Travel shy Lucky Tom will stay at home and be aimed at the Brisbane summer stakes races after returning to the winners list at Doomben on Saturday.
Lucky Tom ($7) appreciated the return to a firm track when he led all of the way to beat the unlucky favourite Beckham ($3.40) in the Smirnoff Open (1350m).
At his previous start Lucky Tom was beaten by six lengths when unplaced in a similar race at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
However, trainer Harold Norman said Lucky Tom was far better suited in Saturday’s race and the win was no shock.
“There were only six runners in that Eagle Farm race and I reckon none of them handled the bog, with my bloke the worst,” Norman said.
“But I was pleased for him today because he has been through a lot – a wind operation and a knee injury.”
Norman said he would not travel long distances with Lucky Tom, which had shown an aversion to being away from home.
“I took him to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas and he failed. I took him to Rockhampton for their Newmarket and again he failed,” Norman said.
“So I reckon I will set him for races like the George Moore Stakes and Lough Neagh Stakes in the summer at Doomben. He likes the track and he should be well weighted.”
Lucky Tom has only been ridden once in his 21 starts by a male jockey and Tegan Harrison continued the female trend with a clever ride.
“Things went his way today and he kicked strongly on the corner,” said Harrison, who rode her 98th winner for the season on Lucky Tom.
Tony Gollan added to his already record season when Shipwrecked ($4.40 favourite) gave him win number 87.5, well above the previous best of 79 set last year, in the Moet and Chandon Handicap (1350m).
“Shipwrecked has taken a while to mature but he is coming into his own now. He isn’t a big horse but he can win in better company,” Gollan said.
“It is good to win another city premiership and it looks like we will win the state title as well with well over 100 winners.”
Two-year-old filly River Racer finally shed her title as Queensland’s best maiden when she won the Two and Three Year Old Plate (1200m).
Trainer Les Ross had no reservation about putting River Racer in against three-year-olds.
“She is three next week and I have always rated her my best two-year-old. She has been placed in some good races and after a spell she will come back a very smart horse,” Ross said.
“With the prize money and bonus payments she picked up $77,500 today. So it was worth the wait.”
