Old Boys Team up with Promising Carohvic

Two veterans of Townsville racing will put their heads together to chase a breakthrough win with untapped two-year-old Carohvic at Cluden Park on Tuesday,

Dual licensee trainer Peter Cullen and jockey Graham Kliese have each chalked up almost 1300 winners over more than 40 years in the local riding ranks, and will team up with Carohvic in the Ladbrokes 2YO Mdn Hcp (1000m).

Cullen, 63, who rarely rides these days but still holds a licence, is confident he, Kliese and the promising gelding can come through winners.

He’s especially encouraged after an eye-catching barrier trial win and a slashing second to the in-form Nosey Neo in March, and a glowing report from the normally conservative Kliese. 

Not even a wide draw in barrier 11 has Cullen worried.

“The other day he missed the kick and ran Nosey Neo to three quarters of a length. We have a big opinion of him and we’re pretty confident,” Cullen said.

“Graham rides him work and he likes him a hell of a lot which gives me a lot of encouragement.

“I’ve ridden him work too and I tend to get wrapped up in my own too much, but when Graham confirmed that he thinks he’s pretty good that‘s a good sign.

“It’ll take a pretty good horse to beat him on Tuesday.

“The Alley doesn’t worry me at all. For the first few hundred metres we know he’ll be out of trouble.

“I’m pretty sure the horse knows what he’s doing, he’s got a top jockey on his back. They should be able to combine and get the job done.”

Carohvic is raced by friend and long-time client Carol Dietrich and her brother Victor Townley.

Cullen secured the Dubious gelding for $25,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale through bloodstock advisor David Mee who has sourced a number of young horses for the stable over the past four years.

Carohvic has been brought along patiently according to Cullen and will take time to mature.

“He came to me from the breaker a bit over a month ago. He was one of the first at the breaker but he had plenty to do ahead of us and he said he’d prefer to give him time to mature a bit more,” Cullen said.

“I got a pretty good report from the breaker that he’s not a bad pony.

“But I think he’ll improve with time.

“Ideally, I’d like to give him this run Tuesday, turn him out for 10 to 12 days and try and target one of the bigger races later in the year.”

While Cullen is optimistic about the future of Carohvic, he’s been left scratching his head with the lack of form from stablemate Craicaro who will line-up in the Mitavite BM 55 Hcp (1400m).

The Press Statement mare showed good early promise but hasn’t won in 17 starts since her victory at Cluden in August, 2023.

“She’s been very disappointing. For some reason she’s hit a flat spot. On her work you’d give her a good chance in probably five of her last seven starts, but she just hasn’t produced on race day.

“We’ve persevered with her and tried a few different things. We’ve tried her fresh, and then with a bit more work but there’s no telling what’s going on with her.

“Hopefully she can show us something on Tuesday.”

Tuesday’s seven-race card kicks off at 1.27pm.