Family run continues with Lad’s stunning turnaround

Young galloper Esprit Lad proved once again what a difference a month
can make in the racing game.
Just two months ago, the Bel Esprit gelding’s future was on the line and
his cause wasn’t helped with an inglorious debut when he was tailed off
at Cluden on June 22.
But in the space of 22 days, the immature youngster has gone from a
veritable “boiled lolly to an old gold chocolate”.
In a stunning turnaround, Esprit Lad scored his second successive win
at Cluden on Tuesday in the Great Northern Brewing Co. 2/3YO Open
Hcp (1000m).
And there was no fluke about it. The gelding overcame a slow start to
crush a strong field with a barnstorming finish for jockey Ben Kennedy.
There’s every reason why Espirit Lad should be winning races.
He is the fifth individual winner to race out of bonny mare Family Freeze
who has been the gift that keeps giving for owner-breeders Jason and
Brett Collins.
And by Bel Esprit, he’s a full brother to former good galloper Family Star
who won 10 races for the Collins family.
Jason Collins, from a well-known Townsville racing family, has been
stunned by the gelding’s rapid improvement.
“Tommy was wanting to sell him to Mt Isa for $500 two months ago but
he’s back on now. He’s happy to have him now,” Collins said.
“He was very immature and had no idea. All of our horses out of that
mare have all won as late three-year-olds, but he’s just taken longer.
“It must be something with the mare.
“We all wanted to jump ship except my wife Cheryl. She said ‘he’s not
going anywhere. We’re going to be patient and give him time’.
“That was a nice win again today. Ben Kennedy likes him. He said he
has still no idea what he’s doing. Give him six months and he might win
some nice races.”

Starting with Family Star, the progeny of Family Freeze have racked up
the wins at Cluden over the past decade.
Super Fast, Ruby Sparkles and Super Freeze all won races and there’s
more to come from old Family Freeze.
She has a two-year-old by Better Than Ready in training in Brisbane
with family friend and former Townsville boy Lindsay Gough, a yearling
by Super One and a foal in utero by Tassort.
Collins said the success of the Family Freeze family has brought
enormous excitement to the Collins outfit.
“Family Freeze started out in Toowoomba but she was very difficult.
They sent her north and she finished up with Brad Furber to sort her out
and he did a great job with her to win five races,” Collins said.
“She was never entirely sound and she was so brave in her racing that
we thought we’d breed from her and that’s where it all kicked off.
“In the first season when we retired her Bel Esprit came to Queensland.
His service fee was $10,000. A good friend of mine Gary Farrell and
myself had a mare each and we put them on the float together and sent
them down.
“That’s where it all started. Family Star was the first. That makes him a
full brother to Esprit Lad.
“They’re totally different horses in appearance but this guy is not nearly
as difficult as Family Star.
“Widden Stud sent a very nice message to us when this guy won his
maiden and said the mare was the last one Bel Esprit (now deceased)
covered before they retired him.
“We’ve had a terrific time. The little mare has done a fantastic job and
we’re hoping from the ones coming through we can get a metropolitan
win from her. That’s the goal.
“You cannot measure the enjoyment we’ve had from these horses.
“Family Star won the very first Cape Cleveland on Cup day and Lindsay
won the Cleveland Bay Hcp the same day.
“It was a very emotional day for us and hopefully this horse and the
young ones coming through can give us another day like that.”

Jason and his wife Cheryl may have even better to come from former
Group performing mare Tycoon Evie which they part own.
She has an unraced two-year-old by Anamoe and a yearling colt by I Am
Invincible.
“The I Am Invincible colt is growing out at Eureka Stud and the boys out
there said ‘we’re taking him to the Sydney Easter sales next year to get
you a million dollars for him’.
“We’re very excited.”
Meanwhile, Innisfail youngster Mister Doobie scored a strong win in the
Magic Millions Townsville Dollars (1400m) for Innisfail trainer Krysten
Allender.
Mister Doobie overpowered his opposition to give jockey Nathan
Thomas the first leg of a race-to-race double.
Thomas also won on the free-striding Free Carry in the Ladbrokes Open
Hcp (1400m).
Earlier roughie Diamond Lucy gave trainer Troy Clive an overdue win
when she claimed the Belle Property Townsville C1 Hcp (1200m).
“That’s about time. It’s been a tough year. Probably the worst in the five
years I’ve been training,” Clive said.
“We just haven’t had a lot of luck especially with this mare but today she
had the right alley and a great ride by Chris (Whiteley).
“This time 12 months ago we had an opinion of her. When she came
here she had a ‘swamp cancer’ on the lower bulb of her rear foot and
she was battling that for a long while.
“After she ran third to Pipistrelle in the Ladies Bracelet last year we
turned her out and managed the cancer and actually got rid of it.
“This time in she’s had some other issues but she’s over that and we’ve
worked out it’s best to keep her fresh and over the shorter trips.
“Half a dozen runs ago I was ready to move her on but she ran a nice
race at Bowen and she’s raced well ever since.”