Brad set to strike again after ending losing streak

By Glenn Davis

After ending a ten-month losing streak, Rockhampton trainer Tim Cook is hoping veteran sprinter Brad can strike again at Mackay on Thursday ahead of another assault at the Magic Millions carnival in January.

Brad steps out for start number 66 in the Open Handicap over 1300 metres.

The eight-year-old went winless in 13 starts since his previous victory at Mackay in December last year before registering his 16th win in an 1180 metre Open Handicap victory at Home Hill on October 12.

“He had been knocking on the door for a while before he won well last week at Home Hill for apprentice Erin Molloy,” Cook said.

“She rode him a treat and having barrier one last time was a big help but Ash Butler will ride him on Thursday.”

Cook, who has a dozen horses in work in Rockhampton, is a farrier by trade.

He starts work at 2.30am each day and is not back home until around 7pm.

“I go all day,” Cook said.

“I don’t sleep much and if I get about four hours sleep a night, I’m right.

“I’m used to not sleeping much as I played a lot of indoor cricket late at night when I was young and got into the routine of getting up early to train harness horses.”

Cook was a harness driver early in his career but quit the sport when he was 26.

“I had been involved with trotters since I was 14 but I gave them away when they shut down harness racing here when I was 26,” he said.

Cook had also accepted with Rock 'N' Sol in the Open Handicap but has elected to run in the Benchmark 55 Handicap.

Rock 'N' Sol is also an eight-year-old and is coming off a last start sixth to Freckle Rock in a 1560 metre Benchmark race at Mackay on September 19.

“I think Rock 'N' Sol is going well and will be hard to beat on his recent runs but I think Brad had a slight edge on him if he started in the Open,” Cook said.

“Brad will go out for a break after this run and come back for another go at the Country Cup on Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast in January.

“He finished midfield in the Country Cup this year but it rained that day and he’s legless in the wet."