Molongle Priming for Surprise Brisbane Road Trip

Late starter Molongle Surprise will take another step towards a crack at Brisbane riches when he lines up at Cluden Park as a red hot favourite tomorrow.

Trainer Ben Williams is keen to run the smart sprinter in the Listed Bribie Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm on December 10 but first wants to see the gelding get another strong run under his belt in tomorrow’s Carlton & United Breweries Open (1000m).

“I discussed taking him to Brisbane with his owners and they said why not give him a go,” Williams said.

“The original plan was to trial him here, run in the BM75 race over 900m at the Gold Coast last weekend and then on to the Bribie but I just couldn’t get away.

“Timing is everything and we want to give him his chance.

“He trialled that sharp that I thought I’m not going to miss a run. I’ve got to give him a run and then we’ll go.

“I thought the Bribie was worth a shot. It’s over a 1000m and around Eagle Farm which should suit him  and he’ll have no weight.”

Molongle Surprise was a late starter to racing after an early hock injury, making his debut at Charters Towers as a four-year-old and finishing second.

Despite on-going niggles, the talented gelding has risen from a bush maiden to top sprinting ranks thanks to a carefully managed program by Williams.

In just 10 starts, Molongle Surprise has won six times, four over the 1000m at Cluden, and been placed in his four other starts.

Although facing open company for only the second time tomorrow, Molongle Surprise was beaten a nose in this year’s Townsville Lightning in August on another limited preparation.

But he will be without his regular partner Graham Kliese who has guided the gelding in all of his Townsville wins.

Kliese is making a rapid recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in a fall last month, but will be replaced tomorrow by the in-form Nathan Day who handled Molongle Surprise in his brilliant trial win at Cluden on November 14.

Day is in white hot form landing three winning trebles at northern meetings in the past month including Townsville and Cairns.

Williams also booked Day to ride his debutant Heeza Hubsession in the Trackside Photography 2yo Hcp (1000m) and expects the Sooboog gelding to run well after a strong recent trial win.

Day has a full book of rides on the eight event card, including strong fancy Forseti for the in-form Georgie Holt stable in the last, the Mitavite Hcp (1400m).

The fast draining Cluden track was rated a Soft 5 this morning after 56mm of rain in the past seven days with a forecast of more rain overnight.

Racing kicks off with the TAB QTIS 3YO Hcp (1300m) at 12.35pm.

Pictured: Molongle Surprise fights hard for another Cluden win last month. The lightly-raced gelding will chase more glory tomorrow on the way to a Brisbane trip.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day.