Rowe Duo Launch Big Team for Cluden Return

Father and son training team Trevor and Peter Rowe are hoping to build on a memorable summer when they launch a major assault on the return to racing at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Buoyed by their Brisbane win with Smart Image last month, the Cairns combination will saddle up six runners.

And they’ve boosted their chances by booking top jockeys Lacey Morrison, Ryan Wiggins and Chris Whiteley. 

“We’re not going down there with expectations of winning six races but I think they’ll all go well and we’re lucky enough to have Lacey (Morrison) on four of them,” Rowe senior said.

“She could win on a broom stick at the moment.”

Rowe expects Townsville Dollars winner Gulf Of Lion to lead his team’s prospects in the Hygain Cl6 Plate (1300m).

But he also gives strong chances to Counter Command (Mitavite C3 Hcp), He Can Jaja (Ladbrokes Mdn Hcp), Caldente (BM 55 Hcp) and even roughie Southern Swing (150 years Cluden Racing BM70 Hcp).

“Gulf Of Lion is going well and is one of our better chances,” he said. 

“Another little horse I have high hopes for and I think will be a nice horse next preparation is He Can Jaja.

“He just races a bit green. I think he’ll appreciate a stronger rider and Caldente you have to forget his last run when he got trapped off the track up here.

“He’s got that run under his belt and he’s come along nicely since and I’m sure he’ll run a good race.

“Southern Swing has improved since his first run back and Wiggins will suit him because he likes to be up on the pace rolling along.

“Counter Command - he’s the sleeper in the stable and hasn’t run a bad race yet.

“Even Shilo (3yo Mdn) I think will go well after running a better race in Cairns last start.”

After weeks of travel to and from Brisbane over the past two months to supervise Smart Image’s southern preparation, Rowe senior will be staying home this weekend and leaving race day responsibilities to son Peter.

He said the partnership, which has already recorded 43 wins, was about to hit its straps in 2024 after just completing their first year as a team.

“We’ve had a lot of horses in and out since Pete and I joined up in November 2022,” he said.

“We’re slowly sorting them out. We’ve got a number of new ones coming in and I think we’ll have a pretty strong team of horses for this year’s carnivals.

“The win with Smart Image was fantastic for both of us. He ran three very good races but unfortunately ran his worst run for us at the Magic Millions last weekend.

“He’ll just have a break now and I’ll talk to Cliff (Little – owner) and we’ll probably do a similar thing just before our carnivals and give him one or two starts down there before the Cleveland Bay, the Newmarket and the amateurs.

“That’s the plan providing all goes well.”

The Townsville Turf Club will pay tribute to the life of highly respected racing identity Howard Alford, naming the Open Hcp in his honour.

Mr Alford, a past president of the Towers Jockey Club, publican, owner and stalwart of Townsville racing for decades, passed away in December.

He and his wife Merle celebrated their biggest success as owners with the brilliant sprinter Major Tranche in the 1980s.

Northern racing suffered a further loss this week with the passing of highly respected Townsville trainer Stan McLellan.

A member of a legendary Townsville racing family, Mr McLellan trained winners throughout the north and always regarded Poldark and I’ll Pay as his best horses.

He passed away this week aged 90.

His funeral will be held next Tuesday at 11.30am at the Townsville Crematorium.

Pictured: Progressive galloper Gulf Of Lion winning at Cluden last year. The four-year-old will head a strong team of chances for the Rowe stable at Cluden Park.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.