Horses that arrive in South-East Queensland from the north of the state are not always given the respect they deserve … irrespective of any good form they have established around tracks on the Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton circuit.
The latest case in point is the Michael Mclellan trained Cracker Essgee who is currently quoted at $61 for Group 3 Winx Guineas over 1600m which is the main feature at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Cracker Essgee might have taken seven runs to shed his Maiden ticket but, including that Maiden success on October 6 at Mackay, the three-year-old son of Hvasstan then won six of his next nine starts. In fact, he went on such a run that when he went into the T L Cooney on Ipswich Cup day Cracker Essgee was looking for his fifth win in a row.
That didn’t happen but, although unplaced in the T L Cooney, Cracker Essgee only finished 2.50 lengths back after over-racing to some degree in the early part.
“I think that result was a little bit my fault,” said Mclellan. “I had to get the horse down from Townsville to Toowoomba. He spent two days getting there and I gave him two days to get over that and I reckon he got away from me a little bit. I should have kept him in work after the trip because he hadn’t stopped eating or anything. He was doing fine.”
Cracker Essgee has yet to race beyond 1350m and he has yet to race on a heavy surface (which is likely on Saturday), but Mclellan didn’t baulk at either of those challenges.
“I’ve always planned at having a go at a mile race,” said Mclellan. “I was going to a mile race like the Guineas in Townsville but, because he has been so successful … and he is only a little horse … his weight was going to be over 60kg.
“I’ve got a fairly high opinion of the horse and I think the mile just suits … and he will handle a wet track.
“You will notice his first run over 1000m at Cluden this time in, they went 55-something. That track was bordering on heavy and he was the only horse that made ground all day. He came from the back of the field and he was strong late … so the wet track is not going to bother me. It doesn’t matter how wet it is.
“This horse has got the biggest feet you’ve ever seen and he will handle the wet, no worries at all.
“If it is wet as they say it is going to be on Saturday, obviously they’ve all got to go around in it but he has got a little bit of early toe and he will put himself near the lead … and if they try and get past him … well, good luck.
“The southern boys who have been riding him up north (Justin Stanley, Ryan Wiggins and Bobby El-Issa) have made him into a horse. I’ve just been taking him along and kept him going and he has been growing in confidence every race … but the southern boys have taught him to jump and run.
“Also, he just keeps coming and coming … that’s what he does.”
“He is doing really well. He is working very well at the moment. He certainly hasn’t gone backwards. He is just powering on.
“It is his first time on that big track though. That is the only thing I have a problem with.
“When you have a three-year-old you put him in a three-year-old race. This will be his last throw at the stumps this season. His is going to go for a holiday after this.
“The worst part of it, in a way, is that if the horse wins, I probably won’t get him back … but I want the horse to succeed. I’ve got his full brother at the moment so I’m quite happy with that as well. He just won a jump-out the other morning.
“He’s $61. I can’t do anything about the market. I can only produce the horse at the races.
“I think he can win.”
