Cairns flyer sets Cluden Park alight in record win

By Garry Dell

Cairns sprinter Smart Image staged a strong claim for Northern Queensland Winter Carnival features with a blistering record-breaking victory at Townsville's Cluden Park on Saturday.

Smart Image cruised over the 1000 metres in 55.40 seconds - with the final 600 metres in 32.50 seconds - without apprentice jockey Krysten Swaffer moving a muscle to streak away for a two-length win.

Veteran Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe, who co-trains Smart Image with son Peter, described the sprinter as without doubt the best he had trained over a long career.

"We knew he was quick but he hadn't got out of the barriers like today," he said.

"I told Krysten to give him a kick at the start from barrier two and then ride him as she wanted to.

"She virtually had to sit and steer after main rival Molongle Surprise dwelt slightly at the start from the rails draw and the race was virtually over after 100 metres.

"He's never begun that quick before, even in his trials.

"We thought he was only 85 per cent going into the race and that was proved when we got him home on Saturday night.

"The hot weather and long float trip took a lot out of him and he left some feed in his bin that night and lay down a lot on Sunday.

"But we'll give him a rest for a few days and he's a tough little fella.

"We'll wait for the dust to settle and see where we head next.

"I'd like to head to the Cleveland Bay but depending on how he trains on we might look at having a throw at the stumps in Brisbane."

Smart Image is owned by retired Cliff Little, who has several horses in the Cairns barn and others with Sunshine Coast trainer Stewart Kendrick and Melbourne's Tony McEvoy.

"Col went to school with my brother and we've been friends for many years," Rowe said.

Stable apprentice Krysten Swaffer, 22, whose career has been dogged by injuries, was having her first ride back after escaping injury in a nasty fall at Cluden nine days previously.

Swaffer missed 10 months out of the saddle last year when she underwent a shoulder reconstruction.

"She's a great trackwork rider and is only three or four wins away from outriding her claim of 2kg," Rowe said.

"Her brother Bradyn was also my apprentice and he won plenty of races.

"He still comes into the stables every couple of weeks and rides a few trackwork.

"They're a talented young couple of kids."

Trainers' premiership leader Georgie Holt picked up another double in the seven-race meeting, grabbing wins with the Steve O'Dea-owned Ciao Bicky, as well as the consistent Bones.

Top jockey Lacey Morrison was successful on brilliant two-year-old Roweiner's Dance for Bill Kenning and Harmonic Boom for Graham Hughes.

Roweiner's Dance confirmed his rating as the premier two-year-old in North Queensland at this stage of the season with his fifth win from seven starts and carrying topweight of 61 kilograms.

Morrison gave the gelding a perfect ride and came again after being headed by the Clinton Taylor-trained Bush Diamond at the 100-metres mark.

Kenning said he would continue the routine of keeping Roweiner's Dance happy in a paddock near his stables and bringing him back into work for his next assignment.

"He had to fight hard under his big weight today but he's tough and showed true grit when it mattered most," he said.

Jackson Murphy kept the flag flying for the males with his riding double on Holt's pair.