Fast Desert Cowboy’s shades of Bar Attack
JORDAN GERRANS
WHEN Cairns Cup winning trainer Trevor Rowe starts talking about a galloper in the same sentence as Bar Attack, it must be a serious racehorse.
The experienced Cannon Park-based trainer credits Bar Attack for launching his career all those years ago, when purchased as a yearling for $8000 by local owners.
Bar Attack went on to win 13 times and led to the purchase of a number of other quality horses, including He’s a Ladies Man and a few others.
Now, Rowe has consistent sprinter Desert Cowboy in the same breath as Bar Attack and the shortcourse specialist may just go on to pass the former stable star when it comes to wins in the coming months.
Most thought weight would stop Desert Cowboy in the Open Handicap (950m) on Thursday on their home track but the CJC lover had other ideas, winning strongly from a top ride from jockey Stephen Wilson.
“I have only had one horse that has had more wins, which is Bar Attack who won 13,” Rowe said.
“Bar Attack was a very good horse and this needs one more win to equal him.
“Desert Cowboy is a very good horse, carrying 62kg and he won that as he liked.
“I just felt he might give in to the 62kg. But, as Wilson said he let down and felt like he had just 54kg on his back.”
Wilson was able to sit off a hot speed on Thursday at Cairns and pounced late, as part of his winning double for the day.
Desert Cowboy is already a carnival winner in the north, winning the Lightning in August last year, and Rowe will look to step the gelding out for more distance in Townsville’s Cleveland Bay Handicap later in 2020.
Rowe indicated that he felt the six-year-old gelding would be perfect for a no metro wins race in Brisbane, but will decide on that in the future.
“We are hoping to get into the Cleveland Bay with him, we will see how he pulls up,” Rowe said.
Meanwhile, racing in the north heads to Home Hill this afternoon for a five-event nonTAB program with plenty of FNQ horses and riders.