Leadership Spill back to best after career threatening injuries

By Glenn Davis

Former Brisbane sprinter Leadership Spill has bounced back from career threatening injuries and will be out to stake a claim for Central and North Queensland winter feature races at Townsville on Thursday.

Leadership Spill – a Lacey Morrison mount in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres – started his career with premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan before a short stint with Lee Freedman on the Gold Coast.

The six-year-old bowed a tendon and was immediately spelled after his last start with Freedman when he finished third in a 1200 metre Class 4 race at the Gold Coast in October, 2021.

Connections suffered a further blow when Leadership Spill ran through a fence on his first day out in the paddock following his tendon injury.

Leadership Spill is now with Rockhampton trainer Tim Cook who has been able to manage his injuries to such an extent that he has produced one win and four placings from five starts in the northern areas of the Sunshine State. 

“He’s very lucky to be racing and a lot of people thought he’d never race again but his injuries healed a lot better than everyone thought,” Cook said.

“He’s going well and if he races well in Townsville, I’ll more than likely tip him out to get ready for the winter races up this way.”

Leadership Spill was beaten almost three lengths when he finished second to the Nick Walsh-trained Villa Villekulla over 1050 metres at Mackay last month.

“He was beaten by Villa Villekulla last start and he looks to be a very smart horse,” Cook said.

“He can be a pest in the barriers but I’ve got Lacey Morrison on him this time and she’s the right jockey to get him out of the barriers.”

Leadership Spill was originally planned to head straight to Cook after winning three times for Gollan.

“Tony wanted him to come straight to me after he left his stables but one of the owners gave him a go with Lee Freedman,” Cook said.

“The first day in the yard after he bowed his tendon he got hooked up on a fence and stripped the back of his leg down to the bone.”

Cook has been training for 23 years and has 12 horses in work at Rockhampton.

“He’s been very consistent while he’s been with me with a win and four placings and I’m looking to run him in the Farewell on Cup day at Rockhampton and then the Lightning Handicap in Townsville,” he said.