Old Boys Club Chase Wins on Melbourne Cup Day

Jockey come trainer Graham Kliese and his veteran gallopers Molongle Surprise and Trapassi are like a tight old boys club.

Like Kliese, a prolific winning rider, the two nine-year-olds are now in the veteran class but retain their zest for racing.

And the pair can give Kliese a great shot at a Melbourne Cup Day training double at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Despite their advanced years, both sprinters have been sparingly raced, a factor that has been the key to their longevity on the track.

Amazingly, Molongle Surprise has had just 23 starts for nine wins, and Trapassi has had an even lighter workload with 18 starts for four wins, with Kliese aboard in most of their runs.

“I think they’re both good chances,” Kliese said.

“They’re both very sound, they’re in form and with a bit of luck can both win.”

Molongle Surprise and Trapassi came under Kliese’s care when he added a trainers’ brief to his jockey duties earlier this year and with wife Belynda took over a team from Ben Williams.

Amazingly, Molongle Surprise hadn’t raced for more than two years and Trapassi was out closer to three years.

“They’re both good horses but a lot of people forget that they were out so long and it’s sometimes very hard to bring those old horses back after a big break,” Kliese said.

“There was nothing wrong with them, they just spent a lot of time out in the paddock. They’ve been in work a long time and they’re going great.

“Trapassi was beaten in a photo first-up which was incredible and Molongle just took a few runs to hit his straps.”

Molongle Surprise showed he still had his old dash with a slashing fourth in the Lightning Hcp at Cluden in July during the winter carnival.

After a flop at Ewan he landed his first win since July 2023 with a determined victory at Cluden in a 1000m open on October 25.

He will chase another win over his pet 1000m distance in the Open Hcp on Tuesday with top weight of 60kg.

Kliese said the secret to finding winning form was a decision to try a different jockey.

“I sacked myself off him. It was purely my decision, and my decision only,” Kliese said.

“I’ve won a bunch of races on him but he’s not an easy horse to ride, track work or race day. And we butt heads every day and I just thought the time had come where we don’t need to do that on race day.

“I put Lacey Morrison on him and it was a master stroke, she rode him a treat to win.

“Don’t get me wrong. He’s hard not to like. We love him because he’s got personality. But he’s a lot like me, he’s pig headed.

“You can’t bully him, he’s just got to have his own way.

“He needed a change and it worked. But Lacey can’t ride him Tuesday because she had a long standing booking to ride King Jester in the race.

“I’ve got Aidan (Holt) on him and he’d win on anything at the moment.

“The horse showed he’s still got the will to win, and he’s come through that run beautifully.

“It’s a similar sort of race and I can’t see why he won’t be a good chance again.”

Kliese is also trying something different with Trapassi with a step up to 1400m for the first time in Transportable Lifestyle BM65 Hcp after a late closing third over 1200m at his last start.

Since returning to racing in June, Trapassi has been placed in three of his four starts and Kliese thinks he needs the extra distance.

The master jockey, who has ridden 1298 winners, will ride the galloper himself.

“Everything about the run here last start suggests that he needs 1400m. He’s absolutely perfect and I expect him to run very well.”