North Queensland's Joe Russo back training after cancer scare

By Jordan Gerrans

After fighting through a cancer scare for three years, Ingham’s Joe Russo has made a triumphant return to the training ranks in North Queensland.

And, the 71-year-old believes his first winner in almost two decades is not far away.

The Russo name is well-known in the north of the Sunshine State with the stable preparing a number of top gallopers over the years, including Mr.Rogers, who started his career at Cluden Park before going on to win city races in Brisbane and Sydney.

Russo is back training four gallopers at Ingham, starting his first horse in a race earlier this month since January, 2004.

Russo’s gelding All Too Natural finished off strongly in a Class B Handicap over 1000 metres and progresses to a 1200 metre Benchmark 55 Handicap on Friday afternoon at Townsville’s Cluden Park.

After running third first-up, the experienced Russo was pleased with the run.

“He missed the start by a few lengths and he only got beaten by two and a half lengths,” Russo said.

“If there was another 100 metres that day, he would have won that race.”

Gold Coast-based apprentice hoop Sheriden Tomlinson has been booked to ride All Too Natural on Friday and will need to tussle with the widest possible gate on offer.

“I know he has a bad barrier for Friday but that does not matter I do not think,” Russo said.

“If he can get him out without missing the start this time and be on the outside of another horse, I think he will have a big chance.

“I think he will go well but 1400 metres will be his go eventually, maybe even a mile later on.”

There were a number of factors in Russo being away from the training game for almost two decades, focusing his attention on work commitments through his involvement with hotels and cane farms in North Queensland.

A serious health scare also struck him down for three years, which he says he was lucky to make it back to training race horses from.

Set to turn 72 later this year, Russo jokes that he is healthy for his age and is enjoying being back around the gallopers more often.

“I had a bad spell for about three years, I had cancer in my stomach – which they had to take out,” he recalled.

“They left a little piece in there as big as a finger nail and that grew as long as my arm in about six or eight weeks.

“The second time around they had to get that out, luckily it was only a mild version of cancer. I was very worried at the time.”

Joe is aided by his younger brother Charlie to prepare the barn of horses.

On top of All Too Natural, the stable has two-year-old Mr Kobo as well as an unnamed filly that is also on the way to the races in the coming months.

Back before both Charlie and Joe took a break from training, the brothers had a number of top horses, including Mr. Rogers and Regal Demon, among others.

Those were prepared in Charlie’s name as the trainer in those days as the team won titles like the Townsville Amateur Cup and the Cluden Park premiership.

Mr. Rogers stands out above the rest, Joe says.

“He was the best we had,” Russo said.

“He went to Sydney and he gave them a hiding at Canterbury, twice.

“We only paid $5,500 for him at the Magic Millions sales.”