Cairns plan B for Ashfords

MAREEBA owner George Ashford has a contingency plan.

George has shares in three horses, trained by his daughter Leanne, accepted for this afternoon’s Bowen TAB meeting, which is in jeopardy due to the heavy rain north Queensland has received this week.

Following a QRIC Stewards and club officials inspection on Wednesday, there was optimism that the meeting would run, but if there was any rain overnight, it would be unlikely the seven race card would proceed.

The Tablelands-based Ashfords have Watch Me Dazzle Em, Hidden in Heaven and Elite Jet all in for this afternoon, with stable star Hidden in Heaven to shift focus towards Cannon Park if today’s races are abandoned.

Chestnut mare Hidden in Heaven is a local horse owner’s dream, running in the top three on 22 occasions of her career 34 starts.

“The plan will be take Hidden in Heaven to Cairns next Saturday if Bowen is washed out,” George (above) said.

“I thought she would be a good chance in that race at Bowen, she is always a chance wherever she goes.

“In her last 20 starts, she has rarely been out of the money, and she is never far away from winning.

“She is as honest as they come.”

The Ashford team have a remarkable record at Ben Bolt Park in Bowen, having three career starters for a win and two seconds.

“It is a long way for us to go, but the prizemoney is good and it is a nice little track,” George said.

“These days with how the ratings races go, it is hard to get races for your horses all the time, you have to travel a little bit.”

Racing Integrity Commissioner

Ross Barnett said Bowen’s track was rated a heavy 10 on Wednesday afternoon.

Local riders Sonja Wiseman, Wanderson D’Avila, Rhiannon Payne and Pietro Romeo are all engaged at Bowen today.

Meanwhile, north Queensland Cups contender Hardern has passed away.

Owned by Cairns’ Tom Hedley and raced by Townsville trainer Michael Geaney, the seven-year-old gelding had to be euthanized recently following an incident with a fence.

Hardern was one horse to defeat northern crowns champion The Harrovian last year, doing so in the North Queensland Cup at Cluden Park in late June.

Hardern also ran second in the Mackay Cup in July, beaten a nose.