Guineas Hope Puts Spring in Gordy's Step

Wulguru trainer Les Gordy believes Sunday’s Townsville Guineas hope Monastery could be the new kid on the block to fill the big shoes of his former grand galloper Bullion Wolf.

Gordy expects the former Sydney galloper to fly the home town flag with a bold performance in the weekend’s feature race at Cluden Park against a crack field dominated by visiting stables.

And he thinks Monastery, bought as a future Cups horse, has the talent to develop into the stable’s new star to take over from Bullion Wolf who won 11 races around the north.

“Bullion Wolf was such a good horse for everybody and to try to find one as good as that is very hard, but this fellow’s got every opportunity to emulate that,” Gordy said.

Gordy and stable owners teamed with Victorian syndicator First Light Racing to acquire Monastery for the northern cups on the strength of a solid race record that included a sixth in the Group 2 Callender Presnell Stakes (1600m) behind Golden Mile.

The lightly raced four-year-old hit the ground running in Townsville with an eye-catching first-up second to Gulf Of Lion in the Dollars (1400m) last month before a dour fifth to Cocobrew Express in the Mackay Guineas (1500m) a fortnight ago.

Gordy has tweaked the Thronum gelding’s training to have him back to his best but says the young galloper will come into his own next year.

“We didn’t have too many expectations with him this prep. We just wanted a nice, easy prep up here first time and then turn him out. But our target was always to go to the Guineas,” Gordy said.

“His first up run here was an absolute gut buster coming off one trial but we were rapt with his performance.

 “I think maybe second up in Mackay with the travel and the stop start tempo, he just didn’t appreciate it. His jockey Jackson (Murphy) said he was never comfortable.

“We’ve learnt a lot from Mackay and how to run him and it’s a plus that Jackson has stuck with him. We just think he’ll be better being kept on the fresher side for Townsville.

“I said to the owners I’m really stoked with what he’s done since he’s been here. A couple of good runs, and he’s ticked all the boxes.

“A win or two would be great, and then pick him back up for the carnivals again next year, but he was always bought for the Cup races next year.”

“The Guineas is a good race, and we’re still pretty confident he’ll run a cracker there too.

“It’s a hot field and whatever wins it will go on and win some nice races down the road too.”

The Guineas has attracted one of the strongest fields in years, headed by Mackay Guineas winner Cocobrew Express, Rockhampton Guineas winner Top Spy, Dollars winner Gulf of Lion, and the smart City Mission, a recent Ipswich winner.

Monastery, Altar Boy and roughie Dennymo Magic are the only three locally-trained runners in the field of 15 after two early scratchings.

Meanwhile, a late call up for a Cleveland Bay Hcp start could still be in the mix for the smart Circularity when he tackles the Global Welding Supplies Lightning Hcp.

The former Sydney galloper missed a crucial 1200m lead-up at Cluden when he was scratched at the barrier a fortnight ago.

Hatch expects the Time For War gelding to be in the finish after drawing the plum barrier 1 draw, but is in no hurry to make a decision on the Cleveland Bay.

“I want to get over Sunday first. I’d like to be thinking I can have a cold beer and he wins the Lightning, and then we make a decision Monday morning,” Hatch said.

“You can only take one step at a time.

“I think where he’s drawn has put him right in it. They’ll go that hard it’ll suit a horse like him I feel.”

The Lightning has drawn a high quality field that includes flying mare Ruby July, unbeaten at Cluden with six wins over the 1000m, All Time Legend, Molongle Surprise, last year’s winner Bakuhatsu, and visitors Ahwahneechee, Tru Blu Tango and Leadership Spill.

Good mare Miss Seattle heads the field with top weight of 60.5kg in the other feature of the day, the Bell Of The Burdekin (1400m) for fillies and mares.

Pictured: Monastery finishes strongly to run second to the smart Gulf Of Lion in the Townsville Dollars. The pair will clash again in the Magic Millions Townsville Guineas at Cluden on Sunday.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.