Lacey Makes a Statement with Feature Winning Double

Top hoop Lacey Morrison hit back in the Townsville jockeys’ premiership in the best possible way with a feature race double on a testing wet track at Cluden Park yesterday.

In almost identical box seat rides, Morrison steered three-year-old Go Getaboy to a strong win in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1200m) and the Georgie Holt-trained Siren Rock to an easy win in the NQ Cup (1609m).

The wins carried with them automatic starts in the Cleveland Bay Hcp, in the case of Go Getaboy, and Townsville Cup for Siren Rock, and lifted Morrison back to a one win lead in the Cluden premiership race over Nathan Day.

For Morrison it also snapped a frustrating time sitting out the best part of the past month with suspensions.

“I just try and turn up every week and keep my head down and do the best I can,” Morrison said.

“Obviously another premiership would be great but I’m just so thankful for the support I get week in week out.

“I’m happy with my form. Just making a few wrong decisions here and there which obviously entails getting suspensions so I just need to be mindful of that.

“Just being too competitive. That’s how I ride, that’s the way I’ve always ridden. Turn up and give it my all.

“Go Getaboy was good today and if he gets in the Cleveland Bay with 54kg and a good draw you never know.

“Siren Rock’s a little horse and he’s very tough. 

“Hard to say whether he’ll get the trip (Cup) but that’s where the Holts are heading with him. You don’t know if you don’t try.”

Premier trainer Roy Chillemi was rapt with the win of Go Getaboy who emerged from the shadow of his illustrious stablemate Missile Thunder with his victory.

While Missile Thunder was the north’s all-conquering two-year-old last season with a brilliant win in the 2YO Classic and an unbeaten run in six starts, Go Getaboy was the consummate tradesman with an impressive record of his own.

The Stratum Star youngster has now won nine races and been placed nine times in 21 starts for $225,000 in prizemoney.

Chillemi is hoping the gelding can make further improvement to emulate Grey Missile’s win for the stable in 2018 Cleveland Bay as a three-year-old.

“The Cleveland Bay wasn’t in the plan but I thought I’d have a throw at the stumps today and see how he went and how he faired against some of these good, handy horses,” Chillemi said.

“He’s come through it with flying colours you’d have to say and I’ll probably consider it more now than I did before.

“This is a tough little horse but whether he’s got the ability for the Cleveland Bay that’s the query.

“He’s kept improving with age - he won more races and prizemoney than Missile Thunder last year and went right through to open company which is a pretty good feat.

“He’s come on, and he may improve a little bit more. We’ll get him over this run and he might have one more if he runs in the Cleveland Bay.”

Chillemi said Missile Thunder, who has been down on form in three runs back from a 12 month spell,  was now more likely to target a feature QTIS bonus race in Cairns.

Meanwhile, much-travelled jockey Adrian Layt brought up a winning double with a brilliant win on Cairns galloper Gulf Of Lion in the Magic Millions Dollars (1400m).

Gulf Of Lion unleashed a withering finish from third last on the heavy 8 track to record a feature race win for the father and son training partnership of Trevor and Peter Rowe.

Layt also saluted on Make It Happen in the 2&3YO MDN Hcp (1200m) and finished second on Amber Rock and a dead-heat second on Beau Rain to continue a strong run of form in the saddle.

Pictured: Go Getaboy with jockey, Lacey Morrison, and trainer, Roy Chillemi, after winning yesterday's Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1200m).

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