Cattle grazier Michael Lucey is counting down the days to starting a new chapter in his life as a trainer after watching one of his breeding ventures, Trace Of Silver, score a memorable win at Doomben.
Trace Of Silver, having her first start for Gold Coast trainer John Petersen, produced a remarkable performance after travelling wide to down Zamboni by a long head in Wednesday’s www.brc.com.au Handicap (1200m).
Lucey, 57, runs a cattle property at The Glen near Pilton outside Warwick southwest of Brisbane and is waiting for his trainer’s application to be approved by Racing Queensland.
“It’s taking a hell of a long time to get my licence and I can’t wait until I get it,” Lucey said.
Trace Of Silver is owned by Lucey’s mother Marian Lucey who resides at Marionvale near Mt Garnett in far north Queensland.
“I bred her but Mum owns her and she’s 89. She still runs the family property back home in north Queensland,” Lucey said.
“As well as looking after the cattle property she still does all the books even though she’s 89.”
Lucey has been involved with horses all his life and was a former amateur rider in north Queensland before moving south nine years ago.
“I love horses. It’s in my blood,” he said.
“I first started riding when I left school at 16 and I learned a lot from my Dad, Kevin, before he died about five years ago.
“Dad started off with Brian Mayfield-Smith about the time he kicked off with Tiger Town.
“He had a good horse called Global Bid around that time which won a Mareeba Cup.”
Trace Of Silver started her career with Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida who also has a north Queensland connection.
“Kelly used to do a lot of riding for us in the north before he became a trainer in Townsville,” he said.
Lucey is currently in the process of selling his cattle property and is looking at training in the Gold Coast hinterland or on the Sunshine Coast.
“I only want to train a couple of horses and I’ve got no intention of taking on this filly,” he said.
“I’ve known John (Petersen) for many years and he’ll keep training her.
“I’m looking forward to training now that my kids have all grown up and I’ve been giving Lyndhurst Stud a hand lately when they send horses to the sales.”
Petersen was confident Trace Of Silver could score a breakthrough win at her first start for the stable after she worked brilliantly last week.
“She trialled well last Tuesday and last Saturday she worked better than what Zippy Lou did before she won her maiden,” Petersen said.
Zippy Lou won her maiden in June last year and has since taken her record to seven wins from 15 starts.
AAP TURF
