Chilli Steps Up As Carnival Contender

Flying mare Chilli Jam emerged as a genuine winter carnival contender after scoring a stunning win at Cluden Park on Tuesday but not before a pre-race scare.

Chilli Jam tried to bolt in the bird cage parade, dragging her trainer Tony Comerford along the ground before being brought back under control.

The Hellbent mare shrugged off the pre-race excitement and produced a slashing all-the-way win in Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1200m) to seal a guaranteed berth in the Cleveland Bay Hcp (1300m) on August 3.

Chilli Jam, who was originally an emergency for Tuesday’s race, has now won six of her seven Cluden starts in an electric run through the grades from a maiden to open class.

Comerford, who won the Cleveland Bay with Deadly Choices in 2020, is now eyeing off the Lightning Hcp (1000m) at Cluden on July 28.

“I think we’ll head to the Lightning first and see how she pulls up and then six days later decide whether to back her up in the Cleveland Bay and push her out over 1300m,” Comerford said.

“We’ve got a run now so that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.

“After the Lightning we’ve got a week to make up our minds.

“That’s probably the more realistic target. Today the rail was out 7m and she probably got away with it a bit. She had an easier run than she had last time over 1200m.”

A battered and bruised Comerford was full of admiration for the speedy mare who he bought on-line from Victoria for $6500 and races with a big group of local owners.

“She’s been a ripper. She just puts in the same run every time and we didn’t expect anything different from her today,” he said.

“She just got the easy lead which helped her kick a bit better than in her last couple of runs when she was taken on.

“I’ll keep her fresh for the Lightning, maybe not as fresh as she was today.

“I think the sound of a motorbike set her off today. She didn’t go far, but she wanted to take off and she dragged me and I just tried to hang on.”

Innisfail hobby trainer Maria Potiris capped off the best four days of her short training career when $26 bolter Lord Of Penno won the Hygain Mdn Hcp (1609m).

Potiris landed a double, including a quinella, on her home track on Saturday to set up a dream few days.

The 34-year-old disability care worker was confident Lord Of Penno could win first-up at the mile despite not having raced since November 4.

“He actually ran a very good race for me first-up at Home Hill in October over 1460m and he flew home,” Potiris said.

“I was lucky enough to look in the racing calendar and see this race over the mile and thought oooh, that sounds alright.

“He’s a staying type, which I like. From what he did at Home Hill I had expected he’d win a maiden and I’d done a lot of ground work with him for this.

“Coming from down south I spelled him in November for three months to let him acclimatise. I’m not in a hurry to race him because he’s pretty much my horse with a few friends in him and they’re happy to leave it to me.

“I’ve had little setbacks with him, with the wet weather, and lack of track work riders so it’s been a combination of things.

“But I’m really thrilled he could win today.”

Potiris, who was accompanied to the races by younger sister Anthoula who has a disability, has seven horses in work.

She said she shared love of racing with her family and a few close friends.

“I’ve pretty much been thrown in the deep end with the horses, so I’ve had to pick up a lot of things on my own,” Potiris said.

“I learnt a lot off dad (Stephen) during his training career and that’s helped me a lot but I’m standing up on my own two feet.

“My partner helps me as well, Dean Piccolo and he also trains.  But mainly it’s just me with knowledge dad passed on to me. I like my stayers like he does.

“I have seven in work but I cut back from 10. It’s too much with owners.

“I love it, my family loves it. My younger sister Anthoula has a disability and comes to the races and it means that much to her too.

“What pushed me along was when dad went on overseas holidays and I won a Gordonvale Cup for him and I thought I might as well have a go on my own.”

Potiris is hoping Lord Penno will eventually shape up for some of the country cups over staying distances.

Pictured: Chilli Jam roars past the post to book a spot in the Ladbrokes Cleveland Bay Handicap on 3 August. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.