THEY NAMED THEIR HORSE WHAT?
GOLD Coast horse owner Luke Henderson will put his hopes of finally winning a Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the line today when Terminology races in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap at Aquis Park.
Terminology has $8900 to her name after a fourth at Wyong two weeks ago but the Gai Waterhouse-trained filly has to win the $40,200 in prizemoney on offer to the winner of today’s race if she is to make it into the final field of 16 for next Saturday’s $2 million Classic.
“We need to win; a second won’t cut it,” Henderson said.
“It’s a tough enough race but if she can’t beat them then she won’t beat them next Saturday so we may as well give it a crack.
“She has got ability but it’s about turning that into a win to make the field. We have got to hope she shows her promise.”
Henderson has celebrated victories in the Melbourne Cup (Fiorente, 2013), Caulfield Cup (Descarado, 2010) and Golden Slipper (Sebring, 2008) as a part-owner but the Gold Coast Turf Club board member and real estate agent wants to win the 2YO Classic more than any other.
“I was born here and being on the board too of the home track it’s probably the race I most want to win,” Henderson said.
“We love the day and we are always trying to aim horses at it. We have had plenty of other runners over the years. We don’t get one in every year but more often than not we get a runner in the 2YO race.”
Henderson still feels the pain of having his 2012 2YO Classic win with No Looking Back taken away in a protest and it has fuelled his desire to win it ever since.
“It hurt a lot,” Henderson said. “To win it and have it taken off you makes you more keen to make amends.”
Henderson had a another runner-up result in the race in 2013 with the Waterhousetrained Sweet Idea who went on to win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas a year later.
There are good signs for Terminology today.
Houtzen won last year’s 2YO Classic a week after racing at the Gold Coast and 2015 winner Le Chef did the same.
But Henderson said it wasn’t a premeditated tactic used by Waterhouse and the team who decided to roll the dice on what could be a costly exercise should Terminology fall short today.
“There was no other option,” Henderson said.
“It was either stay in Sydney and race or come up to the Gold Coast.
“The problem with staying in Sydney is that she would have a float trip the week of the race.
“We wanted to avoid that if we could. It’s a costly exercise if she doesn’t win because of the floats and staff involved but it gives her the best chance to win the big one if she can win.”