Kelly adds to golden run
RACING: Lightly raced Toowoomba three-year-old Trooper Kelly delivered for punters and continued the impressive run of his Downsbased sire when he marched to his first victory yesterday at Clifford Park.
Trooper Kelly ($2.30 fav) saluted at start number four with an effortless victory for jockey Brad Pengelly in the Moore Trailers QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1300m) in class record time.
The Golden Archer colt had 41⁄4 lengths to spare on the line from Wearetenforfortyeight ($3.50) with Gratsie ($61) a further 11⁄4 lengths back third.
Trooper Kelly is one of several Ben Currie stable members by Raheen Stud sire Golden Archer who continues building an impressive strike rate which was added to on Saturday by Bunya Park QTIS maiden winner Welcome Nugget ($16).
“He’s doing a good job as a stallion at Raheen who race this horse and are good supporters of our stable,” Currie said.
“His winning strike rate is good and we have a few in the stable who go well with hopefully more to follow.
“I’m really grateful to both Basils (Nolan) for giving us the chance to train these horses for them.
“Golden Archer’s progeny aren’t always flashy types but they all seem to pay their way.
“This bloke has been a bit frustrating actually.
“He’s been showing us a bit on the track but it’s taken him a little while to produce it fully in his races.
“But the penny dropped today.”
■ TOOWOOMBA Turf Club hosts its first official twoyear-old trials of the new season with 800m heats run tomorrow from 8.30am on the Clifford Park course proper.
The trials continue the countdown to the $68,000 Pat O’Shea Plate (1000m) which opens Queensland’s 2018-19 two-year-old racing year at Clifford Park on Sunday, September 23.