Mare Ready to Reboot Long Range Carnival Hopes

Connections of striking mare From This Moment are hoping she can put a troubled 2025 behind her and winter carnival aims back on the table with a return to winning form on a wet track at Cluden Park on Sunday.

The lightly raced mare is a leading chance in the Ladbrokes BM70 Hcp (1200m) after returning from an injury enforced spell with a slashing second at Cluden a fortnight ago.

A daughter of Impending, From This Moment was the in-form horse in Townsville last summer, recording four straight wins and the prospect of a tilt at the Townsville Cup.

However, trainer Michael Geaney was forced to abort carnival plans after she was found to be suffering from a hamstring tear two runs into her winter campaign.

An eye-catching return to finish second to Our Impact over 1200m on December 13 has carnival plans back on the agenda.

“It was a fantastic run. It was slowly run and probably didn’t go to plan but it was smiles all round that she’s come back to her best after a couple of injuries which really set her back,’ Geaney said.

“She was always going to go for the Magic Millions Country Cup Qualifier last week if she won first-up.

“In the end I didn’t want to back her up against a field of very good horses. We missed that week to go for an easier target second up.

“By the same token when you get to a BM70 level there are no weak ones.

“I think she’s really developed into the full package, where you can drop her back or put her into the race. So from barrier 4 and going to 1400m we’ll have a good crack at pressing forward and be handy.

“She’s done everything right between runs, and I think she’ll be hard to beat.”

With wins in her six starts on soft going, a wet track holds no fears for Geaney who is convinced From This Moment is carnival class and could develop into a Townsville Cup prospect.

He’s keen to chase a second cup after winning the big race with Lady Skills in 2018.

“I’ve no doubt in my mind she’s a carnival horse. I said when she won her first race give us six to 12 months and this will be the best horse I’ve had in a long time.” Geaney said.

“She has the perfect athletic build. She’s just big and powerful and everything you want.

“She was flying this time last year and that’s why we put her out for carnival before all the rain kicked in.

“Unfortunately she got knocked down first up in Mackay and lost a lot of ground. She then ran unplaced back here at her next run and that’s when we found the tear.

“We had to pull the pin and start again. We just had to give her time to heal and then bring her back.

“After a long steady build-up and a couple of soft trials she’s come back in great shape and hopefully we can get to fully test her at this year’s carnival.”

Meanwhile, Cluden 1000m specialist Roweiner’s Dance will clash with  Townsville Guineas winner Obligated in his first-up run in the Smirnoff Vodka Crusher Open Hcp.

Roweiner’s Dance has won 11 of his 17 starts over the 1000m trip at Cluden and three of his five first-up starts.

The five-year-old flyer hasn’t started since a hoof issue resulted in a rare unplaced run as favourite in the Townsville Lightning on August 2.

The Cluden track was rated in the heavy 8 range on Friday morning after receiving 365mm in rainfall over the previous seven days.