Taylor Triumphs with Dream Double

Rookie trainer Taylor Connor celebrated a dream result when her only two horses in work landed a long-priced winning double at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Connor won the first race with maiden performer Spring’s Gift ($9.50) and rounded out the card when stable roughie Goodnight Romeo ($31.00) kissed his opposition goodbye with a tough win in the last.

The winning double comes just two months after Goodnight Romeo gave Connor her first winner as a trainer.

“I’m over the moon. It took a while to get the first winner, but to get a double today is amazing, especially when they’re the only two horses I’ve got in work,” the 27-year-old said.

“I expected them both to run a good race, but I’m a bit stunned by it.” 

Spring’s Gift’s late surge for jockey Nathan Thomas to win the Ladbrokes Maiden Hcp (1200m) was especially sweet for the Connor family and Goodnight Romeo, a pick up ride for Wanderson D’Avila, defied numerous challenges to clinch the special double with victory in the BM 0-55 Hcp (1400m).

The young trainer shares in Spring’s Gift’s ownership with her parents Matt and Terrianne and was relieved the mare finally notched her first win at her 23rd start.

She said the six-year-old Sebring mare was appreciating being ridden quietly.

“She missed the kick and went back a few starts back and ran home for a good second. We’ve been riding her that way since and she seems to do her best that way,” Connor said.

“It was a really good win today.

“She’s owned by just me, dad and mum and with Goodnight Romeo I’ve been really lucky we have good patient owners. 

“Dad and I are also in his ownership.

“He had a horrible run here Ladies Day over the mile but we drew the carpark and probably shouldn’t have gone around.

“I gave him a bit of freshen up and decided to run him today at the 1400m and he had a much better run and toughed it right out.

“He’s a horse that has you scratching your head to figure out but he’s a pleasant horse and beautiful to ride and it’s just his way or the highway.

“It’s my biggest day as a trainer for sure. Dad will be pretty happy when I get home but I’ll save the celebrations for later. It’s been a long day and I’m just keen for a shower and to get some sleep.”

Champion trainer Roy Chillemi ended a lengthy absence from the winner’s stall when Valenki dashed to an easy win in the Tambo’s Justice Horse of the Year Open Hcp (1200m).

Chillemi, a winner of 17 Townsville premierships, scaled back his Tolga stables to just a handful of horses earlier this year and is enjoying the slower pace.

Valenki registered Chillemi’s first Cluden winner since February.

“It’s been a while. With him from last prep to this one he’s improved three or four lengths,” Chillemi said. 

“He has been unlucky a number of times here but that’s the sort of horse he is. He gets back and then needs to find a bit of luck to get through them.

“He’s a horse that has to be ridden quietly and the race has got to go accordingly and he’ll perform.

“I was confident he would be hard to beat but you’re never sure how a race will be run with him.

“I’ve only got four of Tom’s (Hedley) and one of my own Purpose ‘N’ Vision.

“I’m really enjoying the smaller numbers. I work the mornings and the young fella I’ve got does the boxes and feeds and I just check on things.

“On race days my mate John Tichbourne comes to the races with me. He loves racing and he helps with the drive down and we just enjoy a day at the races.

“At the end of the year it’s not hard to turn out four or five horses. It’s hard to turn out 20 horses and staff so we’re going to Hong Kong for the carnival in December this year.

“I’m really enjoying it big time. You’ve got to know when to back off, and when enough’s enough.”

Rockhampton trainer Daryl Johnstone and jockey wife Natalea Summers celebrated a team effort when home bred Krackacan claimed the Great Northern Brewing Co. 3/4YO Hcp (1000m).

Johnstone bred the three-year-old out of his former race mare Lingalonga Lass and had recorded three wins and three seconds from six starts with the son of Wanted.

Johnstone said removing the blinkers from Krackacan proved a big difference.

“He’s a horse who’ll wait for them and when he sees them he’ll fight. The last two times the horses have dashed to him in the last 10m and caught him out. So I took the blinkers off today and it did the trick,” Johnstone said.

“I bought the mother, who was by Mossman, on a bloodstock auction and won four with her.

“It’s seems to be hard to find Mossman mares and they can throw a handy one. There’s not many of them left and if we were ever going to breed with one we thought we’d give her a go.

“This fella’s been good for us. He led again today but I think he’s a better horse with a sit and he’ll eventually get 1200m.”

Krackacan, ridden a heady race by Summers, led most of the way and comfortably held fellow Rockhampton galloper Our Eagle Rock and the late finishing Foneeleven.

A protest by the runner-up for alleged interference at the 200m was dismissed.