Matter looks for winning end to winter campaign

Matter looks for winning end to winter campaign
A huge drop in class might just be the ticket to spur tender-footed
sprinter Mind Over Matter back into winning form at Cluden Park on
Tuesday.
The talented four-year-old will tackle an easier assignment against his
own age in the Hygain QTIS 3/4YO Hcp (1000m) after taking on the
north’s best short course sprinters over the Townsville and Cairns
carnivals.
Although he didn’t land a feature win, the gelding performed admirably
for a slashing third behind Russian Mint in the Townville Lightning and a
late closing fourth to Cochrane in the Cairns Lightning.
Black River trainer Terry McGovern is keen on Mind Over Matter’s
chances on Tuesday in what will be his final run before a spell.
He has engaged 3kg claiming apprentice Mitch Goring for the lightly
raced sprinter who was hit with 63.5kg for the class drop.
But he will make a final decision on race morning on whether to start the
gelding whose career has been plagued by bad feet.
“Rain, hail or shine he’ll be in the paddock on Wednesday morning,”
McGovern said.
“He’s a horse who’s a day by day proposition so there’s been plenty of
times we questioned whether we’d even get him to the races. Whether
we get there on Tuesday is a question again.
“His biggest problem has been his feet and that then snowballs into
other areas. It’s always a battle.
“It’s a case of care and maintenance and some days you get it right and
some days he’s not as good as others and if he doesn’t feel right on the
day we’ll scratch him.
“Everything is ticking along at the moment but you never know with him.
“He is back in class which is in his favour but he has a big weight and
will be giving a lot away to some of the others and weight stops trains.
But if he gets to the outside where he can wind up he should run well.”

McGovern has patiently resurrected Mind Over Matter’s career after he
picked him up as a Sydney cast-off last year.
By quality sire Written By, the gelding won his first five starts at Cluden,
four over his favoured 1000m before a tough win against his own age
over 1200m.
After a fading fourth in Mackay over 1300m, McGovern switched Mind
Over Matter back to the 1000m for the Lightnings in Townsville and
Cairns and was pleased with how he coped with the steep rise in class.
“We got the 1200m with him here but ideally I think 1100m is his go. In
time he might get back over the 1200m and possibly 1300m, but this
prep he wasn’t quite up to it,” he said.
“His last two runs were good. He missed the start in Cairns and he
finished quite well but never really had a chance to have a breather. In
the Lighting here before that he hit the line really well.”
McGovern plans to rest Mind Over Matter before bringing him back
during the wet season when the sprinter will strike rain affected tracks
which he prefers.
A farrier and horse breaker, McGovern has enjoyed his best year as a
trainer with just a handful of horses in work.
He landed 14 winners at Cluden in the 2025/26 season for a strike rate
of around 20% and is on the lookout for new owners keen to expand his
operation.
The stable’s only other runner on Tuesday’s eight even card is the
maiden performer Waylon in the Win News Maiden Hcp (1400m).
Tuesday’s eight-event card kicks off with the Great Northern Brewing Co.
3YO Mdn Hcp (1200m) at 12.57pm.