Toowoomba trainer Steve Kirkwood has some decisions to make for improving two-year-old Uncle Frank after the gelding’s impressive Eagle Farm win.
At his previous start Uncle Frank wobbled around the home turn before finishing second in at Eagle Farm.
There were no such problems on Saturday when Uncle Frank ($4.60) went straight to the lead, cornered like a greyhound and went on to beat Mishani Fraudster ($15) by 3-1/4 lengths in the QTIS Two-Year-Old (1000m).
The favourite Mishani Miss ($2.90) was three-quarters of a length back in third.
Kirkwood, who mixes his job as a bricklayer with training, has had several good horses in recent years including the city winner Quick Ketch.
However, Uncle Frank could be something special after taking his record to four starts for two wins and two seconds.
“He has improved since his previous start and there is more improvement in him,” Kirkwood said.
“Uncle Frank takes after his sire Falvelon as he has pace and always shows plenty of fight.”
The gelding is a QTIS horse and eligible for the $500,000 The Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast on March 15.
Kirkwood has to make the decision to press on to The Jewel or concentrate on the shorter races.
“The Jewel is certainly an option but we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said.
Apprentice Adin Thompson continued his good recent run of success on Uncle Frank.
“He is a real two-year-old as he can get out of the barriers and fly. Having barrier one was a big advantage,” he said.
