Russell Puts Plenty of Thought Into Shock Win

Charters Towers trainer Julie Russell hardly slept a wink as she plotted a boilover win with her tough gelding Early Thoughts at Cluden Park on Thursday.

Early Thoughts, having his first run back from a spell, stunned a quality field to win the Liam O’Brien Memorial Hcp (1200m) as an 80-1 rank outsider for lightweight jockey Jason Taylor.

The win was Russell’s first taste of success at Cluden in five years and in no way a surprise to the former jockey and hobby trainer.

Russell last rode in a race 27 years ago but went through the race furlong by furlong in her mind in the lead-up to Thursday’s shock win.

“I had no sleep because I ran through that race over and over in my head as you do as an ex-jockey and I thought he’d go pretty good,” Russell said.

“I thought he could run in the first three and the way he was so fresh and stupid today I thought he might just do it.

“He’s been just a mongrel all day. He nearly put me over the rail here earlier and had me hanging by my legs.

“I expected him to run well. I took him to Cairns last time first-up over 1250m and he got left 10 lengths behind and rattled home and it was a great run.

“I said to Jason all he has to do is ping the gates and be half handy and just come wide and don’t give up on him because if you stop riding him this horse will just stop.

“He ended up sitting three deep outside the leaders and rolling along in the clear and he just kept going.”

Early Thoughts is Russell’s only horse in work and her first winner since Blazon Tails won at Cluden in April, 2020.

She bought the son of Vancouver on line for $7000 last year to “get her out of the house”.

On a high from her longshot win, she already has a 1400m race in her sights as Early Thoughts’ next assignment.

Mackay trainer Lyle Wright is eyeing off Lightnings in his home town and Townsville for talented gelding Obligated after his win in the The Defiant O’Brien’s BM 70m (1000m).

Obligated seized a narrow gap inside the 100m mark and flashed home to give jockey Ashley Butler his third winner for the day.

Wright, a highly respected member of the northern training ranks, has trained for 50 years and believes Obligated could develop into one of the best horses he’s had.

“I’ve still got a very good opinion of him. We’ve had a few hic-cups along the way but he’s pretty good.” Wright said.

“He’s a pretty highly strung fella who loses the plot a bit. He’s not a big horse but he’s pretty strong.

“By the time he’s four-year-old I think he’ll be a better and probably get over a bit further.

“Talking to Ash he says he might be better at 1000m and 1100m but time will tell if he gets over further.

“I was of the opinion he would eventually get 1300m.

“He’s probably not ready for the bigger races just yet, maybe next year, but we might chase the Lightning in Mackay and maybe here.”

Wright, a former miner, took a short break from training a few years ago after a run of poor health but was soon back in the game and prepares a team of 10 horses.

He still has a zest for racing but admits long days tend to take their toll.

“I had a break a few years ago with health issues. I thought at that stage I’d give it away,” Wright said.

“I hung onto one horse and had enough gear to kick on again later on.

“I don’t have any big owners, just fellas with one horse and we do ok with them.

“I’ve always kept myself pretty active. I worked in the mines and ended up a supervisor in a blast crew with a lot of responsibility and used to work long hours.

“Even in those days I always had a couple of horses in the bush, racing at Clermont, Emerald and Moranbah.

“I’ve had a licence for roughly 50 years going back to the old CQRA  (Central Queensland Racing Authority). 

“I still enjoy it but I’m starting to feel my age a bit. It’s a bit of a drag sometimes you know.

“With the number I’ve got, I’m pretty fanatical about it. I get out of bed at 2am or thereabouts every morning and usually go home for an hour or two and then back to the horses until about 6pm.

“Bobby Davey, who’s here with me today is a big help. He has an equestrian background and rides work and works with the horses with me. He can break in and do the whole lot.

“If he gets on a horse with bad habits he’ll straighten it out.”

Wright was full of praise for Butler’s dashing ride to get Obligated home after bumping his way through a narrow gap to victory in the dying stages.

The win brought up a treble for the Rockhampton jockey who at one time served some of his apprenticeship with Wright.

He also scored on Ready Tiger for trainer Tony Comerford with a similar late flourish in the Hatchet Street Heroes BM 60 Hcp (1609m and Convertor for Georgie Holt in the Lady Of Victories 0-55 Hcp (1400m).

But he had added incentive to win on Obligated, who is raced in partnership by his father Ian.

His win on Convertor gave trainer Georgie Holt a two win lead in pursuit of her third Townsville premiership.