McGuire stable optimistic of smart debut showing with Mission House

By Jordan Gerrans

Those on course at Cluden Park on Saturday afternoon will most certainly hear about it if local trainer Matthew McGuire can win the Pallarenda Stakes for the first time in his young career.

A plan hatched over a year ago will come to realisation on Saturday in Townsville as debutant two-year-old Mission House steps out for the first time – raced by a big group of all female owners.

The loyal connections of the McGuire barn welcomed the son of The Mission to NQ earlier this year with a champagne breakfast as he stepped off the truck and they will be in full voice and force this Saturday at his first race day appearance.

“They have been waiting for this moment for some time to see him at the races, so we are all excited for Saturday,” McGuire said.

The McGuire stable, which has trained six winners from his last 50 starters, is well-supported by the fairer sex, the up-and-coming trainer notes.

“A lot of our owners are female, a core group of them, and they like to go to the races together and have a few drinks and have fun,” McGuire said.

“They came up with the idea about 12 months ago to purchase a horse with all female owners and they saved their money since then and we were lucky enough to pick this one up for them.

“There is 15 ladies in the syndicate, it will be great for them on race day as they have booked out a few tables already at the track to watch him go around.

“All their husbands will be unhappy if he gets up on Saturday as they are not in the horse.”

The opening event of the two-year-old feature season in NQ, the two Pallarenda Stakes races, will be run on Saturday at Townsville’s Cluden Park.

The two races — a fillies edition and a colts and ­geldings event — are both worth $32,500 plus the QTIS bonuses on offer. 

Mission House, who will sport McGuire’s usual pink colours, won his only public trial by four lengths earlier this month and shapes as one of the key contenders in the boys edition of the race.

Purchased for just $10,000 at the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, McGuire was attracted to the gelding by his sister, Angel Like – who was previously trained on the Gold Coast by Kacy Fogden – and has won twice already in her young career.

The group of ladies and McGuire devised a plan to look at around 15-20 yearlings at the sale before Mission House was the first one through the sales ring and they quickly snapped him up.

The Townsville trainer was given a glowing report from the Jake Capewell Breaking and Pre-Training operation and he is hopeful his maiden two-year-old victory might just come this Saturday.

“We were pretty happy with the way he trialled, we put him under a bit of pressure a couple of hundred metres out just so he is used to it come race day,” McGuire said.

“We were pretty stoked with how he responded in the trial and we are looking forward to Saturday.

“This is my first two-year-old so it is a bit of a learning curve but so far so good.

“We pencilled this race in at the start, we took it step by step with him and making sure he got to the mark.

“We have taken things slowly with him and thankfully he has responded really well.”

Also in the Pallarenda Stakes on Saturday, the Sarah Acornley stable will present with three newcomers.

Acornley stable rider Carl Spry has high hopes for the trio and will ride Mission Estate in the boys division, following his only public trial where he ran second to the McGuire galloper.

“They are all educated and like every two-year-old race, barriers will be crucial as well as the right run in transit,” Spry said.

“Mission Estate is very forward and does everything right after the one official trial he has had, in which he ran second.

“I was happy with his trial.”