By Glenn Davis
Rockhampton trainer Kerrod Smyth has come a long way since his days as a stock inspector at Springsure in Central Queensland.
And, he is hopeful a trip to Mackay on Tuesday with two starters will be fruitful.
The 64-year-old Smyth will make the road trip with last season’s Rockhampton Horse Of The Year, Mocial Chief, in the Open Handicap over 1300 metres and Far Reaching in the Class 3 Handicap over the same journey.
Smith gained his trainer’s license in 1979 and has learnt off some of the state’s best conditioners.
“I was a stock inspector out at Springsure and I’d go to the Gold Coast and stand with premiership winning trainers Jim Griffiths and Alan Bailey,” Smyth said.
“They gave me a lot of useful tips over a period of three years when I used to go to the Gold Coast on holidays.
“Jim was famous for having three clocks around his neck.
“He’d clock your horse, his own horses and someone else’s.”
Smyth bought Mocial Chief for $4,750 at an Inglis online sale and the five-year-old has since won eight races for him in Central Queensland.
“I liked him at the sales as I remembered him winning at Ipswich one day for Michael Rodd and his trainer Bryan Guy,” he said.
Mocial Chief has started three times this campaign for a win and two seconds including his last start when beaten by Zipspur over 1200 metres at Mackay last month.
“He loomed up and looked set to win when Zipspur came from last and just beaten him,” Smyth said.
“As everyone knows weight will stop a steam train and Mocial Chief had to give away seven kilos that day.”
Gold Coast jockey Jason Taylor has ridden Mocial Chief at his past four starts but Smyth has opted for a change and has booked Ryan Wiggins.
Smyth also expects a strong showing from Far Reaching, who will be attempting a hat-trick of wins in the Class 3 Handicap.
The four-year-old has won his only two starts for Smyth, winning on debut for the stable at Rockhampton in the middle of October, before a narrow win in a 1300 metre Class 1 at Mackay on November 10.
“I bought him for $8,000 off Gold Coast trainer Michael Morrison mainly because of his form around Jac’s Legacy in the Northern Rivers,” he said.
“He was an ex-Michael Costa horse who was left with Morrison when he went to Dubai.
“He’s not drawn the best in gate 13 but he should be able to follow Milo Man across.”
The Nick Walsh-trained Milo Man has drawn barrier 12 and is coming off a first-up win on debut for the stable at Callaghan Park in the middle of November.