McGovern to Set Bar Higher for Rising Star

Black River trainer Terry McGovern is keeping his winter carnival plans close to his chest for talented three-year-old Mind Over Matter.

The talented Written By gelding stormed to a brilliant first-up win in the Ladbrokes 3YO Hcp (1000m) and maintained his unbeaten four-race winning streak for McGovern.

Buoyed by the impressive return, McGovern is now keen to test Mind Over Matter over a longer trip to explore carnival options.

“That was a very good run first-up. We gave him the three runs last prep and had a little bit of trouble with his feet and a few other niggling issues so we spelled him.

“He’s come back fantastic and I’d like to get him out over a little bit more distance and see where we can go with him.

“I think we’ve got plenty of options when you’ve got ability like that.

“He was very fresh and he was that excited to be here. Obviously we didn’t trial him, but once he works down a little bit he settles quite nicely through his runs.

“He’s got a nice turn of foot. He’s got some gears there.

“I wanted to get him out over longer last prep but the races just didn’t line up. It obviously would have been nicer to know he could get over longer going into the carnival.

“We’ve just got to play it day by day and do the best we can.

“I don’t think the 1200m will be a problem and I think you’ll see an even better turn of foot if he can settle.

“I’ve got lots of things in the back of my mind for him but we’re taking it day by day.”

Mind Over Matter, a Sydney cast-off from the Waterhouse-Bott stables, has been a revelation since McGovern purchased the gelding last year for Townsville owners.

McGovern used his years of experience as a farrier to nurse Mind Over Matter through chronic feet problems before getting him to the races for the first time at Cluden in January.

A $400,000 yearling, the gelding announced his arrival on the Townsville scene with an emphatic 4.5 length maiden win.

He reeled off another two impressive wins before being sent for a spell.

Group 1 winning jockey Sean Cormack has been aboard the gelding in all of his wins and gave the sprinter a glowing report after Tuesday’s win.

Meanwhile, Going Nuclear put a possible Townsville Cup back on track after a big win in the Key Motors Open Hcp (1609m) against a number of Cup contenders.

Trainer Matt McGuire was left disappointed when the gelding was unplaced at his last start when race plans went out the window in a slowly run race.

But apprentice Olivia Kendal and Going Nuclear put that behind them as they strode clear for a carnival quality win on Tuesday.

“Olivia came back full of praise for him today. It was disappointing last start but looking back on it, it just didn’t map out for him. He does need to be babied a bit in the run and there was just no pace,” McGuire said.

“That was a dominant win today against a quality field. A majority of those horses you’d like to think will be heading towards the cup. They weren’t probably targeting today’s race, where as he was primed for that. He’s been knocking on the door at his past few starts.

“Hopefully his rating will be high enough now to get into the cup if that’s the way we go.

“We’re still leaning towards the cup option. There’s the Magnetic Mile in a couple of weeks’ time and he’ll go there next.

“Then we’ll probably decide what direction we’ll take.

“I am leaning towards the Cup but there’s also the option to freshen him up for the Cleveland Bay.”

Ryan Wiggins took riding honours on Tuesday, landing the money on Niven in the Great Northern Brewing Co. Mdn Plate (1000m) and Almighty Jab in the Woodford Reserve BM 70 Hcp (1000m) – both for trainer Stephen Massingham.