Attard hopes to celebrate with a Baby Guinness

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Chris Attard will return to his former hometown hoping to snare his biggest pay cheque with Baby Guinness in the $125,000 Capricornia Yearling Sales QTIS Two-Year-Old Plate at Rockhampton on Saturday.

The 33-year-old Attard started his training career in Rockhampton three years ago before relocating to Townsville, where he now has a big stable of 20 horses in work.

His biggest prize money cheque so far was with Bering Sea who ran second in the 2021 Townsville Cup at Cluden Park.

Baby Guinness was a $22,000 buy at the Capricornia Yearling Sales and is coming off a last start second when she attempted to lead all way over 1200 metres at Townsville on March 18.

But, the daughter of Heroic Valour was no match for boom North Queensland sprinter Missile Thunder, who swamped her to win by one and a half lengths.

“We went to the sales wanting to buy a Heroic Valour and Baby Guinness was out of a city winning mare and she fell within our budget,” Attard said.

“I got her for $22,000 but I would have gone to $30,000 to get her.

“She’ll race well as she’s come on a lot since her last run when she was seven weeks between runs.

“She and Missile Thunder streeted the others and my filly just felt the pinch late.”

Attard has booked Brisbane jockey Taylor Marshall to ride Baby Guinness and rates unbeaten filly Tour De Dream as her main threat.

The Jason Morgan-trained Tour De Dream won on debut at Callaghan Park in January and was never troubled winning over 1200 metres at the same track on March 22.

Attard also is hopeful of a strong showing from Chyna Express in the Capricornia Yearling Sales QTIS 3&4YO Handicap over 1300 metres.

A daughter of Whittington, Chyna Express was a maiden when she beat an Open three-year-old field at Townsville last October.

She ran a close fourth to Eagle Eye Star at Townsville last month.

“She’s a real good chance in this race,” Attard said.

“She’s still learning but she’s got a lot of ability.

“She was still a maiden when she won an open three-year-old race at only her second start and she needed the run first-up when she fell in a hole late.”