CANNON PARK PREVIEW
CAIRNS Jockey Club might just see a bit more of the Bevan Johnson and Dakota Graham team if their two starters this afternoon can run in the money.
Johnson, the leading country Queensland trainer so far this season with 25 winners to his name, has made the rare trip north this week from his new base of Bouldercombe.
Last season, he was Queensland racing’s most prolific winning country trainer and Johnson has moved his yard from Miles to Bouldercombe, near Rockhampton, with an initial team of 30 horses.
The move brings the stable within driving distance of more TAB meetings and they have made the trip to Cannon Park this afternoon with two runners engaged – Blue Jest and Cartland.
The pair started their drive on Sunday with a pit-stop in between for a night to break it up.
In the saddle for the team is Johnson’s daughter and apprentice rider Dakota Graham, who was crowned top Country Apprentice jockey in Queensland a couple of years ago.
“The move is about getting our horses more central so we can get to more provincial meetings up north compared to out west,” the 22-year-old Graham said.
“If our horses are feeling well enough to go up there, I think we may do these trips more often.”
Graham has outridden her apprentice claim and is set to become a fully-fledged rider in December this year.
The pair of Johnson runners come to FNQ with solid claims, with Blue Jest shooting for his 23rd career win in the 19,000 Open Handicap (1250m).
“Blue Jest is always a chance, he is an old war horse, he is always honest,” Graham said.
“He is pretty good, he is as strong as he has ever been.
“He usually gets big weights but he gets in pretty well here at Cairns.”
Cartland is searching for her second win this preparation in the $19,000 Class 1 Handicap (950m) after scoring at Goondiwindi in late November.
“She won her first start for us, and when I rode her last start, that was probably just a little too far for her,” Graham said. “She is fresh this week compared to her last run and being a 950m this week, she is every chance.”
An eight event program will be run at the Cannon Park Jockey Club this afternoon on a Soft 5 surface, with a later start of 1.53pm kicking off racing.