Legends Looking Good for Major Carnival Assignments

Fresh from a thrilling Cluden premiership win, Stephen Massingham is zeroing in on the Townsville Cup and Cleveland Bay Hcp with a pair of legends.

Cairns-based Massingham is sitting pretty with his carnival stocks after Smart Legend zoomed into Townsville Cup contention with a dominant  win in the Ladbrokes Winter Cup on Saturday.

And he was beaming after Speed Legend turned in a slashing trial for the Cleveland Bay Hcp with a flashing fourth with 64.5kg to Hellish in the Chairman’s Sprint.

To cap a day to remember, stable veteran Turbeau ran second in the Sprint, and Golden Octavian won the last to clinch Massingham the trainers’ title with 22 wins in an epic battle with defending champ Georgie Holt.

“It’s been a good day. It went right down to wire with the premiership and that was good and we’re live chances in the Cleveland Bay and the Cup and I wouldn’t swap any of them,” Massingham said.

Massingham said removing blinkers from Smart Legend was the key to Saturday’s win which guarantees the four-year-old in the $150,000 Ladbrokes Townsville Cup on August 9.

“We tried the blinkers on Smart Legend at his first start here to sharpen him up coming back to the mile but he over-raced and did a lot wrong and it just didn’t work.

“I was disappointed with him getting beaten but it was a good run under the circumstances.

“Blinkers off today. I just said to Sean to find a backside to follow and get some cover and expose him in the straight and he went great.

“He’s won over 1900m at Canterbury so you’d think he’d run out 2000m here.

 “He probably would have squeezed into the cup field anyway but at least we know he’s guaranteed a start and he’s had a hit out and will go into it in winning form.

“I think he’s up to it for sure. He’s only going to get better and I think he’s got a good future up here.”

“The sprinters were also fantastic today. They’re both really good chances with a nice gate.

“Speed Legend will hopefully drop about 6kgs and if he draws a good gate I think he’s a terrific hope. He hit the line as good as any horse in the race today.”

The battle for the trainers’ premiership was a highlight of the day with the title decided in the very last race when Massingham’s Golden Octavian ran down the Georgie Holt-trained Stateswoman.

Massingham went into the day with a one win lead over Holt who reclaimed the lead after posting an early double with What A Mission and Time To Prophet.

He pulled one back with Smart Legend’s win and in a grand stand finish claimed the title with Golden Octavian’s fast finishing win with premier hoop Ryan Wiggins aboard.

In winning the Cluden premiership, Massingham takes over the mantel from champion trainer Roy Chillemi who won 17 Townsville titles with the backing of Tom Hedley, the north’s biggest owner.

“It was nice to finish on top. It does mean a bit when you’ve got to drive a long way. We do a lot of miles to get here. It’s easier to win them at home when you just have to walk up the road and you’re there.

“Even if we’d been beaten, the Holts work as hard as anyone and would have deserved it.

“I just wanted to come and see our horses race competitively. To come here today with six runners and coming away with two winners and the other four finishing in the first four– I’ll drive home happy with that.

“Tom’s been a great supporter and Ryan (Wiggins) is also a big part of it. It has been a very good partnership.

“I’ve got a great team at home and they deserve a lot of the credit.”

Bowen trainer Tom Button is on track for back-to-back Cleveland Bays after Hellish, ridden by Aidan Holt, landed him the second leg of a winning double in the Sprint.

Button also won with Big Demeanour in the Hygain 0-55 Hcp (1200m).

Cup plans are in the air after boom galloper Tambo’s Justice finished a well beaten sixth in the Winter Cup as a 2.50 favourite.

Rockhampton mare Pipistrelle is likely to return for the carnival after a powerhouse performance to win the Queensland Plastic Surgery Ladies Bracelet (1300m).