rowe’s old firm back in groove

WITH the band back together, Cannon Park trainer Trevor Rowe is looking to return to the glory days with stable hoops Sonja Wiseman and Braydn Swaffer.

Rowe and Swaffer returned to Cairns yesterday with the Laura Cup in tow after Great Pretender went one better than his 2017 trip to the track, claiming the $12,000 Weight for Age race by a length and a half.

Both Wiseman and Swaffer have spent time away from the saddle in recent years due to injury and weight issues respectively.

“Braydn rode Great Pretender an absolute treat, he is getting his timing and confidence back,” Rowe said.

“It will boost his confidence because he has worked very hard.

“Hopefully we are on the way to some bigger and better things like the old days.”

Sent out as the $2 favourite, the grey gelding justified his price, scoring from Presidential Joy, trained by Allan Paterson, to claim the 121st Laura Cup.

Great Pretender went around in the 2017 Cairns Cup and Cairns Amateur Cups, with another tilt an option.

“I was confident that if he had a trouble-free run, he would be hard to beat,” Rowe said.

“He has always been a handy horse, that is win number nine for me, he is honest.

“I am not sure where we will head with him but he will be around come carnival time.”