Central Queensland Star Sets Sights on Gold Cup

By Isaac Murphy

Dogs have come from near and far for the Group 2 Ipswich Gold Cup, with one of the most interesting runners being Sumatran Star, trained by Craig Emery out of Moura in Central Queensland.

The small-town dog has been making a big impact, winning five of his last eight starts across the Rockhampton, Albion Park and Ipswich, and will jump from his favourite red box in heat three this Thursday night.

“I was able to bring him down to Brisbane for a few weeks from late September to early October and he struck a real purple patch of form winning in career best time at Albion Park (30.05) and at Ipswich over the 400 (24.81) and 500 (30.73),” Emery said.

“The timing was perfect for the Central Queensland Derby in Rockhampton, he went up four days after his last Ipswich win for the heats and made it through to the final where he was full on confidence - he went straight to the front and really gutsed it out for a tough win.

“The Ipswich Cup is a different class of race but given his run of form, I thought we’d be nuts not to have a go.

“He’s only had the three starts over the 500 there for a 30.73 best, and the way he’s been going I think he’s a 30.50 dog who can give them some real cheek.”

Emery has sent the dog to premier Ipswich trainer Peter O’Reilly for the campaign and thinks he’s a red-hot chance to roll one of Queensland’s hottest young sprinters.

“He’s only had a handful of starts at the track but Pete is based there and has given him plenty of looks around the place and he’s crucially come up with box one where he’s won four of his five starts from with a narrow second,” he said.

“He’s there for a reason and we think he can make it through; he finds a tough heat with Farmor Beach in the three but if he pings the lids like he has been and leads, they’re going to be working overtime to try to get around him and to the fence.”

“This is the fittest I think we’ve ever had him in his career, seven of his last eight starts have been above 500 metres, there used to be a question mark if he could run out a strong 520 but I think it’ll really suit him at Ipswich.”

It’s the dog’s first real test in Group company and Emery is assured he’ll pass it and move on to his next target.

“His immediate priority is obviously running well this week even if he gets beaten, if he performs in that company it’ll give us and the dog plenty of confidence,” he said.

“Next on the agenda would be the North Queensland Derby in Townsville in late November and early December, we’ll get him home after the Ipswich Cup and see if he needs a week off or maybe a run at Rockhampton and try to take out the Derby double.”

“He’s won over the short course in Townsville, he knows his way around and I think the 500-metre start will really suit him, if he can make the final and jag an inside box , then he’ll be the one to beat.”

As a hobby trainer, Emery does a mountain of work between his full-time job and training career, and fortunately gets plenty of help from his loved ones.

“We’ve always done a fair bit of travelling with him; I’m a hobby trainer who is a shift worker, so I try to race around my roster or take some annual leave,” he said.

“He’s seen Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Townsville, Albion Park and Ipswich; I think it’s helped him become a better dog.

“It can be difficult at times having to plan a few months ahead when you don’t know if the dog will be in form or not but I get a lot of help from a good mate of mine Peter O’Reilly, who takes the dog when I can’t and I help him out when he comes up to Rockhampton.

“It’s a team effort, we’ve got other dogs at home in Moura that need to be taken care of, so my wife Melissa and my father-in-law are a huge part of keeping things running and thankfully they share the same passion for dogs as I do.”

Given his working situation Emery makes sure to not take on too many at once prioritising quality over quantity, something he learnt from his late dad and trainer Mick Emery.

“We’re only a small operation but we try to do our own breeding,” he said.

“Sumatran star was bred by my Dad (Mick) before he passed away, and we’ve recently retired Waltzing Danube who we think can be a really nice broodbitch for us long-term.

“She won 19 races and over $50,000 in her career, but unfortunately a busted hock brought her racing to a premature end, but we’re really excited about picking a sire and creating a new line.

“Things can get testing at times with work but as I said I have a great support network and love what I do, there’s nothing like coming home to the family and the dogs and the enjoyment we all get out of them racing.”