Fastnet Flyer to take off
EMERALD trainer Glenda Bell has sent an ominous warning to punters that her cups warrior Fastnet Flyer is primed to return to winning form on Townsville Jaguar Land Rover Ladies Race Day at Cluden Park today.
Fastnet Flyer is the early favourite for the $ 30,000 Townsville Jaguar Land Rover Handicap ( 2000m) following a slashing third in last week’s Mackay Cup.
Bell is banking on a confidence- building win in the weekend feature, but backing up again a week later for another tilt at The Mater Townsville Cup is no certainty.
“He’s a backmarker and bad luck has been the story of his life. My thinking is chase the money in a slightly weaker race and we’ll see how he pulls up before we decide whether to run in the Townsville Cup or wait for Cairns,” Bell said.
“He had no luck again in Mackay last week and possibly would have won with a clear run.
“I wouldn’t normally run him so soon but it’s a nice race for him, the money is good and even though he has 60.5kg I think he’s well weighted.
“But he would have to pull up without any problems at all to run him seven days later in the Cup.”
Fastnet Flyer has been a major player on the country cups circuit for the past three years, winning last year’s Mackay Cup and finishing an unlucky fourth to Chivadahlii in the Townsville Cup.
The Husson gelding showed he was close to his peak with his fast finishing third to Bilboa Rocks in Mackay last Saturday.
Bell has booked leading jockey Justin Stanley to replace Jason Taylor, who is unavailable but will be back on board should the gelding run in the Cup.
Stanley is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career with 103 winners from 553 rides ( 18.6 per cent strike rate) and is third on the overall Queensland jockeys’ premiership.
Meanwhile, brilliant but flighty sprinter Platinum Tycoon will have plenty on the line when he tackles the other feature, The Global Welding Talbot Heatley Lightning ( 1000m).
Atherton trainer Michael Lee said next week’s Lazy Yak Cleveland Bay Handicap was still an option for the flying four- year- old depending on his Lightning run.
“It’s a flip of the coin. I’m leaving the option open and I’ll see how he goes on Saturday,” Lee said.
“There’s a lot of pace in the Lightning. He’s got the speed to cross but with his big weight I’d like to see him with a sit just off the pace.”
Platinum Tycoon, who will carry the topweight of 59.5kg, has built an impressive record, winning nine of his 20 starts.
The Written Tycoon gelding has won four of his five runs this preparation, with his only defeat an unplaced run over the Cleveland Bay Handicap distance of 1300m.
“People might say he won’t run 1300m, but I think he can, it’s just a question of whether he can do it on a strong tempo,” Lee said.
“He’s a very good horse but he’s a hothead and nothing will stop him if gets fired up.
“I’ve watched the video of the 1300m race a few times and he started racing too fiercely after he was bumped by another runner.
“If something stirs him up, it’s ‘ let me out of here’.”
Lee has engaged jockey Bonnie Thomson for the Lightning ride in a strong field that includes Rockhampton flyer Casino Thoughts, the Roy Chillemi- trained Concluder, Jack Lancaster and Confronting.
Townsville Jaguar Land Rover Ladies Day is the first of three big days of the Townsville Winter Racing Carnival, which will continue with UBET Townsville Guineas Day on Thursday and culminate with The Mater Townsville Cup day on July 28.