Rhein on the Board with First Cluden Win

It was always just a matter of time, but young trainer Rhein Sewell continued his family’s rich racing legacy with his first Cluden Park winner on Friday.

The 22-year-old cracked his Cluden duck when stable newcomer Chartwell cruised to victory in the Ladbrokes C1 Hcp (1300m) after a polished Justin Stanley ride.

For the grandson of legendary Townsville trainer Errol Sewell, Chartwell was just his 10th Townsville starter.

He’d already won the Belle of the Daintree in Cairns and a race at Home Hill with Vadamos Queen.

But Friday’s victory was the first on his home track where his famed grandad won five Townsville Cups and 15 premierships.

“That’s good. Finally got the money off my back,” Sewell said.

“I’ve run a few seconds mainly with my maiden horse Looming One (runner-up five times).

“My first starter ran second in the race named after grandad last year too.

“I don’t normally get nervous, but it’s good to get the first one out of the way and it’s special to win a race here. You never forget your first winner.”

Young Sewell took out his license in August last year when Errol announced his retirement after more than 50 years in the training ranks.

He has three horses in work, Looming One, Friday’s winner Chartwell and a new addition Al Ras Blues bought on line this month. Vladimos Queen is spelling.

He’s keen to make it as a full time trainer, but is happy to limit numbers to three or four in work for the time being, with help and advice from Errol, dad Darin, a former leading jockey, and aunt Lorre.

“Granddad looks after me and is teaching me, and he’s at the stables every day. He knows a lot more than me so you just look and listen,” he said.

“It’s really the whole family. Dad, Aunt Lorre and grandad. They all help me. They’ve been in the game all their lives and know so much and I just try to pick up what I can.

“There’s seven stables there but we just want to keep a nice stable of four.”

Sewell is confident Chartwell can go on and win in better class after Friday’s performance which provided jockey Stanley with the third leg of a winning treble.

The former Annabel Neasham-trained galloper was heavily backed to start a $1.50 favourite after two slashing runs over 1000m.

Cluden trainer Sarah Acornley will give pint-sized filly Raffy’s Girl a well-earned spell after a strong win in the Ladbrokes Mdn Hcp (1400m).

Raffy’s Girl finished strongly under the urgings of Wanderson D’Avila to beat Torque Of Dreams and Miss Comaneci.

“She’s a real trier. I’ve been looking for a 1400m race for a long time,  with the rain and floods.

 “We’ve been struggling to get a 1400m race and we got it today and it was perfect.

“She’ll go for a spell now while we’re in South Africa for a holiday in a few weeks’ time.

“We have a two-year-old as well and they’ll both go back into work when we come home.”

Acornley has scaled back numbers since her husband Carl Spry stopped race riding to take up a position as a trainer of apprentices with Racing Queensland.

“Carl’s not riding anymore so finding track work riders is hard,” she said.

“It’s easier with just one or two and I can do most of it myself as well.
Our maximum at one stage was 12 in work but with a full time job as well it was too much.”