Cyclone Blows Mareeba Champ Back to the Track

Early retirement isn’t for everyone, and that’s certainly the case for popular Mareeba champ, Paniagua.

The one time cult galloper will add another chapter to his remarkable story when he makes a surprise comeback from retirement at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Paniagua, a $600 cast-off who developed into one of the best gallopers in country Queensland, is hitting the track for the first time since his career was cut short by a tendon injury in July 2022.

And it all came about because of Cyclone Jasper which thumped the far north in December.

Paniagua’s trainer Alex Malliff said the comeback plan all happened by chance.

“He was living the best life in the paddock at home and my wife Kelly was doing a bit of show jumping on him and everything was good,” Malliff said.

“But of course, we had the big cyclone blow up in December and I brought him in to the track just to keep him safe because he means a fair bit to us.

“He just thrived as soon as he got here. He grew a hand and puffed out the chest.  

“He caught the eye of the vet and he said what are you doing with him and I was just joking and said I thought I’d put him back into work and he said well you could.

“I just laughed it off and then an old trainer beside me up here said what’s he doing here, and I just had the same joke with him and he said well you’re mad if you don’t, he’s too good to be in a paddock.

“I thought well let’s just tick along slowly with him and see what happens. He’s stood up perfectly. 

“He’s been a week by week proposition and going forward race by race, and if he gives any signs that it’s no good for him well then we’ll take him home again. He means too much to us.

“The horse did a similar tendon a couple of times. One below the fetlock and one above, and to be honest if you didn’t know he’d done it you wouldn’t be able to tell. 

“He’s had nearly 20 months off. He thinks he’s two, not seven. He’s giving Kelly a hard time on the training track that’s for sure.”

Paniagua gave Malliff’s career a huge boost when he took northern racing by storm in 2020 and developed a cult following among punters.

He won eight straight races including the Mackay and Townsville Guineas, the Cairns Cup, and the Queensland Country Cup Challenge at Doomben.

But recurring tendon trouble limited him to 10 more starts, yielding just one more win. The decision was made to retire him after unplaced runs in the Rockhampton and Mackay Cups.

Malliff said the gelding had passed all of the necessary veterinary checks with flying colours and was in prime shape for tomorrow’s Mitative Open Hcp (1400m) in which he will carry topweight of 62kg.

“We don’t gallop him anymore. He just does slow work in the opposite direction every second day and goes on the walker the rest of the time.

He looks a million bucks, with dapples on dapples.

“He had a jump out here (Mareeba) after the races on Saturday and Frank (Edwards) didn’t even let go of the reigns - he just put two or three lengths on them in the straight.,

“It was only a 900m trial and it was very comfortable, but I’d say he’s good to go.

“There’s certainly no pressure on him to do anything, and the ownership group knows he’s a day to day proposition.

“When I put it to them about putting him back into work they were a bit excited. There wasn’t one person who was against it.

“When I look back on what he’s done I still pinch myself. He’s been amazing.

“You can’t be overly confident first up after 18 months over 1400m, but the type of horse he is he’ll be trying.

“We’ll find out on Friday.”

Paniagua’s return will be a major highlight on the eight-event card at Cluden which kicks off 12.53pm.

Pictured: Flashback to Paniagua's last win at Cluden Park in 2022. The seven-year-old is making a surprise return to racing at Cluden tomorrow.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.