Tiger Can not lured by Gold Coast lights
BARRINGHA trainer Gary Farrell will opt to head to Mackay, instead of the glitter strip of the Gold Coast, with improving youngster Tiger Can.
The three-year-old gelding clinched the Cairns edition of the QTIS Jewel Qualifier in yesterday’s Three-Years-Old Plate (1250m) to make it two wins on the trot.
Farrell and Tiger Can had the opportunity to target the $300,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO Final, to be run over 1200m at the Gold Coast on March 14, after collecting the FNQ qualifier. But, the experienced trainer does not want to make the long trip south with the bay.
On his two excellent recent victories, Tiger Can would be competitive on the Gold Coast if he decided to make the journey, but Farrell will instead look towards the Sugar City.
Tiger Can is likely to have one more start before being set for the The Northern Jewel 3YO Handicap (1300m), worth $105,000, on April 25.
“He gets a bit cranky and I do not think that would work going down to the Gold Coast, but there is a very good race at the end of April in Mackay,” Farrell said.
“We will set him for that now.
“Later on, he
1400m or a mile.
“I just need to keep him fresh as there are not many races for three-year-olds at that kind of distance.”
Townsville-based jockey Scott Sheargold, on Tiger Can, sat just behind the leaders for much of the trip and took the inside alley at Cannon Park, finding just enough room to sneak through and score.
Farrell said post-race that he was not sure if the hoop made the right decision to go down the inside, but when he wins, you cannot complain. will want
It was the opposite of how Tiger Can won last start at Townsville, after sitting well back in the field and swooping right around the field wide to win impressively.
“We are proud of the horse, we bred him ourselves,” Farrell said.
“He is out of a mare we raced ourselves and we have had all of her stock.”
Rockhampton’s Boss Baby, for trainer Peter Fleming and jockey Luke Dillon, had to settle for second behind Tiger Can after making the long trip north.
Meanwhile, Oriental Girl showed she was a carnival horse in the making after putting away a Class 6 Plate field with some ease yesterday afternoon.
With little weight on her back anyway, on top of Emily Cass’s claim, Oriental Girl was able to sneak away by a couple of lengths before the turn and extended into the straight.
Last-start Cannon Park winner Bachelor’s Art just could not go with Roy Chillemi’s Oriental Girl, who made it six career victories yesterday by five and a quarter lengths.
Elsewhere, trainer Stephen Massingham and jockey Nathan Day picked up a winning double at Cairns on Tuesday.