Bad Boy a Star with Punters with Rousing Cluden Win

Race day rogue Family Star put aside his bad trackside manners to return to form with a fast-finishing win at Cluden Park today.

The talented gelding, who is a lamb at home but a bad boy at the races, turned back the clock to his brilliant three-year-old days with an impressive victory in the C.U.B. B70 Hcp (1000m).

It was the Bel Esprit gelding’s first win since a purple patch of form in 2020 which included three wins and three placings from six starts before an unsuccessful Brisbane campaign.

Family Star is raced by Brett and Jason Collins and Anthony and Ryan Krause who bred the gelding from good race mare Family Freeze.

Trainer Graham Hughes said a change to riding the five-year-old from off the pace was the key to getting the former front runner back in winning touch.

But the gelding’s race day antics are still proving a headache.

“That was a good field today, Aspen Lad and co they’re no slouches. So, everyone (owners) was pretty happy with him. They’ve been very patient with the horse,“ Hughes said.

“As far as manners goes though he was pretty ordinary again today. He can gallop obviously and he races well but he doesn’t do himself any favours by how he performs before I saddle him up.

“Normally through the week he’s not too bad and at home he’s not too bad.

“But race day as soon as you put him on the truck he knows - as soon as you go to catch him in the yard he knows.

“You’re flat out catching him. He’s just very nervy and from the time he gets to the races he wrecks himself.”

Hughes said the change to riding the five-year-old from behind this preparation had clicked with the Bel Esprit gelding.

“Well, he had the pace in the three-year-old races here to burn them off. He went down to Brisbane and I watched a few of his runs and the races he led in they were hunting him to be there.

“I said to Graham Kliese who rode him in his first start for me to try just riding him off the pace and he half missed it and flashed home.

“The next start he was ridden forward and he did nothing and today he was back off the pace and was great.

“I think that’s the key to him and we’ll probably look at a bit further.”

Family Star was ridden By Justin Stanley who landed a second win on brilliant Rockhampton filly Chinny Boom.

Chinny Boom recorded a sizzling time of 55.99secs – one of the fastest 2yo race times at Cluden in years.

In-form combination of Sharlee Hoffman and Lacey Morrison moved further ahead on the trainers’ and jockeys’ premierships with a big day.

The pair teamed to land a double with the heavily backed Mister Magnusifent and Narda Shar and finished second with Prophetess before Morrison landed a third winner for the day on Raise Da Vibration in the last.

Pictured: Family Star ran clear for victory in the C.U.B B70 Hcp (1000m).

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