Don Arcangelo to kick off North Queensland Cup's campaign

By Jordan Gerrans and Garry Dell

North Queensland newcomer Don Arcangelo’s Cup ambitions will be tested at Cairns’ Cannon Park on Tuesday afternoon as the gelding steps up to his preferred staying trip.

Prepared by FNQ’s premier trainer Stephen Massingham, the son of Savabeel has had two runs in the north as he builds into the TAB Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Don Arcangelo was previously prepared by John O’Shea in Sydney and is a winner up to 2320 metres.

The four-year-old gelding has hardly set the world on fire in his two efforts for Massingham – beaten more than three lengths on both occasions – but the multiple Cup winning trainer thinks his best will be shown this week over 2100 metres.

Owned by leading racing identity Tom Hedley, Don Arcangelo goes from 1400 metres up to 2100 metres this week – which Massingham says the boss is a little concerned about.

But, after a positive assessment from experienced hoop Chris Whiteley following his previous trip to the races late last month, Massingham feels confident around their plan.

Massingham – who has won NQ Cup’s with Multifacets, The Harrovian and Magnum Forty Four – describes his new boy as an “out and out stayer”.

“He is a new one that Tom bought, he is a real genuine stayer,” Massingham said.

“His first two runs have been ok without doing anything outstanding.

“When he gets to the 2000 metres and beyond, that is when we will see the best of him.

“Just the way he races and he works, he is just a genuine stayer, I think he could go another lap in the mornings at the same three quarter pace.”

The 2100 metre event on Tuesday is the final leg of the popular Magic Millions Rob Koch Memorial series for 2022.

Don Arcangelo will not figure in the finish of that series, with Tuesday being his first appearance in it, but he has higher aims later in the carnival.

The Northern Carnival includes five Cup races staged across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and FNQ Amateurs, with each carrying a purse of $150,000.

With the Rockhampton Cup claimed by Master Jamie on Saturday afternoon, Massingham thinks the last three on offer will be the aim for Don Arcangelo.

“There is a couple of options with him, there is an up and coming stayers event if his rating is not high enough to get into the Townsville Cup, that is on Cup day at Townsville,” Massingham said.

“Then we would have a crack at Cairns – Cairns Cup is always our main option – it is nice to win a Townsville Cup but Cairns is always the target.

“Tom pours a lot of money into the club and community and this is where he likes to win races at Cairns.”

Massingham is likely to also have Brilliant Mind in Cup contention in the coming month's after the gelding ran fourth in the Cairns Amateurs Cup of 2021.

“Steve has got a few nice horses coming through that I think we will see in the next few northern meetings that might win a good race or two over carnival,” owner Hedley said.

The Massingham stable will have seven from his team go around on Tuesday at Cannon Park.

Meanwhile, more than 300 people attended a memorial service for the late Ray Tapiolas at the Home Hill racecourse on Friday.

Former trainer Tapiolas earned the nickname of Drover for his love of horses and his work on a cattle property with his brother Ross over several years.

The mourners included many local owners, trainers, jockeys and strappers.

Among them was the legendary Burdekin "Mango Man" Henry Petersen, who raced several horses during the 1990s, many of them carrying names with Mangoes featured.

"Ray was a great bloke," Petersen said.

"He made everyone welcome and was always smiling and ready to pass on a joke or two.

"He’ll be sadly missed around the place."

A large number shared similar sentiments, including lifelong friend Robbie Woods, Ray's three children Melissa, Kelly and Christopher and Burdekin Race Club current president and trainer Ricky Gudge.

The Home Hill club ran a “Drovers Cup” in memory of Tapiolas at their non-TAB race day on Saturday, which was won by the Georgie Holt-trained Norah.

All five of the races on the Home Hill program were named in honour of Tapiolas, who passed away suddenly late last month.

The Joanna Hassett-trained Dawn Strike won the opening event on Saturday in Tapiolas’ colours.