Brisbane trained Flying Light will have to overcome a horror barrier draw if he is to provide prominent local owner Tom Sheahan with his first win in the $100,000 Mater Townsville Cup (2000m) at Cluden Park in Townsville on Saturday.
Flying Light, above, has to overcome a horror barrier in the 2017 Townsville Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Barry Baldwin trained Flying Light drew barrier nineteen in the original draw in the field of sixteen plus five emergencies.
Four of the emergencies are drawn inside of Flying Light and the former Victorian galloper will still jump from gate fifteen in the final field of sixteen if all the reserves fail to gain a start.
Leading Rockhampton jockey Adrian Coome takes the ride on Flying Light who also has to carry the top weight of 60kg.
Flying Light was originally trained in Victoria by the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for prominent owner breeder David Moodie and found the winner’s circle on four occasions, twice at Flemington and once each at Moonee Valley and Benalla before being purchased by well known Townsville racing identity Tom Sheahan.
Sheahan teamed up again with long-time trainer, Brisbane premiership winner Barry Baldwin, who has given Flying Light four runs in South East Queensland with his best effort being a first up third in a 1200m Class 6 at the Gold Coast on June 7 while his latest run produced an eighth in a 1600m Class 6 at the Sunshine Coast on July 15.
Sheahan has had plenty of horses go through the Baldwin stable with lots of success, including several Group wins with top sprinter Burdekin Blues, but to win the Townsville Cup on his home soil would top that.
“Even when Burdekin Blues was winning Group races in Sydney and Melbourne he always said to me while that was very good, but the race he really wanted was the Townsville Cup,” Baldwin told AAP.
“Like us all, Tom isn’t getting any younger and would love to win it this year.”
The Jamie McConachy trained Chivadahlii has emerged as one of the main chances for the Townsville Cup after his last start win in the weight for age Townsville RSL Royal Rewards (2000m) at Cluden Park on July 15 and should get a good run after drawing barrier eleven in the original draw with Bobby El-Issa taking over from Nathan Day.
The well performed country galloper Fab’s Cowboy is chasing a hat trick of wins after victories at Charleville and Bundaberg has drawn nicely at barrier seven with Robert Faehr to ride.
Leading Mackay trainer John Manzelmann will saddle up two runners in the Towsnville Cup, Mishani Gladiator, Peter Cullen, barrier 9, and Knowing Me, Scott Galloway, barrier 6 and could possibly have a third if fourth emergency Awesome Sight, barrier 2, somehow finds his way into the final field.
Eight year old Knowing Me is coming off a last start win in the The Rack’N’Stack Warehouse Open Handicap (1609m) at Cluden Park last Saturday when he beat Townsville Cup rivals Gold Cufflinks, Fastnet Flyer and stablemate Mishani Gladiator.
