McGovern keen for another crack at Country Stampede Final

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Terry McGovern wants another crack at the Country Stampede Final in Brisbane and is pinning his hopes on lightly raced six-year-old Heiswoody.

Heiswoody will take his next step towards the $105,000 Country Stampede Final at Doomben in December when he travels to Home Hill on Thursday.

A Morgan Butler mount, Heiswoody tackles the Class 2 Handicap over 1000 metres while stable mate Tempo lines up in the Open Handicap over 1180 metres.

McGovern has a background in rodeo but is a farrier by trade and trains a small team of five horses on a big property at Black River just outside Townsville.

Tempo gave McGovern two of his biggest thrills in racing.

Tempo started at $101 to win a Class 6 event in Townsville in August last year as well as finishing eighth to the Pat Webster-trained Dynamic Verse in last year’s Country Stampede Final.

“I’d never had a metropolitan runner before Tempo and he ran an awesome race in last year’s Country Stampede Final,” McGovern said.

“It was a big thrill and I’m hoping Heiswoody can qualify this year after he runs in a qualifying race at Cooktown soon.”

Heiswoody was specked in betting from $51 into $26 last start when he came from last to win a 1000 metre Benchmark race on the dusty dirt track at Ewan on September 22.

“He normally likes to lead in his races but he was last on the corner at Ewan and flashed home to get the cash,” McGovern said.

“He won by five lengths at his first run back before a virus went through the stable and he got really sick."

Heiswoody was formerly trained by Andrew Cameron and has only had four starts for two wins for McGovern.

McGovern also is confident Tempo will be highly competitive in the Open Handicap following two recent placings including a last start third to the Tony Comerford-trained Hell Of A Boy in a 1300 metre Open Handicap sprint at Cluden Park last month.

“Tempo is very honest and he’ll be thereabouts at the finish,” McGovern said.

“He also got the viral infection which went through the stable a while back but he’s going well now.”