Hatch set for first satellite stable winner in Cairns

By Glenn Davis

Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch is hopeful Christmas will come early with his first winner from his new North Queensland satellite stable at Cairns on Thursday.

Hatch launched his new Townsville stable with six runners at Cluden Park on November 20 and Bondi Beau was his best performer.

Bondi Beau has been the only place getter from Hatch’s satellite stable after being nosed out by the Michael Lee-trained Yes Dream in the Townsville Amateur Sprint over 1200 metres last month.

In his only other North Queensland meeting so far, the Hatch-trained Shock Zone tailed a field of five in a Benchmark race at Innisfail last Saturday.

Bondi Beau will start in the Open Handicap over 950 metres with Lacey Morrison booked to ride, replacing Michael Murphy.

Bondi Beau was also nominated for Townsville on Saturday but Hatch favoured the trip to Cairns despite the five-year-old dropping back in distance to 950 metres.

“He’s done well since his last run and he’s freshened up nicely,” Hatch said.

“Dropping back in distance to 950 metres is of no concern to me.

“I thought his last run was enormous and he was in front a stride out from the line.

“He was only beaten a nose by Yes Dream, who I’ve got a very high opinion of.

“Hopefully, he can be my first winner in the north since we opened the satellite stable.”

The Open Handicap has attracted a small field of only six starters, but it is full of quality with the likes of Rodney Miller’s pair, Lily Ofthe Glen and Cleaver Greene.

Hatch also will start Risk In Rome in the Rating Band 0-55 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Risk In Rome made his stable debut for Hatch finishing fifth to the Kevin Hansen-trained Sweet Fantasy in a 1000 metre Class 1 race at Townsville on November 20.

“His first run for me was super and he’s taken natural improvement from the run,” Hatch said.

“He got a bit cluttered up when the field straightened but he hit the line well.”

Hatch has 42 horses in work at his Toowoomba headquarters and another eight in Townsville.

However, he has no plans to increase his numbers up north during the summer months and will wait until the New Year before boosting his North Queensland numbers.