Walsh hoping for a big week at home and away

Images supplied by Caught In The Act Photography CQ

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Nick Walsh is hoping Thursday’s Rockhampton meeting will be the start of a big week for the Central Queensland stable and owner Clarie Hermann.

Walsh will start Single Honor in the Class Three Handicap over 1050 metres and Highground in the 1200-metre Benchmark 58 Handicap at Callaghan Park.

He then hopes to head to Brisbane with star sprinter Age Of Innocence who makes her Brisbane debut in the Benchmark 90 Handicap over 1110 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

All three are owned by Clarie Hermann, who is the father of former Australian rodeo legend Ray Hermann.

Ray Hermann qualified 10 times for the Australian Professional Rodeo Association finals, winning the title seven times from 1980 to 1987.

He also claimed two world titles in in 1978 and 1981.

Walsh rates Single Honor as a strong hope in the Class Three Handicap after drawing perfectly in barrier two but is concerned with Highground’s barrier 11.

“Both have very good chances but Highground will have to press forward from the wide draw and hopefully get across and get a clear run,” Walsh said.

“He’s a good Rockhampton horse who cost Clarie $38,000 as a tried horse while Single Honor cost him $20,000.”

Four-year-old Highground won a 1200-metre Class Two at Callaghan Park in late February before a last start third to Fighting Commando in a 1050-metre Class Four on April 1.

“He found the 1000 metres too short last run but it was a great run,” Walsh said.

“He’s not a sit and sprint horse and will be better suited in this.”

Highground also is a former Victorian and has won three of his eight starts since being moved on to Walsh a year ago.

Single Honor finished second in his stable debut behind the Wayne Pomfrett-trained The Krone in an 1100-metre Class One at Mackay last month.

Single Honor was formerly trained in Victoria but won only one race in 18 starts which included seven placings.

“He found the track at Mackay too hard last time and ran out on the corner,” Walsh said.

“It was his first run for us and he’s drawn well.

“If he goes well there’s a chance he might go to Brisbane later on.”

Walsh is hoping Age Of Innocence can measure up to the harder Brisbane class but if she doesn’t she’ll return home for The Fitzroy over 1300 metres at Callaghan Park on Sunday week.