Fresh hope for dynasty
REJUVENATED sprinter Mishani Redman will turn back the clock for Townsville’s McLellan family when he lines up in the $ 100,000 Provincial Sprinters Final at the Sunshine Coast today.
The McLellans, one of Townsville’s best known racing families, last ventured to Brisbane with a horse when the great Gay James ran third at Doomben in the early 1970s for patriarch Les McLellan.
Forty years later and Michael McLellan, Les’ grandson, is hoping his comeback kid Mishani Redman can land that elusive city win at the big Sunshine Coast Cup race meeting.
“It’s been a long time and it means a lot to have a runner in the final,” McLellan said.
“Gay James was a super horse. Pop said he’d lead all the way and he led from the outside barrier that day against horses like John’s Hope and Zephyr Bay and was only run down in the last 50m.
“He won his first 17 starts, including a dead heat, and was an awesome galloper.
“Mishani Redman’s flying at the moment. He won his last two at Cluden so well, particularly the heat, so why not have a throw at the stumps in a $ 100,000 race.
“The form out of the race has been super strong. He easily beat San Amaro and Lady Skills and they both came out and won at their next start.”
Saturday’s berth in the sprinters final is a triumph itself for McLellan and Mishani Redman since the galloper underwent a wind operation two years ago.
The five- year- old has been sparingly raced as part of a careful rehabilitation and McLellan believes he’s now at the top of his game.
“We’ve been very patient with the horse since he had the operation.
“He’s just kept improving and we’re really proud of him.
“The final will be a much tougher race against horses from the big city stables but he’ll have no weight and if he gets over the road trip OK he’ll run well.
“Bonnie Thomson rides him very well and she’ll be on him again on Saturday.
“This is our grand final and he’ll probably go for a spell after this.”