Missile launch time
LEADING trainer Roy Chillemi will roll the dice on a possible big sprint mission with star young galloper Grey Missile at Cluden Park today.
Chillemi has bypassed the Stockland Townsville Dollars for three- year- olds to test the powerful grey against the older, seasoned performers in The Ville Resort- Casino Weight- For- Age ( 1300m).
The race has attracted a crack field and offers the win- ner ballot- free entry into the $ 100,000 Lazy Yak Cleveland Bay Handicap ( 1300m) at Cluden on July 28.
“I want to try the horse against a better- quality field, against the big boys, where the speed is on and he can run his true race,” Chillemi said.
“He’s never been in a race that’s suited him against his own age. With the lack of pace he’s hit the front too soon and even though he’s had the big weights, his class has got him home.
“It’s a theory but you don’t know if you don’t give it a go.
“He would have had a huge weight in the Dollars, and while he’s not as well off as I would have hoped against the older horses, at least he’s not giving weight away to everything else in the field.
“We’ll know after ( today) whether he is going to be up to a race like the Cleveland Bay ( Hcp), but he’s only a young horse and if it’s not this year, there’s always next year.”
Under the conditions of the WFA, Grey Missile will carry 58kg, a kilo less than the older horses with 59kg, and will be out to build on his record of six wins and five placings from 16 starts.
Chillemi has booked jockey Peter Cullen.
The stable also has high hopes for consistent sprinter Pinyarda in the WFA, which has attracted a hot line- up, including prolific winner Craiglea Deken and Mason’s Chance, the winner of the Battle of the Bush Final ( 1200m) at Doomben on June 23 for trainer Olivia Cairns.
“Pinyarda is a very hard horse to train but he tries hard and on his day I think he’s up to winning a race like the Cleveland Bay,” Chillemi said. “He probably should have won his last start and I expect him to run well.”
Chillemi also has Concluder engaged in the final heat of the Lazy Yak 2018 Race to the Reef series ( 1000m) on tomorrow’s big card.