Kliese Bounces Back with a Little Held from Bowen

Graham Kliese was a relieved man after finally putting a lengthy form slump behind him with a winning double at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Kliese, in the home stretch in a  decorated career, was back on song with wins on Napa Valley for trainer Stephen Bush and promising two-year-old Carohvic for Peter Cullen.

Both winners came just days after he posted a winning treble at his favourite Bowen track on Saturday.

“I said to my mum, my 90 year old mum Pat on Sunday night, I’ve got better rides this week, and she said ‘are they any good, are they better than the rubbish you’ve been on lately. She was right,” Kliese laughed.

“I’ve been having a rotten trot, but everyone has it. But if there’s any place that’s going to get me back in form its Bowen.

“It’s just one of those tracks for me. I think I’ve won nine Cups there and a lot of winners and it’s just my favourite place.

“It’s been a lean run but you can’t win on them if they’re not good enough.

“The Townsville horses have been behind the eight ball because of the wet season. The wet weather just fried everyone here, but they’re starting to kick again now.”

Kliese was confident of victory on Napa Valley in the Ladbrokes QTIS Mdn Plate (1400m), but wouldn’t hear of Carohvic being beaten in the 2YO QTIS Mdn Plate (1000m).

He predicted a bright future for Carohvic after his all the way win from a wide gate.

“I liked Napa Valley because it had a super form and it’ll probably win another one, and Peter’s horse I didn’t think they could beat him,” Kliese said.

“He worked on the grass last week and I had ridden an open horse the same morning and that little horse worked as good if not better. I said to Peter “wow that was good.

“He got a bit fired up today and stirred up, but he was too good for them.

“He’ll be better over 1200m when I don’t have to rouse him out of the gates.

“I was just lucky Peter (Cullen) rang me and asked me have you got a two-year-old and I said not really.

“He said I’ve got a little horse do you want to have a ride on him.

“So I walked around the corner and saw him and he’s a standout dude. 

“I’ve been a fan ever since.”

Wulguru trainer Steven Royes celebrated a race to race double with Acclimatise in the Hygain C3 Plate (1609m) and the in-form Turn Bird in the Mitavite BM55 Hcp (1400m).

Turn Bird has now won three of his four starts since joining the Royes stable earlier this year.