By Glenn Davis
Comeback sprinter Ringo’s A Rockstar is poised to give hobby trainer Wayne Stephens a rare win at the Sunshine Coast on Friday.
Stephens has only been training for about two years and has a small team of four horses in work at Deagon on Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
Stephens, who works as a State Government consultant, has prepared three winners during his brief career.
He took over training Ringo’s A Rockstar from his father Norm “Whopper” Stephens who died in March last year.
“Whopper” Stephens won a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap as a teenager on Ballyvista in 1948.
Six-year-old Ringo’s A Rockstar started 33 times for Stephens senior winning seven times and placing on another nine occasions.
The son of Drumbeats injured a suspensory ligament after finishing seventh in the Listed Falvelon Quality won by Fiery Heights in December 2018.
“It wasn’t a serious injury but we gave him plenty of time off to recover,” Stephens said.
“He’s in the race tomorrow to keep him ticking over and he’ll run again in a 1000-metre Open at Eagle Farm in two weeks.”
Stephens gave Ringo’s A Rockstar his first start this campaign at the Sunshine Coast last month.
The gelding finished a creditable sixth, less than two lengths behind the Tony Gollan-trained winner Just Orm in the 1000-metre Open sprint.
“It was a terrific run for a horse coming back after such a long time off,” Stephens said.
“He only had a soft trial before it and he went into the race a bit fat.
“He probably could have finished closer but he was on the worst part of the track on the fence.
“The only thing that will beat him tomorrow is the weight. He’s got 60.5kgs but he loves the trip.”
Ringo’s A Rockstar has an excellent record in 1000-metre races at the Sunshine Coast with four wins and a second from six starts and has won second-up three times from five attempts.
Despite his big weight, Stephens decided not to claim on Ringo’s A Rockstar who will be ridden by Ron Stewart.
Stewart has won three times on Ringo’s A Rockstar.
Racing Queensland webnews February 6