Walsh weighs up Brisbane start for Milo Man

By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh is in two minds whether former Victorian Milo Man will be given the chance to maintain his unbeaten Queensland record at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Milo Man is unbeaten in four Queensland starts and will be aiming to stretch his winning sequence if Walsh clears him to start in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Walsh’s plans with Milo Man struck a hurdle when he drew the outside barrier of 12.

“I’ll wait and see what develops in the next 24 hours before I decide if he goes down,” Walsh said.

“He’s also nominated for Rockhampton on Friday but I wanted to send him to Brisbane because a few of his races up here have fallen over lately.”

Walsh hopes Milo Man will earn a winter carnival campaign in Central Queensland if he continues his current form.

“I’d like to think he might measure up to the Lightning or Newmarket Handicaps here in Rocky during the winter,” Walsh said.

“He would have been very competitive had he drawn better in Brisbane and if he runs, he’ll probably have a freshen up after this for the winter.”

Milo Man - a five-year-old - was purchased as a tried horse off Grafton trainer Dwayne Schmidt by former Rockhampton trainer Geoff Elliott, who runs a local butcher shop in Rockhampton.

“Geoff picked him up for about $6,000 but he’s no longer training as he wants to concentrate on running his business,” Walsh said.

“Milo Man has won all four starts for me after he won a maiden at Armidale for Dwayne.”

Milo Man is coming off a last start win over 1300 metres in Class 4 company at Rockhampton in the middle of January.

“It’ll be nearly five weeks between runs for him after missing a few races lately but that won ‘t worry him as he races well fresh,” Walsh said.

Walsh was super impressed with Milo Man’s recent win when he led all the way.

“His last win was very good but the track didn’t suit him as it was pretty wet that day,” he said.

“It wasn’t favouring front runners and he was entitled to get beaten but he kicked on and won like a nice horse in pretty good time.”

The 24-year-old Walsh has only been training for two years and has a 51 per cent winning strike rate this season with 23 wins from 45 starters.

“I got this bloke when Geoff rang me up asking me to train him when I had room at the time,” Walsh said.

“I’m full up now with around 14 in work and I’m still working full time.

“I’ve got owners paying up to $40,000 for tried horses just to race in Rocky so it makes my job pretty easy.

“I’ve just got to get them fit, healthy and happy and when they show up they should win.”