BUILDING MOMENTUM

Q You are nearing on 12 months in your role as Cairns Jockey Club general manager, how have you found it so far? A It is a nice part of the world and I am lucky we have got family up here, it makes it easier to move up and fit in. The Cairns Jockey Club needs to build momentum, we need around 20 race days per year and if we get that, that momentum will start. We are at 15 race days … we would love that extra five. We are lucky we race on Spring Carnival race days, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup Day. It means everyone gets in the atmosphere of it all which really helps. The biggest issue for us completing the track, taking that risk out of cancellations. It was only a couple of years ago that we had five cancellations in one year.

Q There seems to be a positive vibe around racing at the minute in the Far North, can you feel that? A Because we have done that renovation from the winning post around to the 1400m mark at Cannon Park, the track has really raced well. We have got a positive vibe from the trainers following that. What we are hoping to do, if we can achieve it, is a few changes. The Cairns Amateur Cup will come forward to September 1 and 2.

What we want to achieve for our Cairns Cup is to race over consecutive Saturdays. That will be a better leadin to the Cairns Amateurs and it will be a better outcome for the Cairns Jockey Club, rather than racing the Saturday and then the Sunday.