Hassett set for Cairns Amateurs success with Bakuhatsu

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Joanna Hassett is fast developing a name for herself with tried horses in the state’s north with rejuvenated sprinter Bakuhatsu her latest success story.

Bakuhatsu will line-up in the Open Handicap over the 950 metre dash on the opening day of the Cairns Amateurs carnival on Friday and will be aiming to maintain a near perfect record for the Hassett yard.

Bakuhatsu was formerly trained at the Gold Coast by Toby and Trent Edmonds, where he only won a maiden at Doomben in February.

The five-year-old, who is having only his 13th start on Friday, won his first four starts after being moved on to Hassett before suffering his first defeat when he finished third to Raise Da Vibrations in the Lightning Handicap at Cairns on August 27.

Hassett was delighted with the son of Spirit Of Boom’s performance in the Lightning.

“It was a good run considering it was the first time he’s been to Cairns which is a near five-hour drive from Townsville,” Hassett said.

“He’s a nervous traveller and is happier to be at home.”

Apprentice Cody Collis rode Bakuhatsu in his last start but Hassett has engaged senior rider Graham Kliese for his Cairns assignment.

Hassett trains a small team of six horses in Townsville where she combines training with her full-time occupation as office manager at the Townsville Yacht Club.

“I’ve worked at the Townsville Yacht club for 14 years as office manager and doing accounts,” she said.

Bakuhatsu is affectionately known as “Ninja” around Hassett’s stable.

“We call him Ninja around the stables because his name means explosion in Japanese and it’s also the name of a Ninja,” she said.

Bakuhatsu was originally raced by a large syndicate with Team Edmonds on the Gold Coast and was sold for $8,000 to one of its original part owners -  Mick Waters - after being put on the market.

“He’s done a good job so far and has won around $50,000 since he’s come north and the race on Friday is worth another $27,500,” Hassett said.

Hassett has been training for 12 years after cutting her teeth working as stable foreman for Brisbane trainer Steven O’Dea when he was in Townsville.

“I call myself “Hand Me Down Lodge” because I get a lot of horses that have been with other stables,” she said.

“I’ve had a lot of success because I’m probably more patient and we give our horses a lot of swimming and don’t do as much track work with them.”