but Hedley and Massingham are aiming to send a two-headed team to the staying feature races next year, with Multifacets and The Harrovian.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell was pleased the Far North trained horse claimed the richest payday in Queensland country racing history.
“We’ve made it extremely attractive to campaign throughout the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, including record prize money and $350,000 in bonuses,” Parnell said.
“The Harrovian has been the star performer throughout our staying races and thoroughly deserves his success for Stephen Massingham, (coowner) Tom Hedley and the other connections.”
Meanwhile, Cairns rider Sonja Wiseman takes two engagements at Rockhampton Jockey Club this afternoon.