Hallside Brings the Hammer Down with Big Price Win

The only thing surprising about longshot Hallside Hammer’s win at Cluden Park today was the price according to his trainer Les Gordy.

“I thought he was a really big chance.  I couldn’t believe it when he got out to 20-1, but one of the owners rang me and said he paid 40s on one of the totes,” Gordy said.

“At his only start he was underdone and led up an open two-year-old field over 1200m and ran a great race until his condition gave out.

“Back to the 1000m today I thought he was a great chance. We all had something on him.”

Hallside Hammer landed Gordy the first leg of a winner double when he led throughout to win the Sky Racing 2yo Maiden Hcp (1000m) by a whisker from favourite Cochrane.

The young trainer had little time to wait to bring up the double with Boona Boy scoring two races later in the Brown Brothers 3yo Maiden Hcp (1000m).

Gordy said there was only an outside chance he would back-up Hallside Hammer in a week’s time in the $100,000 2yo Classic at Cluden.

“He’s a heavy set horse who has had a fair bit of shin soreness. 

I’ll nominate him, but I’ll take him to the beach and see how he well he does through the week,” Gordy said.

“I could also look at another two-year-old race and then a spell.”

Gordy secured the son of Love Conquers All through a connection with breeder John Clark who also sold him handy galloper Tawhiri.

It was doubles all round with Hallside Hammer’s jockey Frank Edwards landing his second winner for the day on the Alby Molino-trained Just A Love Song Friday Night Member’s Class 1 Hcp (1000m).

Just A Love Song was one of four winners on the eight event card to carry the Tom Hedley orange livery.

His other three winners were all prepared by premier trainer Roy Chilemi.

He struck first with Bet On Love in the Renew Your Membership Now Class 6 Plate (1000m), then Borella in the C.U.B Benchmark 65 Hcp (1900m) and completed the treble with Willygood in the In Memory of Jim Farrell Class 3 Hcp (1200m).

Jockey Stephen Wilson was aboard all three of Chillemi’s winners and remains a serious contender for the Townsville premiership with a season tally of 23 wins.

Pictured: Jockey Frank Edwards lifts Hallside Hammer over the line to land the first leg of a winning double for young trainer Les Gordy. Photo courtesy of Mike Mills Photography. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.