Head Strong Baby Takes First Step Towards Classic

It might not have been pretty, but ill-mannered filly Baby Guinness certainly made a big impression with a strong but erratic debut win at Cluden Park on the weekend.

The daughter of Heroic Valour, sent out a $21 shot, claimed the QTIS 2yo Mdn Hcp (1000m) for Ares Racing, but not before zigzagging her way down the straight and almost throwing the race away.

Trainer Chris Attard is excited about the filly’s future, and his sights are firmly fixed on her first major goal - the $124,000 Rockhampton 2yo Classic in April.

“I knew she had the ability, but she did surprise me a bit with how well she went – to do so much wrong and still win,” Attard said.

“She’d have won easily if she’d gone straight. 

“She was slowly away, pulled her way to the front on the turn and just got lost in front when she had nothing to chase.

“Once they came at her again she got it together and I really liked the way she finished it off.

“We love the Heroic Valours and this filly is a half-sister to 2yo winner Soneymar Star. She cost us only $22,000 at the Rocky sale. 

“She had a little bump on a knee, which my vet said was nothing to worry about, and that’s why we got her so cheap.

“The Rocky classic is her main goal and hopefully it all goes to plan.

“The filly has always shown us above average ability. She galloped with Oyashio and went with him and he’s won three races.

“She won a jump out but did things wrong and we really gave her the run today for the experience.”

Baby Guinness provided a welcome winner for hard working jockey Denicious Smith, who had his hands full with her erratic behaviour in the straight.

Clear at the 200m, the filly veered in sharply towards other runners before Smith was able to get her back on a straight course and kick strongly to win by a neck from Missa Stitch with Sheez Bean Talkin’ 1 ¼ lengths away third.

Winter carnival contender The Tax Accountant landed another impressive win for the Tom Button stable thanks to a pin-point accurate ride by Graham Kliese in the Ede Events Open Hcp (1609).

Kliese weaved a run through the field from second last on the fence to beat Bernie’s Tiger by ¾ length with Planet Warrior a neck away third.

The stable’s Townsville foreman Brad Herne said the six-year-old may have one more start over 1400m before going back to Brisbane to be tested as a potential northern Cups horse.

“Great ride and Graham said he thought he’d get 2000m,” Herne said.

Kliese landed his second winner for the day when Micawber turned his form around with a fast finishing win in the Pen To Paper Class 6 Hcp (1200m) for Charters Towers trainer Cheryl Williams.

Townsville trainers Tony Comerford and Georgie Holt both continued their winning runs with winners on the eight event card.

Comerford, who has a small string in work, landed his fifth win in four Cluden meetings, this time with Deadly Diva in the Great Northern Laundry BM 55 Hcp (1400m).

Visiting apprentice brought Deadly Diva with a powerful finish from back in the field to beat Tempo by a half-length with Candy Girl a half-length away third.

Holt made it seven wins in four meetings when Canadian Comet, with Carl Spry in the saddle, took out the Hygain Mdn Plate (1609m).

Pictured: Go Baby Go! Flighty filly Baby Guinness surges again for jockey Denicious Smith to win on debut at Cluden on Friday.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day