Trainer Hatch hopeful of Mackay features double

By Glenn Davis

Experienced Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch will attempt for a fourth time to claim his maiden Mackay Cup on Saturday but it’s not the only feature he’s keen to win in the state’s sugar capital.

Hatch saddles up imported stayers Djukon – an Ash Butler mount - and Sayl in the 2000 metre feature and has given punters a lead by favouring Robbie Fradd’s mount, Sayl.

He also is keen on the chances of No Going Back in the $50,000 Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas over 1560 metres.

No Going Back, who will also be ridden by Fradd, is coming off a last start win in the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas at Rockhampton on July 9.

The son of Mahisara was originally trained in Toowoomba by Neil Owen but after three average efforts was moved on to Hatch.

In four starts under the Hatch banner, No Going Back is yet to miss the top three with two wins and as many placings.

“Neil Owen trained him originally at Toowoomba but I train for his other owners so they moved him to me,” Hatch said.

“When he had his first start for me at Toowoomba, he put on a terrible act in the enclosure so I removed his blinkers and all his other gear and he hasn’t been a problem since.

“His Rocky Guineas win was terrific and he’s trained on since, so I’m expecting him to be very hard to beat again.”

Hatch grew up in Ayr in North Queensland and would love to win the Mackay and Townsville Cup's.

He has been a regular visitor to the NQ carnival in recent years. 

“I went to school in Ayr and used to go to the Townsville races with my father,” Hatch said.

“I left there when I was 14 to become an apprentice in Brisbane, where I rode 120 winners and won the Gold Coast apprentices’ title.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends up north and it would be great to win the Mackay Cup for the first time.”

Sayl was beaten only five lengths when seventh at his most recent start in the Rockhampton Cup over 1600 metres on July 9.

“Sayl has been very unlucky at his last seven runs and he should have run second in the Rocky Cup after he was flattened at the 200 metre mark,” he said.

“He’s the pick of my two and he should be hard to beat before he goes up for the Townsville Cup next start.

“Djukon also is going good and I expect him to improve a lot after he was beaten in the Rocky Cup.”