Listed winner heads to Gatton

By Glenn Davis

It’s a rare sight to see a Listed race winner head to a country TAB meting but that’s the plan with Stampe who tackles the Open Handicap at Gatton on Thursday.

Beaudesert trainer Greg Cornish has retained Justin Huxtable for Stampe whose greatest claim to fame was winning the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes for previous trainer Chris Munce at Doomben in 2021.

Stampe has had one run back from a spell when the gelding tailed off last in a field of ten behind Northern Express over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on January 27.

“Stampe is not really an apprentice’s horse so I’m sticking with Justin (Huxtable) despite his big weight (61.5kgs),” Cornish said.

“He’s a seven-year-old now and he’s starting to feel his legs a bit but I think he’s got another win in him. Hopefully he can improve for this race and can show some improvement."

However, Cornish feels the 1100 metre trip may prove too short for Stampe.

“He was a bit on the burly side first-up and needed the run but he’s improved a lot since then,” Cornish said.

“They might prove too slippery for him again over 1100 metres and he’s probably looking for more ground now. It’s a strong field but he’ll still run well.”

Ironically, Axe, another Listed winner in the Weetwood Handicap two years ago, was nominated for the race but trainer Jack Bruce decided to wait for another day.

The Lee Freedman-trained The Billionaire looks one of the main chances in the Open Handicap.

However, The Billionaire has drawn the outside barrier of 11.

The six-year-old has been racing consistently with a win and three placings from his past four starts.

A son of Written Tycoon, The Billionaire is a former Victorian who has started 32 times for six wins and 11 placings.

He was formerly trained by Freedman’s son Anthony and grandson Sam Freedman in Victoria before being moved on to Queensland.

The Billionaire was placed at Grafton, Ipswich and the Gold Coast before claiming his third win for Lee Freedman at Ballina last month.

He was far from disgraced at his most recent outing when sixth to the Tony Gollan-trained Blue Spinel in a 1000 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on January 20.