By Glenn Davis
Trainer Gary Doughty concedes his chances of a breakthrough Saturday city win with Time To Torque may have to wait another day at Doomben on Saturday.
Doughty fears first-up specialist Time To Torque may find the 1110-metre dash too short but is still looking for a strong performance from the six-year-old in the Tim Bell Memorial Handicap.
Time To Torque has won seven of his 28 starts but has not raced since finishing second to Torgersen at Ipswich in February.
He has won three of his five starts first-up.
Doughty has only been training for less than three months after taking out his trainers’ licence in May.
He trained his first winner when Natural Force won at the Gold Coast on June 23.
A former Group 1 winning jockey, the 59-year-old had his first metropolitan win at the midweeks when Bold Warrior was successful at Ipswich in July.
Doughty has been stable foreman for his wife, popular Gold Coast trainer Kelly Doughty, after his riding career ended following a three-horse fall at Ipswich in 2000.
“Training wasn’t something I always wanted to do but I decided to have a go,” Doughty said.
“I still ride trackwork for Kelly most mornings as well as riding my own.
“I always wanted to keep riding but that was taken away from me in the fall.
“The time is right now for me to just potter around with a few horses.”
Doughty lost the vision in his right eye in the Ipswich fall and suffered five skull fractures.
Doughty has a small team of six in work including three un-raced babies while Kelly Doughty is busy preparing 16 horses.
His decision to take up training stemmed from his two sons Brent and Andrew who both are into racehorse ownership.
It will be a family affair if Time To Torque wins as the son of Show A Heart is part-owned by Doughty and Brent Doughty.
“It’d be good to get my first Saturday win for Brent but I think he may find this race too short,” he said.
Time To Torque was being aimed at the Listed Eye Liner Stakes and Listed Glasshouse Handicap during the winter carnival before suffering a minor setback.
Doughty still holds a place in turf history as the rider of Australia’s longest priced Group 1 winner when Abaridy won the 1986 Caulfield Guineas at 250-1.
Doughty has booked close friend Michael Cahill to ride Time To Torque in his comeback.
Racing Queensland webnews August 1