Hatch Keen on Moktaffy Making the Grade

Hatch Keen on Moktaffy Making the Grade

Leading trainer Lindsay Hatch is confident city cast-off Moktaffy can take another step towards next month’s NQ Amateurs with a win at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Moktaffy is in peak form with two wins and three placings in five starts for Hatch and will line-up a leading fancy in the Hygain Open Hcp (1400m).

Hatch thinks the former Chris Waller-trained gelding is now ready to claim his first open class race with in-form jockey Justin Huxtable to ride.

“He looks terribly well placed to me on Sunday. He drops immeasurably in weight, has a very good jockey and he’ll be very hard to beat I feel,” Hatch said.

“He’s been a great buy and just hasn’t run a bad race in five runs for us.

“He’s drawn wide on Sunday but there’s a good straight run down the back from the 1400m and he should be able to work over into a forward spot.

“The NQ Amateur Cup looks like a good race. If he can win or be very competitive that would be his next start.

“You’ve got to have a crack and not being disrespectful there’s not a lot around and he’ll probably meet the same sort of horses he’s up against on Sunday.

“He’s getting up where it hurts. I don’t think he’ll measure up to the winter carnival next year but he’s a good little horse, who can race on the speed, tries hard and should win a couple in the off-season.”

Hatch, who is based in Toowoomba, opened a Townsville stable almost two years ago, and is coming off a big season with 66 winners statewide.

He has continued his strong run of form into the new season with 19 winners already, 10 of them on Northern tracks including four winners on Townsville Cup Day on August 3.

The stable will saddle up two other runners on Sunday, Costner and Ships Ahoy in the Ladbrokes Racing Club BM 58 Hcp (1400m), and both are expected to run well.

“Costner, is very well bred, and I have a big opinion of him and will probably spell him after Sunday,” Hatch said.

“He’s just taken a while to settle in and we might send him back to the Darling Downs and spell him there. Being a low grade horse he might be a nice horse for carnival next year.

“Ships Ahoy jarred up a bit at Bowen last start. He’ll get a good trail from a good draw and I think he’ll run really well.”

Hatch said the stable had eight in work in Townsville following the northern carnivals, but would gradually transition to a summer team.

“Marty (Haley – Townsville stable manager) is away on holidays and we only have about eight in work. Lorre Sewell runs the stables for us and is doing a terrific job,” Hatch said.

“We have another six to come back in when Martin gets back. Anything we think can measure up to winter carnival next year will go home to spell and I’ll get them ready in Toowoomba and send them back.”