Wet track no concern for Tennessee Boy in Cairns

By Glenn Davis

A jar of jelly beans was a one-off gift given to Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi after Tennessee Boy won his first juvenile race on debut three years ago.

Now a five-year-old, Tennessee Boy will be chasing his 12th win at his 39th start in the Open Handicap at Cairns on Saturday.

A $12,500 buy at the Magic Millions, Tennessee Boy has gone on to win more than $238,000 in prize money but it should have been closer to $300,000, the veteran trainer thinks. 

“In the Covid year he won the Pallarenda Stakes, which was reduced from $32,000 to $18,000, and the Northern Classic was reduced from $67,000 to $19,000, so he should have won $300,000,” Chillemi said.

“He’s done a magnificent job to win so much prize money but it should have been a lot more.

“Tennessee Boy was the first of the Spill The Beans' to win a race and I recall getting a big jar of jelly beans from his breeders after he won his first race.

“Unfortunately, I never got one of the jelly beans as my granddaughter came home from school one day and asked who they were for and I said they were hers.”

Cairns is currently rated a Soft 7 after persistent rain in the region in recent weeks. 

“A wet track won't bother Tennessee Boy as he’s won on a heavy track," Chillemi said.

Tennessee Boy has won two of his past four starts including his latest victory over 1400 metres at Townsville’s Cluden Park last month.

The 73-year-old Chillemi has dominated racing in North Queensland for several decades, having won 17 trainers’ premiership in Townsville, as well as 21 in Cairns and five overall Queensland provincial titles.

Chillemi has six starters at Cairns on Saturday including three in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden over 940 metres.

“I think Turn Bird is the best of them in the two-year-old,” Chillemi said.

“He’s been going well but I don’t know how he’ll go on a wet track.”

Turn Bird, who clashes with Puss Boots and debutant Ready Boss, has placed twice in three starts including his recent third to the Sarah Acornley-trained Hey Bull in a 1000 metre maiden -at Townsville on January 29.