Spy a Cup Contender in Making After Belle Win

Rockhampton trainer Graeme Green predicted a Cups future for classy mare Top Spy after her dominant win in the $50,000 Aquis Belle of the Burdekin (1400m) at Cluden Park on Sunday.

Top Spy made light of her top weight of 62.5kg to cruise to an easy win for visiting Brisbane jockey Justin Huxtable, and will now be set for the Mackay Cup.

The win was the middle leg of a winning treble for Huxtable on his first day riding in Townsville.

Green has a high opinion of Top Spy and praised Huxtable for a “gem” of a ride.

“Today Justin rode her a treat. I wanted him to keep her wide and not get caught up in any traffic and he did exactly that,” Green said.

“When you’ve got 62.5kg on your back you can’t be stopping and starting. He’s given her an absolute gem a ride.

“She’s definitely city class, but one of the issues we had with her was sucking air. She’s had the operation since and she’s been a different mare altogether.

“We specifically targeted this series with her. She won in Rocky, now here and we were going to go to Cairns but she’ll get too much weight.

“She’ll most likely go on to the Mackay Cup next start. She’ll get distance without any doubt.

“I hope they get the format back to where its Rocky, Mackay, then Townsville and Cairns and we’ll hopefully be back for the Cup here next year.”

Top Spy won the Belle feature by almost 2.5 lengths from El Of A Senorita with Burdekin mare Old School a close third.

Green struck earlier in the day to make it a double when Astra Star won the Townsville Earthmoving QTIS 2YO Hcp (1400m).

Huxtable, 24, who was born on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, is keen to keep coming north if the opportunities come his way.

He completed a dream start to his first meeting in Townsville with wins on Queen Assassin in the Global Welding Supplies Lightning and the impressive Hell in the Cowboys Leagues Club BM 60 Hcp (1200m), both for Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh.

“Throughout the last 18 months I’ve been frequently riding in Rocky and that flowed on to Mackay.  I rode in Cairns last week and now Townsville today,” Huxtable said.

“A few trainers have tried to get me here before but I haven’t quite made it, but I’d say it’ll become a regular thing.

“My Qantas app is pretty loaded for the next month.

“If the offers are there I’ll be here. 

“Being a jockey nudging six foot I can ride at 56kg with a bit of notice but I was fairly comfortable at 57kg today.”

Huxtable predicted a bright future for Queen Assassin, and Hell who scored in a five and a half length romp in fast time.

Pictured: Top Spy cruises to a dominant win the Aquis Bell of the Burdekin at Cluden Park on the weekend with Justin Huxtable in the saddle. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.