Looking ahead to the CS Final in just under a months’ time, Ludwig is cautious that his stable star has had a long preparation.
But he is not going to pass up an opportunity to add to his 86 metropolitan starts - for three wins - as a trainer, which he recorded earlier in his career when he was based at Beaudesert.
“He’s been up for a long, long time,” Ludwig said.
“I got him at the start of the year and since April he’s had 12 starts, which is a lot.
"But he’s had eight wins and deserves to have a crack in the city.
“For some reason he loves Frank and I think Frank loves him.”
Also in Cooktown on Saturday afternoon, FNQ Cups queen Janel Ryan added the Cooktown Cup for 2021 to her bulging trophy cabinet from the last year.
The Ryan stable has claimed Atherton, Innisfail and Cairns Cup’s this year alone and booked a position in the Country Cups Challenge Final as He’s Wow Class took out the 2021 Cooktown Cup by just under a length.
Connections have noted a tilt at the $30,000 Townsville Amateur Cup at Cluden Park later this month is likely the next step for He’s Wow Class.
In other CCC qualifiers across the Sunshine State over the weekend, Bernie’s Tiger – trained by John Manzelmann out of Mackay – claimed his second heat victory of the series, this time getting the money at Moranbah after previously also scoring at Ewan.
Under apprentice hoop Cody Collis, the seven-year-old gelding taught the Moranbah Cup field a lesson, bolting in by 11 lengths in a breathtaking display.
"The horse performed really well and was strong to the line," Collis said.
"You do not see big margins like that in Cup races like that very often."
Similar to Bernie’s Tiger, Piracy claimed his second qualifier over the last few months, grabbing a Chinchilla Country Stampede heat after previously also landing the prize at Tara.
Qualifiers across Queensland will be held this coming weekend at Ingham, Mount Perry and Blackall.