Grubby and Graham Turn on a Show at Cluden

Two veterans of the jockeys room have cranked up the heat for the Townsville premiership title after dominating Thursday’s bumper nine-race card at Cluden Park.

Journeyman Nathan “Grubby” Day bagged a winning treble and Graham Kliese a double to keep up the pressure in a wide open race for the Townsville title.

Day’s treble lifted him to 19 wins, and to the top of the table ahead of title defender Lacey Morrison (18) and Justin Stanley (16), with Kliese now on 12 wins despite being sidelined for three months with injury.

For Day hitting his target of 80 wins for the reason is more important than the premiership.

“I’ve come back. All my bullets seemed to have gone lately – with local rides - and it’s good to get a couple of kills today,” Day said.

“I’ve been riding winners but not at tracks where I really want them so that’s what I needed today.

“I’m over 60 winners now which is a good season for me, but 80 this year is my goal.

“Trying to get as close as I can to the hundred that’s important to me and if a premiership comes along the way that’s a bonus.

“It’ll be a battle for me to win anyway but I was looking at it today and there’s about six blokes and Lacey who could win it and it’ll be a good battle.

“I love the competition, god yes. But Roy (Chillemi) always comes over the top of them late in the season so whoever is riding for him will probably go close.”

Day was in top touch with wins on the Stephen Massingham-trained Battle Cry, the impressive Stephen Bush-trained filly Don’t Tell Leeanne and the Tracey Simmons-trained Chatilly in the last.

He was thrilled with Battle Cry’s win after a string of placings on the gelding.

“He’s no world beater but he tries his heart out. Today was special for us,” Day said.

“Battle Cry is the sort of horse I’d love to take around to all of the bush cups. I reckon he’d clean up.

“The win on Don’t Tell Leeanne was super. She drew wide, had to race wide and still pulled away from them.

“Steve’s got a 1300m 3yo marked out for her in a fortnight and it’s hard to see anything beating her.

“But for me I’m now off to Einasleigh for the bush rodeo and races.”

Kliese, riding at his first meeting back without the three-ride restriction, booted home late bloomer Count Of Carford for trainer Steve Royes and Donenothing for Michael Whitehouse.

The veteran also went within a nose of winning on Imposing Beau who went down to the fast-finishing Bones.

“It’s a big kick along for me confidence wise,” Kliese said.

“The fall was an unfortunate thing that happened - I was flying at the time and I’ve lost that many winners and contacts through it it’s not funny.

“It’s just going to take a while to build it back up. I ride Count Of Canford and Donenothing work. I ride a heap of work, it’s the only way to get back, and the weight’s coming down so it’s getting there.”

Trainer Steven Royes plans to give Count Of Carford a short spell before stepping the gelding up to better class over the carnival.

He was keen to keep the association going with Kliese.

“Graham rides him work and with a horse like him I wanted someone who’ll stick with him and hopefully he will,” Royes said.

“I’ll give the horse a little let up now and bring him back for carnival time. His rating is high enough to get into a couple of nice races now. He’s been well placed in those benchmark races but had to run over shorter distances that haven’t been ideal.

“He’s probably still got another gear there. I haven’t emptied him right out yet, so with freshness in his legs we’ll try and bring him back to win a nice race.

“He likes Townsville where they can hit the line, and he can hit the line. I think 1300m is his pet distance and ridden off the pace with a light weight on his back I think he can win a nice race.”   

Townsville trainer Georgie Holt maintained a clear lead on top of the Cluden premiership with 22 wins when Bones, ridden by Jackson Murphy, stormed to a nose win in the closest finish of the day.

Pictured: Nathan Day guides Don't Tell Leeanne as she pulls away from the competition to win the 2YO Classic Saturday 10 June QTIS 3YO Hcp (1000m) last Thursday. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.