Missile to Call it a Day After Sprint Win

Retirement is now on the cards for talented Cairns sprinter Missile Thunder after he outclassed his rivals at Cluden Park on Sunday.

The six-year-old led showed surprising speed for apprentice Lauren Guernier to lump 60.5kg to an all-the-way win in the Gordon’s Pink Amateurs Sprint (1200m).

It was 27-year-old Guernier’s first ride at Cluden and capped a memorable day for her and boss Fred Wieland who trains Missile Thunder at his Cannon Park base.

“Lauren’s a good kid. She’s doing everything right and getting a few winners and a bit of confidence makes a big difference,” Wieland said.

“She’s only sat on the horse three times for three wins.

“That wasn’t plan A today to lead. We wanted to be fourth or fifth, but he jumped too quick and got keen and ran along.

“It’s just the way it panned out.

“I thought he was a good chance with a trail today but I was a bit nervous when he jumped to the front.

“But Lauren didn’t panic and did a great job.”

Sunday’s win was Missile Thunder’s 14th career victory from 37 starts and his 10th win at Cluden Park where he started his career in brilliant fashion as a two-year-old under the care of champion trainer Roy Chillemi.

The Smart Missile gelding won his first six races including the 2022 Great Northern 2YO Classic in the famous Tom Hedley colours and looked headed for a big race future.

But he was never able to fulfill his full potential after suffering bones chips on his knees followed by a serious virus.

He went on to win four more races and was transferred to Wieland after Chillemi downsized his Tolga operation.

Sunday’s victory was Wieland’s fourth with the gelding, and third on the trot after wins in Innisfail and Cairns, and lifted the sprinter’s career earnings to $337,000.

But he said retirement was imminent with his rating now high and a future of huge weights ahead.

“He’s had his issues but for the past month or five weeks he’s just seemed better than he’s been all year.

“He’s virtually on the verge of retirement. He might start in the Johnstone River Hcp or that could be it today.

“He’s a 90 rater now and hard to place. It’s up to Tom but he’s just about reached his peak.

“He never ran a bad race through the carnivals but always had a bit of bad luck.

“He ran sixth in the Cleveland Bay not beaten far and the same in the Cairns Newmarket. Things never went his way.”

Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor claimed another Cluden victory when Divine Purpose toughed out a strong win from the fast finishing Medal in the Ladbrokes Amateurs Cup (1609m).

A gear change did the trick for regular bridesmaid Convertor when he scored a deserved win in the Living Turf BM 60 Hcp (1609m).

Trainer Georgie Holt swapped winkers for a nose roll and the gelding responded to hard riding to beat the odds-on favourite Out Of Luck which missed the kick.